Macho Time: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of Hector Camacho

Sportswriter Giudice (A Fire Burns Within) takes an affecting warts-and-all look at the life of boxer Hector “Macho” Camacho (1962–2012), who survived a difficult childhood to become a world champion before his lifelong struggle with addiction led to his murder at the age of 50. Camacho was born in Puerto Rico; his mother took the children to New York to escape their abusive father, but he followed them. Before he was five, Camacho began to hit his father to protect his mother. Camacho’s prowess as a young street fighter (“Macho was always Macho... lovable, crazy, always crazy,” according to his sister) led to his becoming a promising boxing prospect as a teen, and a three-time Golden Gloves champion. His talents, which included “blazing hand and foot speed,” brought him success in the ring, though Giudice notes he made “a career of integrating illegal tactics into his game plan,” such as lunging before glove touch and spinning opponents. Despite lucrative paydays and celebrity, Camacho never overcame his drug addiction or saved his winnings, and he periodically ran into legal trouble, including imprisonment at Rikers for joyriding. And when he was found shot to death in a parked car, the car also held ten bags of cocaine. Giudice’s take on the complicated fighter will move even those who’ve never tuned into a boxing match. (Oct.)