CHAMPIONS

SCHEDULE

RESULTS

 

           

 
Print this article
 
World Boxing Federation Champions Of The Past: Felix Camacho
POSTED ON JANUARY 9, 2017.
BY: CLIVE BAUM.
                                            Bookmark and Share

         

 
FEATURE   Photo: Former World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Super Bantamweight Champion Felix "Showtime" Camacho.
 
 

Since the World Boxing Federation was originally founded by American Larry Carrier in 1988, many of the sport’s biggest names have won a WBF title, and proudly defended the blue, red and gold belt all over the world.

In the Champions Of The Past Series we take a closer look at some of the boxers who held WBF titles in years gone by, from lesser known champions to world renowned fighters, legends of the sport and current or future Hall of Famers.

  
  

As the younger brother of legendary Hector “Macho” Camacho, it was always unlikely that former WBF World Super Bantamweight Champion Felix “Showtime” Camacho would accomplish as much as his famous sibling. But Felix did have talent, and he had a career that most would be proud of.


Born on June 27, 1966 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Felix was clearly inspired to take up boxing by watching Hector, who was four years older than him and had won WBC and WBO world championships at Lightweight, while going 31-0, by the time Felix was ready to follow him into the professional ranks in 1988.


Since he grew up in Harlem, New York, it was only fitting that Felix would make his pro debut in the United States, so that’s what he did on June 25, 1988 at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, scoring a unanimous decision over Dan Fiello (1-3-1) on the undercard of his brothers victory over Reyes Antonio Cruz.


Four months later he returned for his second paid bout, this time in his birth-country, beating Jaime Castellano (1-7) clearly on points over four rounds in Bayamon. But his next twelve fights would take place in the USA, including a tough split decision victory over Journeyman Darryl Pinckney (4-10-2) to win the Florida State title in June of 1990.


While it was only natural that Felix would often fight in the shadow of Hector, on the “Macho Man´s” undercards, he had now developed into a main event fighter himself. But could he also bring another world championship to the Camacho family?


A Southpaw like his brother, many believed he had the talent to do so, but just as many felt that lack of discipline was his greatest adversary. He had already lost two fights against opponents he was expected to handle, Sammy Ruiz (7-11-4) and Jose Badillo (7-0), albeit by very close margins, so the critics had a valid point.


On May 27, 1992, headlining a card in San Juan, only twenty kilometers from Bayamon, Felix got his chance to prove the nay-sayers wrong when he was matched against Mexico´s Alberto Cepeda (12-3) in a fight for the vacant WBF World Super Bantamweight crown.


And the twenty-five year-old didn’t disappoint the many fans and friends, and of course members of his family, who had showed up to support him on the night. Felix dominated Cepeda from early on, and won the WBF world title by ninth round knock-out. It would turn out to be the absolute highlight of his career!


Now holding a 15-2 (6) record, and a world championship, the world was Felix Camacho´s oyster. So he was expected to build on his resume when he took on former WBO world titlist Orlando Fernandez (13-5) in a non-title fight the following September.


Fernandez, who had lost his WBO belt to Jesse Benavidez the previous year, still had a lot of gas left in his tank and appeared to be the hungrier fighter. After ten rounds of boxing, he was declared the winner by scores of 96-95, 97-94 and 97-93.


A rematch was quickly arranged, this time with Camacho´s world title on the line, and so they clashed again only three months later, on December 9, 1992 in San Juan. But even if Camacho took the challenge more serious the second time around, Fernandez still had too much for him and won the WBF title by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-112, 117-112).


Perhaps disappointed with himself, Camacho took all of 1993 off and only returned to the ring in January of 1994. Two routine victories over Shawn Wilkins (7-5-2) and Tommy Barnes (8-11-1) put him in line for a crack at IBF World Super Bantamweight champion Vuyani Bungu (24-2) in South Africa on November 19, 1994.


Camacho acquitted himself quite well against Bungu, but never appeared to be close to victory and lost the fight by wide decision. With rumors of drug and alcohol abuse, it was no great surprise that he drifted away from boxing soon after the fight in Hammanskraal.


Almost four years later, In August 1998, he made a comeback in Miami, beating Elias Juarez (10-9-4) on points in a four-rounder. Back in his brothers shadow, Felix saw Hector defeat Tony Menefee in the main even of the show at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort.


But it would be almost two years before he fought again, stopping Percy Bailey (7-6-1) in one round. Eight months after that, continuing to tag along with Hector, he beat Elias Juarez (now 10-16-4) one more time, by decision over eight rounds.


That would be his last outing in over nine years. He had one more fight, in September 2010 at forty-four years of age, losing on points to up-start Adrian Perez (5-2-1) in Fort Myers, Florida. In between his last two ring-appearances, he spend five years in prison, convicted on twelve burglary and grand theft charges.


Not long after that ill-fated last comeback, Camacho was again in trouble, and soon found himself back behind bars with a sentence of fifteen years for burglary and theft. His lawyers claim that head-trauma from his boxing career, pugilistic dementia, is one of the main reasons he has been unable to stay on the right side of the law.


His final record stands at 20-6 (7).


The Camacho brothers both did well in the ring. Hector, 79-6-3 (38), obviously better than Felix. Outside the ring, they both have very sad stories that include substance abuse and criminal behavior.


The combination of drugs and taking too many blows to the head probably did contribute to the current situation of Felix. If possible, and depending on how you look at it, Hector´s fate is even sadder, as he was killed in a Bayamon shooting in 2012.

 
 
 
   Archive
  Part 36: Homer Gibbins
  Part 35: Joe Bugner
  Part 34: Myriam Lamare
  Part 33: Darrin Morris
  Part 32: Suwito Lagola
  Part 31: Aaron Zarate
  Part 30: Tommy Small
  Part 29: Matthew Charleston
  Part 28: Jane Couch
  Part 27: Fahlan Sakkreerin
  Part 26: Kenny Keene
  Part 25: Yvan Mendy
  Part 24: Ronnie Magramo
  Part 23: Randall Yonker
  Part 22: Holly Holm
  Part 21: Vinnie Curto
  Part 20: Robin Reid
  Part 19: Lionel Butler
  Part 18: Mads Larsen
  Part 17: Ken Sigurani
  Part 16: Orlando Fernandez
  Part 15: Roger Turner
  Part 14: Roy Jones Jr.
  Part 13: Fitz Vanderpool
  Part 12: Steve Roberts
  Part 11: Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga
  Part 10: Junior Witter
  Part 9: Jimmy Thunder
  Part 8: Juan Lazcano
  Part 7: Jeff Malcolm
  Part 6: Ricky Parkey
  Part 5: Carl Daniels
  Part 4: Angel Manfredy
  Part 3: Samson Dutch Boy Gym
  Part 2: Greg Haugen
  Part 1: Johnny Nelson
 
 
 

| HOME |
       
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © wbf -  all rights reserved     |     world boxing federation     |     www.worldboxingfederation.net     |     webdesign by f.j.e.e.k. 2009     |