By Ronielt Castro
Hector “Macho” Camacho, Jr. (48(27K.O.)-3-1) takes on
former NABF and USBA lightweight champion Israel “Pito”
Cardona (36(28K.O.)-9-0) for the vacant WBC Caribbean
Federation Light Middleweight Title. After going one on
one in the ring with Hector Macho Camacho Jr I sat down
one on one for an interview with Camacho, Jr. at the gym
to ask him about preparations for his upcoming fight.
Here is what he had to say…..
Q:
First of all, Hector I would like to thank you for
taking the time out from training camp.
Hector, Jr.:
I would like to say thanks; it’s a pleasure being here
and being interviewed. It gives me a chance to let the
world know, the boxing world know, that I’m back. It’s
JR. TIME!!!!!
Q:
How’s training camp going?
Hector, Jr.:
Training camp has been going well. It’s the first time
in a long time that I have been anxious for a fight.
It’s the first time I have been strategizing for a
fight, getting ready, eating, sleeping, and boxing.
That’s all I have been doing lately. It feels good to
be back, like I’m rejuvenated, starting over again, it’s
like my last hurrah.
Q:
Cardona is a formidable opponent. What are some the
strategies that your team has in mind for this fight?
Hector, Jr.:
Well Cardona, not to take anything away from him, he was
a good fight, a two time world champion, has all the
credentials in the world, but I feel he is in over his
head, past his prime, and fighting a young Camacho who
is a man at the age of 30. He is fighting at 154 and
Cardona was a champion at 135. He is fighting me at my
weight so I should be stronger, faster, and I’m a better
fighter, better boxer. I think he is over his head, but
I’m taking nothing away from him and expecting a tough
fight and preparing for the best Cardona
Q:
What do you usually do in preparation for this, or any
fight? Do you usually study the tapes of your
opponents?
Hector, Jr.:
This is the first time I have actually studied tapes of
Cardona. I usually don’t study tapes of opponents
because when a fighter comes to fight me, they come with
a different game plan. My style is different from any
other fighter because I’m a south paw. For this time, I
have studied Cardona from head to toe: everything from
his lateral movement, foot movement, head movement, body
movement. I’ve been studying him to the tee in order to
execute the perfect game plan that the boxing world will
see that Camacho, Jr. is back come August 29.
Q:
It’s well known that in the past couple of fights you
have come in overweight and underprepared. How’s your
weight in preparation for this fight?
Hector, Jr.:
My weight is on target and my last couple of fights, you
reap what you sow. People said I was out of shape,
which I was. It’s not the same I come from a great
pedigree. I came from fighting on HBO, fighting top
notch opponents, but when you come to fight somebody
like “Joe Blow,” it’s not the same preparation to fight
someone like Leija, Rocky Martinez on HBO, or Joe
Hutchinson
on Fox. When you fight people you know nothing about,
it does not do anything for me, but Cardona brings out
the best in me.
Q:
Over the last couple of years, your dedication has been
questionable. Would it be fair to say you have
rededicated yourself to boxing?
Hector, Jr.:
It would be fair to say I have rededicated myself. I
have sat back the last 3 or 4 years watching all these
underachievers making it big, like Mayorga who doesn’t
have half the skills I have. They are up there fighting
big fights, so I have been sitting back watching and
saying boxing is missing and lacking in charisma,
excitement, and talent. I have all this talent and am
wasting time. I told myself, I cannot sit back and let
this game pass me by without me achieving what I’m
supposed to achieve. So I’m out to get what’s mine.
Q:
You have a new head coach and strengthening coach. Why
the change?
Hector, Jr.:
I brought my trainer, Robert Lee, who was one of the
first guys who trained my father in the amateur days.
He brought my father to his first championship. So I
feel like me coming back with a new attitude, I would
come back with a new team behind me. That’s why I have
Willie Classen (son of New York’s 1960 golden glove
champion) who is a personal trainer. He has helped me
with strength and conditioning. I have surrounded
myself with Robert Lee, who can get me back to the
basics in boxing. I just want a good team behind me, to
make my last run, my last hurrah.
Q:
How is the synergy between you and the head coach?
Hector, Jr.:
It’s great man, they say in boxing: it’s the fighter is
the one who fights the fights, but in this case, I have
learned that’s a team work and team effort. People
don’t see that part of boxing. Yeah it’s me who fights
alone in the ring, but the team, the game plan, is a
strategy that we come up with to execute that one day.
Q:
How has your new head coach improved your boxing skills?
Hector, Jr.:
Well, I see a lot of my father in him. You can tell
where my father gets his style from, at least most of
it. His style comes from Robert Lee, so it takes me
back to the basics in boxing. I become a puncher
knocking anybody out and I feel I can knock anyone out.
He took me back to the basics and took the best out
which is, boxing using my speed, movement, just getting
back to the basics using speed and lateral movement.
Q:
The vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE)
light middleweight title is up for grabs. What
can fans expect from you in this fight?
Hector, Jr.:
A WIN A WIN!!!!! Let’s say a NEW CHAMP Hector “Macho”
Camacho, Jr.
Q:
Is that win going to come by knock out or decision?
Hector, Jr.:
I am working hard and I have seen Cardona fight at 154.
He was a good fighter at 135, but at 154 he is over his
head because I’m a stronger guy. By the time I walk
into the ring, I’m a super middle weight. I will be too
strong for him. I am feeling good and I know I have a
fight on my hands, and I take nothing away from
Cardona. He is a serious fighter and comes to fight.
When you fight a guy like Camacho, Jr., you’re fighting
a name, a legacy, and you’re coming ready. I’m
expecting the best of him, but the fans can expect
Camacho with a W, a WIN. No matter how it comes, I am
going to win.
Q:
Being the son of legendary 3 time World champion Hector
“Macho” Camacho, Sr., do you feel the pressure of having
such a famous father?
Hector, Jr.:
It has its pro’s and con’s. The pro’s is [sic] that
everyone recognizes the name so when they hear Camacho,
Jr., they come to see me. T he con’s is [sic] that
everyone expects the same thing. They expect me to fill
those big shoes. Like I tell everyone, I can only do
me. What my father did in his time is what he did in
his era. I have my own legacy to build.
Q:
There has been talk of a fight with John Duddy as your
next opponent. Is that the fight you most want?
Hector, Jr.:
There has been talk of John Duddy, Zab Judah, and talks
about my next fight in Las Vegas, the Garden, but all
that means nothing until I get past August 29, so my
main focus is Cardona. Everything else is just talk.
Cardona is first.
Q:
Speaking of John Duddy, he fought with Yori Boy Campas,
in what was considered fight of the year in 2006, you
allegedly signed a contract to fight Campas and were
suspended by the Puerto Rican Commission. Would you
care to tell your side of the story?
Hector, Jr.:
You said it all. Allegedly, I signed the contract which
I never did sign the contract. It was something that
was forged. My management team has already fought four
states which took me off the suspension list; Puerto
Rico is the last one. It’s something they do, they use
my name and forge my signature. I can’t speak too much
about it due to the legal aspects. Like I said,
allegedly I signed, which I never did.
Q:
Is there any other fighter that you would like to fight?
Hector, Jr.:
I want all the top dogs. First and foremost is Cardona,
but there are a lot of big names out there: people in my
era, my time that came up from the ‘96 Olympics.
There’s the Zab Judah, Mayweather, Spinks out there. I
am looking for big names. Of course, I want to fight
Chavez, Jr. I want to kick his ass for myself, for my
father, for Puerto Rico. That’s the fight I want.
Q:
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., who is also the son of
legendary World Champion Julio Cesar Chavez, who I might
add fought your father, is currently undefeated and in
the same division. Would a showdown with him be of
interest?
Hector, Jr.:
That’s a big fight, and he is undefeated, and as long as
he continues to fight bums, he is going to stay
undefeated until he fights somebody. They are going to
keep doing that. They are going to milk him. It comes
to a point that a fight makes too much sense not to
happen. Like I said, he is Mexican, he has Mexican
pride, so if he has the cojones (balls) he has to put
them in his place and let’s make the fight happen. I
want the fight to happen. I even fought in Mexico on a
double-header to make the fight happen. Mexico wants
the fight, Puerto Rico wants the fight. It makes too
much sense for the fight not to happen, but top rank and
his people are taking care of him. It gets to a certain
point in his career, they have to let him lose. He is
going to catch a loss sooner or later. He came close to
losing to some no name fighters, so give the boy some
space and let him go.
Q:
So you’re saying you are the man that can give Chavez,
Jr. his first loss?
Hector, Jr.: I would love to, not only for me, but for
my father and Puerto Rico. I have been challenging him
for the longest time. I have said it in Spanish and
English. I don’t know what else to do, maybe I have to
cross the border and make him.
Q:
On a completely different note, you have recently been
given the honor of being the ambassador to the charity
“Angels Caring Eyes.” Can you tell me a little bit
about that charity and your role?
Hector, Jr.:
I am a spokesperson. I am here to help out as much as I
can. Daniel Estrada, president of “Angels caring Eyes”,
is a former fighter of my coach, Robert Lee, who is my
trainer. I like working with the kids. I am a boys
club alumni and I love giving back. I am here to give
back and help out. It’s a back and forth thing. I
learn with the kids and they learn from me. It’s a good
relationship.
Q:
In coming to a close, is there anything you would like
to say to your fans?
Hector, Jr.:
I’m sorry you reap what you sow. I took a long break.
I apologize, but I am back. It’s my time, it’s my night
come August 29th. I’m back; it’s my time to shine.
It’s Jr. TIME!!!!!
Q:
Coach, Robert Lee, how do you see Camacho, Jr. in
preparation for this fight?
Coach Lee:
He looks very sharp and ready to fight. I am not
worried about anything. I know he is ready.
Hector, thanks again for taking time out of training
camp. Also, I would like to thank Willie Classen,
Camacho’s strengthening coach, for allowing me to
participate in Camacho’s rigorous day to day routine for
the past week. Good luck with the fight on August 29th.
The fight will be held at the W
