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Hector Camacho heads 2016 Hall of Fame class

Fighters Network
16
Dec

Hector “Macho” Camacho heads the International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2016, it was announced today.

Camacho is joined by Lupe Pintor and Hilario Zapata in the “Modern” category. Among others who will be inducted in June in Canastota, New York, are judge Harold Lederman, Nevada official Marc Ratner, journalist Jerry Izenberg and broadcaster Col. Bob Sheridan.

Camacho, who died in 2012, was perhaps best known for his flamboyance but he was special boxer whose career spanned 30 years. The slick, quick Puerto Rican held four world titles in three divisions in the 1980s and ’90s.

Among those Camacho (79-6-3, 38 knockouts) defeated: Bazooka Limon, Jose Luis Ramirez, Edwin Rosario, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Howard Davis Jr., Ray Mancini and Vinny Pazienza. In perhaps his biggest fight, he lost a decision to a prime Julio Cesar Chavez in 1992.



Camacho last fought in May 2010, when, at 47, he was outpointed by Saul Duran.

Pintor (56-14-2, 42 KOs) was a big puncher out of Mexico who held titles in the bantamweight and junior featherweight divisions in the ’80s and ’90s.

He outpointed Carlos Zarate to win his first title in 1979 and successfully defended eight times. He outpointed Juan Meza to win his second belt in 1985.

“Thank you very much,” Pintor said. “This is great news for me. I have been waiting for this news and I am very happy it happened while I am alive. I am very emotional and very thankful for this distinction.”

Zapata (43-10-1, 14 KOs) was among the best junior flyweights and flyweights of the 1980s. The Panamanian took part in 24 world title fights over three reigns, going 18-5-1.

“Thank you. I want to scream I’m so happy about being elected,” Zapata said. “I look forward to getting the Hall of Fame ring and seeing the fans and sharing this honor with them in Canastota. I’m especially honored to be in the Hall of Fame with Roberto Duran. I have a close relationship with him. He was an inspiration to my career. “

Lederman was a longtime judge who is best known for being the unofficial judge on HBO broadcasts. Ratner was the respected Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Officer for many years. Izenberg is an iconic sports writer from the Newark (New Jersery) Star-Ledger. Sheridan is a longtime broadcaster, perhaps best known for calling the Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson fight.

Posthumous honorees are Petey Sarron (Old-Timer) and trainer Whitey Esneault (Non-participant). Sarron (102-23-12, 25 KOs) was a featherweight contender in the 1920s and ’30s out of Birmingham, Alabama.

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