Hector Camacho: 1962—: Boxer

Greg Haugen handed Camacho his first professional loss in 1991, breaking Camacho's perfect 39-0 record. After losing the 12-round decision, Camacho briefly relinquished the junior welterweight title; however, in 1991 he went another 12 rounds with Haugen to regain the title. In September of 1992 Camacho faced Julio César Chávez, one of the greatest boxers in the lighter weight divisions. Over his career Camacho had battled critics who thought he was a great talker and a great showman, but not a great boxer. A win over Chavez would quiet the critics. Camacho had told Sport two years earlier, "The Chavez fight is the ultimate. I have to be my very best to beat him." Unfortunately for Camacho, he lost the bout in a 12-round decision, turning over his WBC junior welterweight title and missing an opportunity to pick up the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welter-weight title.

After three non-title bouts in 1993, Camacho had a shot at the IBF welterweight title in 1994, against Felix "Tito" Trinidad, but lost by decision in 12 rounds. However, the next year proved to be a time of renewed commitment by Camacho. He won ten bouts, took the International Boxing Council's (IBC) welterweight title in January, and successfully defended it in two title fights during the year. In 1996 he entered the ring six times, winning five of the fights, with one draw. The highlight of his year was a 12-round win over boxing great Roberto Duran. In 1997 he pounded an aging Sugar Ray Leonard, who was making his last comeback attempt, and won by TKO in the fifth round. In March of 1997 he faced Oscar De La Hoya for a $3-million payout, the largest of his career, for the WBC welter-weight title. The younger De La Hoya outmatched Camacho, who was by then a step off his signature quickness. De La Hoya, hoping to be the first to beat Camacho by a KO, settled for being only the second fighter to knock Camacho to the ground, winning by decision.

Between 1998 and 2000, Camacho fought ten times, winning nine and fighting to a draw in another. In 2001 he once again faced Duran, who was attempting a comeback. Camacho won a 12-round decision and claimed the National Boxing Association (NBA) super middleweight title, but the fight, between two boxers now considered to be elder statesmen, had little fanfare. With no fights in 2002, Camacho returned to the ring in 2003 to win by TKO in the ninth round against Otilio Villareal. Though his own boxing career is winding down, Camacho has now become deeply involved in the boxing career of his oldest son, Hector, Jr., a successful boxer in his own right.