Héctor "Macho" Camacho Dies From Shooting Injuries at Age 50

Prizefighter succumbs to gunshot wounds after being taken off life support Saturday

By Josh Grossberg Nov 24, 2012 3:18 PMTags
Hector 'Macho' CamachoTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Héctor Camacho, the legendary professional boxer whose flamboyant style, power and speed in the ring earned him the nickname "Macho" along with a slew of world championship belts, has died from injuries sustained in a shooting on Tuesday in his native Puerto Rico.

He was 50 years old.

According to ESPN, Camacho passed away Saturday after gunshot wounds received while riding as a passenger seat of a car outside of a bar in his hometown of Bayamón left him in critical condition. 

Police told the El Nuevo Dia that someone pulled up by the vehicle and opened fire, killing the Mustang's driver, while the prizefighter suffered a bullet to his jaw and neck that fractured two vertebrae and left him brain dead. He subsequently suffered cardiac arrest Wednesday and, after doctors said his prognosis was "very poor," he was taken off life support and died Saturday.

Camacho's death represents a heavy blow to the boxing world. Before he retired, the champ's overall record stood at 79 wins—45 of them by knockouts—6 losses and 3 draws.

Camacho faced some of the sport's greateast stars on his way to taking home featherweight, lightweight and light welterweight titles during his heyday in the '80s and '90s.

Among notable opponents were Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, whom he bested for the WBO light welterweight title; Julio César Chávez, to whom he lost by unanimous decision in a 1992 Las Vegas grudge match; Roberto Durán, whom he defeated twice; and Sugar Ray Leonard, whom he knocked out in five rounds in 1997.

Héctor also lost by unanimous decision two epic battles for the world welterweight championship—one in 1994 against Félix Trinidad and another in 1997 against Oscar De La Hoya.

Camacho then faded from the spotlight, but never officially retired. Instead, his bouts became more sporadic.

In his later years, Camacho struggled with drugs and alcohol. In April of this year, he was charged with a felony count of child abuse after allegedly assaulting his teenage son at his ex-wife's home.

So far, no arrests have been made in the shooting.