Whether you like him or not, he deserves to be in the HOF for his acheivments. Three division champ. Undefeated for over ten years. A superstar at 130. One of the fastest fighters ever. One of the best chins ever, which many don't mention. Oscar is the only fighter to drop him. The Cruz character was staged due to Camacho feeling that he wasn't loved by the fans. No really, he said this during the interview after the Cruz fight. ATG......he threw that opportunity out the window after the Rosario fight.
If you want to be loved by the fans, saying "all the niggers in my weight class, bring it!!" and "Mike Tyson has too many friends with nigger attitudes" is not the right way to go about it.
I remember that. His explanation was that he used *****s, not ******s. Blacks use the word as a cool slang just like the Puerto Ricans. Myself being Puerto Rican, I do not like the word used by any nationality. If he meant it in that context, then of course he is guilty of racism.
It was "to all you ******s out there, bring it on baby". As in slang. Not that it makes it much better!! Camacho is HOF without a doubt and could have been an ATG if he'd have loved boxing little more.
The word ****** is a complicated word. If a white man says it means trouble. But black men use it all day and no one complaints. When Camacho use it, you have to remember where he grew up. All young guys used it with each other. I am sure Camacho's buddys called him ****** many times.
Obviously HOF, that goes without saying. Not quite ATG though, but a great fighter. He most certainly had the potential to be one though. I rate him much more impressively at his young peak than I do overall in a career sense.
I only read about the quote about "bring it on", but on youtube they have (or had) his one about Mike Tyson's friends. He tried to explain it, but he may have just sounded even worse. I agree with Camacho having great talent and ability and squandering it. There's a sad and unfortunate history when it comes to a good number of really good Puerto Rican fighters when it comes to substance abuse. Dejesus had drug problems and went to prison for murder, Ortiz had alcohol problems, Gomez had drug problems, Camacho had his drug problems, didn't Serrano and Benitez have drug problems too? Tito always seemed to have his head on straight, and Cotto seems to have it on as well. I hope they do.
I learn to box with Camacho's stepfather Ruben in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Camacho was as ghetto as they come. The word was part of his every day slang among his friends. It wasn't an important word to him. There are certain words in spanish in Puerto Rico that if a friend called you that you answer quickly. But if a unknown person called you that you might want to kill him. I am sure Borincano understand what I am talking about.
I think though he's one of those few boxers whose decline actually helped his reputation/ legacy. He showed a lot of heart/ chin and courage under pressure that many thought he didn't have when they were watching him at 130/ 135.
I remember Rosario commenting about Camacho's drug issues and unfortunately he fell to drugs himself. Very sad day.
I honestly think he meant it in the "street" way, thats how he explained it straight afterwards (his biggest rival at the time was Lingstone Bramble) and he seemed genuine. The fact his first language wasn't English wouldn't have helped when he was tryng to explain he what he meant?
The word "*****" is not exclusive to blacks anymore. Everyone with sagging jeans and a sideways cap seem to use that word like there's no tomorrow.
