Hector Camacho: 1962—: Boxer

In August of 1983 Camacho returned to Puerto Rico to face Rafael "Bazooka" Limon for the World Boxing Council (WBC) junior lightweight title. Fighting before a crowd of 10,000 in San Juan, 21-year-old Camacho destroyed 29-year-old veteran Limon, who was at the time ranked third, earning a technical knock out (TKO) in the fifth round. Camacho entered the ring in leopard-spotted trucks with a jacket to match. Sports Illustrated reported: "A buzz saw, not a belt, whipped Limon. Camacho leaped out of his corner at the opening bell and chased Limon backward, nearly bowling him over in the first 10 seconds. Camacho dominated that round as well as the second, while Limon was able only to send out his long, slow, looping rights and lefts."

In June of 1984 Camacho, who consistently struggled with maintaining a disciplined training schedule, gave up his super-feather weight title because he couldn't make the required weight (126 pounds) to defend it. At the peak of his career, Camacho suffered a personal and professional setback after a disagreement with his manager-trainer, Billy Giles, which ended the boxer's relationship with his manager. Giles then announced that Camacho had a serious drug habit. "The streets got Camacho again," he told New York. "A lot of drugs. You could tell by his performance in the ring, the way he was starting to lose his oxygen." Camacho fell into a deep depression, and did not fight for the remainder of the year.

He returned to the ring in 1985 and claimed the WBC lightweight title in a 12-round decision in Las Vegas against Jose Luis Ramirez. He successfully defended the title twice in 1986. His bout with Edwin Rosario in June of 1986 was a split decision, and although he managed to hang on for the win, Camacho took a beating from the knock-down power punches of his opponent. After just three fights in 1987 and 1988, Camacho stepped into the ring on March 3, 1989, to defeat Ray Mancini in a 12-round decision that awarded Camacho the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight title. After two non-title bouts, Camacho defended his welterweight title twice in 1990.