The boxing world has lost one of its most charismatic legends. Hector "Macho" Camacho was taken off life support and officially declared deceased earlier today. Camacho succumbed to injuries resulting from being shot in the face on Tuesday night as he sat in a car with his friend in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
During his career, Camacho was a three-time world champion and boasted a professional record of 79-6-3 with 38 victories coming via knockout. Late in his career he had victories over legends like Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.
His success in the ring didn’t always translate to his life outside of it though. There were reports of Camacho battling drug addiction since the ‘80s and he did have a few run-ins the with the law. The most recent being the attempted burglary of an electronics store and possession of ecstasy in 2005 and child abuse charges for allegedly beating his teenage son in March of last year. Camacho was put on probation after pleading guilty to the burglary and drug possession charges. At the time of his death he was still awaiting trial for the child abuse charges.
Despite his transgressions outside of the ring, the Macho Man remained a fan favorite from the pinnacle of his career in the ‘80s and '90s right up until his death. His flamboyance and showmanship was appreciated by fans decades before names like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Adrien Broner rose to stardom.
The boxer who was born in Puerto Rico but raised in Harlem has been lyrically referenced by several rappers including Nas, Cam’ron, Lil Wayne, and the Notorious B.I.G. The latter immortalized the champ in the track "Dead Wrong:" "Who's the one you call Mr. Macho/The head honcho, swift fist like Camacho."
No arrests have been made the shooting. The Harlem Heckler is survived by his four sons.
[via ESPN]
