Just stated re-watching that fight and realised how easy it was to cut the ring off on Camacho, he could do nothing to keep Rosario off him but run away and he never got his lead foot on the outside of Rosario`s orthodox lead foot, was Camacho overrated for his boxing savvy?
I think even as early as the José Luis Ramirez fight, some of Camacho's limitations were starting to show. Sounds stupid, I know, as he decked Ramirez, only lost two or three rounds and won handsomely. But I think by then you could see that Camacho was so reliant on his speed that it had started tapering his ring IQ. He essentially just started using the same tactic over and over again; flick out a range-finding jab or two, put three quicksilver shots behind it, and then move out of range and wait for the other guy to follow. Re-set, do it again, move out of range again. Good enough to make the likes of Limon and Ramirez look toothless, but against guys who cut the ring off with a more educated kind of pressure and who wouldn't get discouraged after being out-sped and peppered with one-twos for a few rounds, he was always going to run in to trouble if he didn't start implementing new strategies or come up with something to supplement his pure speed - which he never did. As for the Rosario fight, I've not watched it for about five years, but last time I did I had Camacho holding on to win by a single point and just about retaining his title. 7-5 in rounds with Rosario getting a 10-8 in the fifth (from memory, rounds eleven and twelve were one-sided and, though I didn't think they were worth a two point swing, some others might). Wouldn't have any gripes with someone slightly favouring Rosario as there wasn't much in it. One thing's for sure - if this had been a fifteen rounder, there's absolutely no way Camacho would have retained his belt. At best he'd have lost all three of the remaining rounds, at worst he'd have been stopped as he had virtually nothing left at all. I thought Rosario missed a trick by not really forcing the pace in the sixth as much as he might have done. Camacho still looked a little rubbery and dizzy at the start of the round, but for whatever reason Rosario didn't seem to think it was the right moment to try and close the show.
Agreed, Watch the Camacho Boza Edwards fight. Geez all Hector did was flick jabs and run, it was horrible
I honestly haven't watched Camacho-Rosario in about 15 years. So, I'm probably overdue to give it fresh eyes. Well... maybe it hasn't been THAT long, but it's been at least 10 years. I've always felt Chapo won, but I definitely remember it being close. But my recollection was Chapo landed the harder, cleaner shots, hurt Camacho twice, and deserved the victory.
Yup, this was the fight that ruined him. The man who entered that ring was Macho, and the one who exited would never be again. He just could not bear the thought of being hit like that again.
In a way that's very true, but the ironic thing about this is that later, when he was more of an opponent type for the likes of truly good punchers like Chavez, DeLa Hoya, and Trinidad he absorbed a huge amount of punishment and went the distance with all three. This alone proves he could really take it. When he still had some aura of greatness about him though, it was more than he wanted to chance.
It weren’t a bad performance from Camacho considering the opposition. Always had fast hands but this confirmed what fast feet he had as well.
Rosario hurt Camacho more than those fighters and was looking to take him out with each shot, Chavez gave Camacho a methodical beating, Trinidad wasn`t as urgent as Rosario and DLH was just outpointing Hector while pressing the action, he dropped Camacho but I feel Hector was more hurt by Rosario, he was in more danger of being stopped in that fight.
Camacho edged him on rounds very slightly but Rosario ruined him as a potential all time great. Hector was never close to the same fighter after the bombs Rosario landed .. Hector was already slipping on the dedication front as a wild party guy but after this fight he became the ultimate safety first ..
