Camacho vs Mancini, who really won!?

Could have gone the other way too. One of those razor thin affairs where either fighter could have won with different judges. I don't think Mancini could complain.

 

Close fight which I tend to score to Camacho by a slither. Given the layoff Mancini did excellently to keep it so close and give himself a shot at getting the verdict.

Camacho started doing some serious running after round seven, and almost threw it away, but I think he built up a big enough lead through those seven rounds to just about hold on by his fingertips.

Looking at the last time I scored this (a couple of years back) here is how I gave the rounds:

Mancini: 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11.
Camacho: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 12.

I had the ninth round even, so ended up with 115-114 Camacho. Some of the rounds were certainly close enough to debate and I couldn't grumble with anyone having Mancini just edging this one. My general impression is that he didn't quite do enough, though.

 

I gave it to Mancini. I felt he got shafted

 

I too had it clearly for Mancini. This is what I wrote when I saw it:

Finally sat down to watch this one and, although I was comfortable with my score, this is a fight that could likely test your patience, what you look for, and your confidence when you actually hear the scores. Anyways, here is how I had it.

Hector Camacho v Ray Mancini

Round 1: 10-9 Camacho
Round 2: 10-10 Even
Round 3: 10-9 Mancini
Round 4: 10-9 Mancini
Round 5: 10-9 Mancini
Round 6: 10-9 Mancini
Round 7: 10-9 Camacho
Round 8: 10-9 Mancini
Round 9:10-9 Mancini
Round 10: 10-9 Mancini
Round 11: 10-10 Even
Round 12: 10-9 Camacho

Total: 117-113 Mancini

After the 8th round I heard Sean O'Grady say, "Great round for Camacho." I said, WTF is he watching? All I saw was a brief flurry at the end of the round by Camacho which looked good but I'm not going to forget about the 3/4 of the round that Ray chased, punched and hit Hector while Hec was clinching. When Hector could keep Ray in the ring center, he was golden, but Ray was all over him and it was just brief flurries from Hector. The first time I saw it I felt Ray won without scoring it. Now that I take pen in hand, I think Ray was robbed. BTW, official scores were 116-112 for Mancini and two scores of 115-113 for Hector.

 

Truly a fight that could have gone either way. I haven't watched it in a long time but I remember thinking Mancini edged out.

 

Excellent post my pal. Wholeheartedly agree with you.

 

Interesting how the opinions and perspectives are lopsided from what I read so far. And even More interesting that the judges called a split decision in favor of Camacho. 116-112 , 115 - 113, 115 - 113.
I just rewatched the entire fight and this is my honest breakdown. And this according to the ten point must system.
Mancini controlled aggression and ring generalship for the entire fight. In the later round Mancini was even sprinting towards Camacho at the bell.

Mancini missed more since he was throwing in higher volume but without a doubt he landed all kinds of clean shots. The head clash in the 7th was mutual and nothing came from it and it does take two to hold considering the holding that took place but Mills Lane gave two warnings to Camacho only so that says something.
For Camacho, he played off his back foot utilizing the entire ring and had a sharp right jab that did bust up Mancini with small cuts over each eye, a swollen nose and redness across the face.

At the same time Camacho was first hurt in the 4th becoming flat footed and this carried on throughout the fight. In other words , it was apparent every time Camacho was hurt by Mancini and there was several occasions. When Camacho grew the cojones to go toe to toe there were great exchanges yet Camacho was always the first to skin out.
Final opinion:
Mancini by Domination of ring generalship, aggression, volume of punches and more cleaner power shots the whole fight...No score card needed.

 

Mancini

 

I had it at the time, for Ray. By a sliver.

 

Edwin El Chapo Rosario. I will explain why, remember on June 13 1986 in Madison Square Garden on HBO, Hector Macho Camacho defended his WBC Lightweight Title against Rosario. About midway through their 12 round title bout, El Chapo staggered Camacho, who held and ran. Hector would never be the same again. Rosario lived in Camacho's head, even in the bout against Ray Boom Boom Mancini.

 

Ray because screw Southpaws. Can’t you Divas just hold your hands like everyone else?

 

I actually thought Mancini won that fight and remember being shocked at how well he did.
But a prime pre Rosario Camacho would have beat the hell out of Mancini at lightweight had they fought there.