Hector 'Macho' Camacho is brain dead, doctors say

Hector 'Macho' Camacho is brain dead, doctors say

By Danica Coto

 

Boxer 'Macho' Camacho clinging to life after being shot in the faceSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Famed Puerto Rican boxer Hector "Macho" Camacho is clinically brain dead, doctors said Thursday, though they said family members were disagreeing on whether to take him off life support.

Dr. Ernesto Torres said doctors have finished performing all medical tests on Camacho, who was shot in the face Tuesday night.

"We have done everything we could," said Torres, who is the director of the Centro Medico trauma center in San Juan. "We have to tell the people of Puerto Rico and the entire world that Macho Camacho has died, he is brain dead."

He said at a news conference that the family expects to say by Friday if Camacho should remain on life support.

Torres said Camacho's father has already indicated that he wants the boxer taken off life support and his organs donated, but one of his sisters opposes the idea.

"This is a very difficult moment," he said.

Ismael Leandry, a longtime friend and former manager, told reporters that Camacho's mother also is wavering on taking her son off life support and would like more time with him. He said the family is waiting for Camacho's oldest son to arrive Thursday night before having a family reunion and making a decision.

"Let's remember him as a good man," Leandry said. "He was a good father, a good son."

Steve Tannenbaum, a friend and a former boxing agent for Camacho, said in a phone interview that he idolized Camacho as a boxer.

"He is one of the greatest small fighters that I have ever seen," he said. "Hector Camacho had a legendary status."

Tannenbaum said he initially believed Camacho would survive. "He was almost like the indestructible man. He had so many troubles with the law, so many altercations in his life. It's a great shame."

The 50-year-old Camacho was shot as he and a friend sat in a Ford Mustang parked outside a bar Tuesday night. Police spokesman Alex Diaz said officers found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend's pocket, and a 10th bag open inside the car. Camacho's friend, identified as 49-year-old Adrian Mojica Moreno, was killed in the attack.

Doctors had initially said Camacho was expected to survive, but his condition worsened and his heart stopped briefly overnight Tuesday, Torres said. The bullet entered his jaw and lodged in his shoulder after tearing through three of four main arteries in his neck, affecting blood flow through his brain, doctors said.

"That lack of oxygen greatly damaged Macho Camacho's brain," Torres said.

Torres had said late Wednesday that Camacho was still showing irregular and intermittent brain activity.

Camacho was born in Bayamon, a city within the San Juan metropolitan area, but he grew up mostly in New York's Harlem neighborhood, earning the nickname "the Harlem Heckler."

He won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. Camacho knocked out Leonard in 1997, ending the former champ's final comeback attempt.

Camacho has a career record of 79-6-3.

In recent years, he divided his time between Puerto Rico and Florida, appearing regularly on Spanish-language television as well as on a reality show called "Es Macho Time!" on YouTube. In San Juan, he had been living in the beach community of Isla Verde, where he would readily pose for photos with tourists who recognized him on the street, said former pro boxer Victor "Luvi" Callejas, a neighbor and friend.

Camacho battled drugs, alcohol and other problems throughout his life. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison for the burglary of a computer store in Mississippi. While arresting him on the burglary charge in January 2005, police also found the drug ecstasy.

A judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail, though, after violating that probation. His wife also filed domestic abuse complaints against him twice before their divorce several years ago.

Hall of Fame Boxing Writer Bert Sugar Dies at 74.

Bert Randolph Sugar (June 7, 1937 – March 25, 2012)

Bert Sugar with Coach Aman of the Queens Boxing Gym at the Boxing Hall of Fame.

    Mount Kisco,NY- Longtime Sports/boxing writer and historian Bert Sugar died Sunday in a Westchester, New York hospital. He was 74.
According to the Hall of Fame’s website, Sugar was a graduate of the university of Maryland and attended law school at Michigan. He briefly practiced law after passing the bar in Washington, DC and also worked in advertising in nyc before following his passion for boxing.

Sugar was an editor for Boxing Illustrated from 1969-1973, served as editor-in-chief for The Ring from 1979–1983 and founded Fight Game magazine in 1998. He wrote over 80 books, including the 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time, Great Fights, Bert Sugar on Boxing, 100 Years of Boxing, just to name a few.

Sugar was called “The Greatest Boxing Writer of the 20th Century” by the International Veterans Boxing Association.

Sugar known for his trademark fedora and cigar was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.

“Bert Sugar was a truly colorful character in the sport of boxing,” said Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy in a statement on the website. “His quick wit and amazing knowledge about boxing made him a fan favorite as a writer and as a commentator. As the boxing community mourns his passing, the Hall remembers him and his contributions to the sport.

Angelo Dundee (August 30, 1921 - February 1, 2012)

Angelo Dundee was born Angelo Mirena on August 30, 1921 His older brother took the last name of his favorite fighter later Angelo followed suit. Angelo worked with 15 world champions, greats like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilio, George Foreman and Willie Pastrano to name a few.

Born in Philadelphia to Italian parents, Dundee moved to New York to work with his brother Chris Dundee, who was a boxing promoter. Angelo learned how to be a cornerman by watching the great trainers of Stillman's Gym. Men like Charlie Goldman, Ray Arcel, and Chickie Ferrera also from his brother Chris. Angelo’s first World Champion was Carmen Basilio. Basilio defeated Tony DeMarco for the world welterweight crown. Later Basilio moved up in weight and took the World Middleweight crown from the great Sugar Ray Robinson.

Angelo trained & cornered Ali for all his fights except for two (1960 against Hunsaker Ali was trained by Archie Moore) and Jimmy Ellis in 1971 cause Angelo also trained Ellis.



Angelo led Sugar Ray Leonard to wins over all time greats Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Dundee said he was shocked when George Foreman called and asked if Angelo would train him. Angelo said yes and in 1994 “Big George” became the oldest Heavyweight Champion in history beating the then undefeated Michael Moorer.

Angelo Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

Dundee died at the age of 90 on February 1, 2012, in Tampa, Florida.