When former world champion Hector “Macho” Camacho (79-5-3, 28 KO’s) squares off against former world title challenger Saul Duran (36-16-2, 30 KO’s) this Friday (NESportsTV.com PPV 7:30 ET / 4:30 PT) it’ll be the sixth time in his career that the Bayamon, Puerto Rican born fighter will take on a Mexican opponent. Amongst the great Mexican fighters Camacho has competed with: Julio Cesar Chavez, Rafael Limon and Yory Boy Campos.
From his first world title fight to his most recent bout, Camacho has been a part of the long withstanding boxing rivalry between the two boxing crazed nations.
It was 1983 that Camacho won his first world title. In front of a packed house in San Juan, Camacho earned himself the WBC junior lightweight championship with a 9th round TKO of Rafael Limon. An ecstatic “Macho Man” claimed he’d fight everyone from then heavyweight champion Larry Holmes to Gerry Cooney in the postfight interview. Hyperbole aside, the then 130 pound Camacho proved then why he’s still fighting at the ripe age of 47 today: he’s a fighter and he loves to fight.
Two years later, Camacho would move up in weight to the lightweight division and claim his second world title with a unanimous decision against Mexico’s Jose Luis Ramirez. Legendary HBO commentator Larry Merchant commented at the time that, “For all (Camacho’s) glitz and glamour, he takes care of business in the ring.”
In perhaps the most famous fight in the rivalries history, a history that includes Wilfredo Gomez – Carlos Zarate, Salvador Sanchez – Gomez and Sixto Escobar – Rodolfo Casanova, Camacho waged war with the Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez. Despite losing a 12 round decision to the man who would go unbeaten through his first 90 fights, “Macho” and Chavez rekindled interest in the Puerto Rico – Mexico boxing rivalry and drew a packed house to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
In his most recent contest, Camacho fought to a draw with multi time world champion Yory Boy Campas last May. Camacho entered the bout riding a four fight winning streak against journeyman opposition and there were questions about how he would respond against a fighter who had still been effective in recent years against younger championship caliber opposition as Campos has defeated future title challenger Billy Lyell in 2007 and lost a rousing 12 round war with Irish contender John Duddy in 2006.
Camacho held Campas to a draw in the 8 round affair that was both competitive and compelling, the latter being something critics were doubtful the two aging former champions could do at that stage of their careers.
Now, as Camacho looks to finish up his career with a few more fights before saying “Adios”, he’ll fight for the first time on over a year against a foe from a familiar territory. Saul Duran is from Chihuahua, Mexico and has fought twice for world titles. He’s been in the ring with fan favorites such as Jose Luis Castillo, Stevie Johnston and Ray Oliveira and certainly has the experience to give the Macho man trouble in the ring.
This Friday, Hector will once again look to prove that it’s “Macho time”.
8CN Privacy Policy Copyright 2008-2011 8countnews.com Any commercial use or distribution other than RSS syndication without the express written consent of 8countnews.com is strictly prohibited.
> BOXING SCHEDULE > ROY JONES JR. TORNADO FUNDRAISER > FIGHT LIFE MAGAZINE 
