From: cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: rec.sport.misc
Subject: Chavez/Camacho Fight Review
Date: 14 Sep 1992 16:32:33 GMT
Organization: NASA/JSC


                   Camacho vs. Chavez Fight Review
                 For the WBC Super Lightweight Title
                  Chavez Wins by Unanimous Decision
                   Thomas & Mack Convention Center
                           Sept 12, 1992

Prior to the fight Chavez had stated his country would never forgive him if he
didn't punish Camacho. Chavez not only punished Hector, he brutally punished
him. Camacho was so badly beatened, he was relieved from attending the post
fight press conference. After 12 lopsided rounds, Hector was left was a
horribly swollen left eye, a puffed up face, a cut right eye, and unknown
internal injuries from Chavez's body attack. All this was enough to gain a
unanimous decision, Camachos respect (which he didn't need or cared for), and
cheers from the crowd of 19,000, mostly Mexican Nationals.

       The Thomas & Mack Convention Center (The Fight Site)

This fight was held in the Thomas & Mack Convention Center on the campus of the
University of Nevada. From a pure boxing watching perspective, it was a great
place to watch a fight. All seats were individual, pull down, box seats, with
good views even from the $50.00 section (where I was sitting!). compared to the
Mirage and Ceasars, this center was by far the best for watching a fight. At
Ceasars and the Mirage only the ground level had individual chairs, with the
upper levels being bench seats that hold about 50 people per row, and 50 people
only! This usually causes a problem when someone happens to sneak a person in.
It makes for a very uncomfortable evening. 

Although the seating was excellent, the concessions, memorabilia, and
facilities were horrible. Average time in the concession line was 30 minutes.
And the employees were overwelhmed as well as unprepared for the Mexicans
speaking spanish which added to the delays. The restrooms were crowded and
smoky (as well as the non smoking seating areas), and the memorabilia was
outrageously priced. $15.00 for a program, $20 for a poster, $28 for a T-shirt!


Getting into the center took 20 minutes just to get through the crowd to the
ticket taker. No hotels were offering bus service to the fight therefore we
waited 40 minutes in a line for a cab from the Tropicana. Luckily we hitched a
ride from the girls next to us on the way back. I was told later the wait for a
taxi was well over 1 hour. 

                           The Weigh In

The weigh in was held at the Las Vegas Hilton, which was the sponsor of the
fight. One would have never known this since there was little advertising in
the convention center. Camacho in his customary role came out and asked "What
time is it?" with the sparsely populated followers answering meakly "Macho
time!(?). This was one of his moves not to motivate his followers, but to
antagonize the Chavez people; and he did a very good job of it. Chavez was his
cool self, stepping up on the stage, putting his fists up in the air, and
giving his JC Superstar smile. Nothing flashy. Camacho on the otherhand was
noticably tame, no taunting his opponent, no mooning the Mexicans, no shooting
his mouth off about the Mexican people. It seemed as though Chavez had warned
him not to, and Chavez had! Chavez had told the press that Camacho knew better
than to shoot his mouth off prior to the fight because Chavez was to punish him
if he did. This seemed to have kept Hector untraditionally quiet. Hectors only
flashy act was weighing in at 140 butt naked. Other than that it was a tame
event for the Macho man.

                       The PreFight Ritual

Prior to the undercard, Camacho dressed in a G-string and a cape made from a
Puerto Rican flag embossed with BIG "M" (for macho??),  made his way into the
ring, danced, mooned the Mexicans at ringside, and once again antagonized the
Pro-Chavez crowd. When he entered the ring for the fight to an overwhelming
boo-ing crowd, he dressed as if he was on his way to  The Justice League of
America Super Hero Reunion ready to fight crime instead of Chavez. His attire
for the night consisted of his boxing trunks which resembled a shredded Puerto
Rican flag, a headband resembling Wonder Woman's, a SuperMacho cape, and
triangular shaped shoulder covers. All in all to say he looked like SuperMan
would be very accurate. To say he looked like a fool would be more truthful.
Chavez as usual came in with a Mexican Sombrero, his tradition red headband and
his working clothes. 

During the Puerto Rican Anthem, Camacho walked about the ring while some of the
crowd booed. (This was a very small part of the crowd, overall the crowd
respected the PR Anthem) During the Mexican Anthem, Chavez, as usual, sang
along with the 19,400 in attendance while Camacho took a stand on the other
side of the ring much like a SuperMan pose, feet spread apart and hands on his
hips. Later he stood right beside the lady singing the American National anthem
in what seemed to me as a show of disrespect, which seem to anger the Americans
in attendance.

One other pre-fight note: When Don King was introdoced as the promoter of the
fight (as well as manager of the two), he was loudly, AND I MEAN LOUDLY, booed.
And as if sensing a major defeat, he stood, like the coward he is, in Chavez
corner throughout the prefight introductions and singing of the national
anthems leaving the Macho Man in his corner with his few followers.

                              And the Fight!

Since it was such a loopsided fight, it hard to say it was great, unless you
are a supporter of Chavez, and you hate Camacho. Well I fall into that category
and it was A GREAT FIGHT! Thoughout the fight Camacho was on the defense with
Chavez pressing the attack. Camacho was loudly booed when he got in the ring
and began his running tactics as well as his holding. Yet Chavez was very
successful in cutting the ring off, pounding Macho with the left hooks to the
body and sharp pinpoint combinations. When the left to the body was not
cooking, Chavez would start off with a lead straight right making Camacho's
head snap back. This eventually left Machos face swollen and closed his left
eye. When Camacho stopped his running, Chavez continued his attack to the body
as if trying to truly punish him. He totally dominated the fight with power,
combinations, and body/head punches. 

Every round was like the previous, Chavez pressing the attack, Macho trying to
run, Chavez cutting the ring off, walking through Machos punches, left to the
body, combinations to the head, catch him again. To the Pro-Chavez fans it was
not enough to decision him, they wanted him hurt, punished. And Chavez gave
them just that. In the eight with the eye bothering Macho Chavez was close to a
KO beginning with a straight right then following Macho into the ropes with
hooks to the body and shots to the head. Macho was able to move and hold enough
to avoid a knockdown and survived the round, only knowing he had more to suffer
in the 9th. After the 8th, Macho no longer held his hands up in a victorious
fashion at the sound of the bell like he did in the previous rounds, looking
more like a fighter ready to get it over with and go home. Not until the end of
the 12th did he.raise his hands as if in victory. In the 11th Chavez once again
had Macho in trouble leaving Macho with nothing else to do but hold on. His
legs could not last the 3 minutes, and his punches had no speed or power.
Camacho was surviving.

Chavez was not just good, he was GREAT! Camacho was also at his peak, yet
nothing Camacho did bothered Chavez. If he ran, Chavez cut off the ring. If he
stood and fought, Chavez pounded the body. (Much like the Norris/Leonard fight)
Chavez was not beating up an unworthy opponent. Macho was at his peak for this
fight. He was in great shape, his speed was there and his foot work was there.
Macho was a definite worthy opponent, but Chavez was just that much better.