Just like his father, Hector "Macho" Camacho Jr. is becoming known for his flamboyant ring entrances and outfits, as well as for his boxing skills.
The 21-year-old junior welterweight (140-pound limit) fought Sunday night in the main event of the FOX Sunday night fight card, and his ring entrance was nothing short of spectacular!
Camacho, who was defending his WBA North American title - a bogus title with no meaning - fought veteran Harold Warren, who wore a flashy outfit himself into the ring. But it was Camacho Jr. that stole the show before the first bell ever rang.
With his father, a former three-time world champion who is still fighting, and family at ringside, Junior first came popping up from a big black cauldron of steaming witches' brew in an outfit and hat that is undescribable with mere words on paper. The music was blaring and the lights were shining as Camacho made his way into the ring for the introductions. It was a sight to see!
Oh yeah, the fight. Camacho put his undefeated 26-0, 15 KOs record on the line against the 39-year old Warren, who brought a 42-11, 20 KOs record into the bout.
The first round saw both fighters show a little caution as the fight began and, as an ordinary first round was coming to an end, suddenly Camacho landed a wicked straight right hand to Warren's jaw, and down he went. Warren barely got up before the 10-count and wobbled all over the ring as he tried to get his legs under him. But it was useless, as Warren was out-on-his-feet and the referee wisely stopped the fight.
It was a devastating one-punch knockout win for Camacho. Official time was 2:59 of round one. By the way, the ring walk by the fighters lasted longer than the actual fight.
Afterward, both father and son were on the post-fight interview and other than yelling "It's Macho Time" nothing much was said by either one of them.
Also on the telecast, FOX showed a decent enough heavyweight fight between Dale Crowe and Fres Oquendo. The undefeated Oquendo (17-0, 9 KOs) climbed off the canvas in Round 2 to wear down a game Crowe (18-3, 11 KOs). Oquendo won a unanimous 10-round decision.
Oquendo, 22 and from Puerto Rico, has a future in the heavyweight ranks if he improves and perfects his skills in future fights. He is part of the Felix Trinidad camp.
Felix Trinidad Sr. trains Oquendo and worked his corner for the fight. Oquendo said afterwards he wants to become "the first Puerto Rican to win the heavyweight title" and, at his young age, he has a shot of that someday coming true.
The fights came from the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Ill.
You can see that spectacular ring entrance and everything else that happened on that telecast for yourself today as FOX Sports airs the two-hour card again at 2 p.m.
- The ESPN2 live fight card Friday night also featured a spectacular one-punch knockout win.
Antonio Diaz (30-2, 21 KOs) and Las Vegas fighter James Crayton (31-12-2) fought for the bogus IBA junior welterweight title and Diaz, who was struggling in the fight, clocked Crayton with a left hook to the jaw that put Crayton down and out. It came at the 2:58 mark in Round 8 of their scheduled 12-round title fight.
Next Friday at 6 p.m. the ESPN2 live card will be an all-women's card. The main event has Margaret Sideroff fighting Jolene Blackshear for the IFBA women's flyweight title.
- And on Saturday, Showtime has Kostya Tszyu defending his WBC junior welterweight title by taking on Ahmed Santos in the main event.
Also on the telecast, which is a same-day tape, Zab Judah and Jan Bergman go at each other for Judah's IBF junior welterweight crown. The action begins at 10 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the U.S. Olympic Trials featuring some of the country's top amateur fighters will be shown on NBC starting at 11 a.m.
A busy weekend of boxing coming up, and it ends with the FOX Sports Net Sunday night fight card that starts at 7 p.m.
SOME SAD NEWS - Former middleweight contender Steve Little, who has trained here in Carson City (and a guest on my TV show a couple of times) died of cancer last week at 34.
More sad news regarding former heavyweight contender Henry Tillman.
Tillman, who has trained and fought in Reno, has been charged with murder in Los Angeles. Don't know all the details yet as he is awaiting trial, but that's sad to hear. Tillman once showed some promise as a heavyweight, but his future looks bleak now.
Alan Rogers is the Nevada Appeal boxing writer.