HECTOR CAMACHO JR. CALLS FERNANDO VARGAS "A BUM WITH A NAME"
By Socrates Palmer Jr.

Two weeks ago in Cleveland, Ohio, Hector Camacho Jr. returned to the ring with a win over Israel “Pito” Cardona. In a tightly contested junior middleweight bout Camacho earned a unanimous decision against the former lightweight contender. Official scores were 95-92 (twice) and 94-93. Despite the win, Camacho admitted it was not the most impressive performance of his career, but nevertheless it goes into the record books as a victory.

“It was not the win I was looking for, but a win is a win like the way they say in boxing. What hurt me to be honest was that I was about 8 to 10 pounds over[weight] the week of the fight. I’m not as young as I used to be, and I thought I could lose it no problem. Also the scale that I was using was a little off compared to the scale that they had in Cleveland. But I made weight regardless and I’m happy with the win. I’m happy with myself because I mustered out the win, [even though] I did not have the energy by the time the fight started. It was not in my best performance and he could not beat me. Pito came to fight and he wanted the win but on my worst night he did not beat me,” said Camacho.

Camacho says that his struggle to make 154 pounds left his body completely zapped. Subsequently after the weigh-in Camacho was administered intravenous therapy to get the fluids back into his system. “After the third round I felt zapped. I won the fight thanks to my legs and boxing skills. I have to give it to Cardona he’s a veteran and he used a few tricks in there. I tell you after the fight my hips were killing me. He hit me with a lot of hip shots and I beat him at his own game.  At no point during the fight did I feel in trouble,” said Camacho.

The second generation “Macho Man” swept all three scorecards and improves his record to 49-3-1. The soon to be 31 year old admitted that the attendance for the fight was a little disappointing. However there was one interested bystander in the audience and one that caught Camacho by surprise, it was former multi time world champion Fernando Vargas.

According to Camacho, Vargas approached him at the weigh in. The two exchanged cordial words. During their conversation Camacho says he asked Vargas if he was here to see him and scout him as an opponent. Vargas responded by saying “beat Cardona and yes I want the fight.”

“First off of all I was completely shocked to see him there, I had no idea he’d be there. We already had our next fight set as Yori Boy Campas, which should happen in October. But for him to come looking like a super heavyweight and say he’s looking for a fight that’s a slap in the face. I see it as straight disrespect like I’m easy pickings,” Camacho.

“I’d love to fight Fernando we know each other since we were kids and to make things easy for him we can make the fight at 165. I’ll come in at like160. Matter of fact I’ll give him the 10 pounds, in California they allow up to a 10 pound difference,” Camacho.

Camacho feels so benevolent and accommodating towards Vargas because of the robust shape “El Feroz” appeared to be in that night. Camacho feels there’s no chance of Vargas ever returning to the junior middleweight division. “He got tits and a double chin, I aint losing to no guy with tits. He’s got a belly too what it comes down to it he looks like a fat Mexican. I’m not sugar coating shit,” Camacho.

Outside of a payday, how can anyone take fights with Vargas or Campas seriously? How can Camacho say that he wants to get back into the mix of the mainstream by fighting men who have seen better days in the ring? Camacho is well aware of this thinking but he also knows that from a business standpoint he can do a lot worse.

“Look does it make sense for me to fight a no-name bum or a bum with no name? An up and coming prospect they are not going to put in there with me, because I’m too risky and they are not going to bring any money. So I’d rather fight a bum with a name, like a Vargas, Campas or Cardona. Harry Joe Yorgey nobody knows that guy. Yeah he’s tough but he’s average. We’ve been trying to get [Julio Ceasar]Chavez Jr. but they don’t want that fight, same thing with [John] Duddy and no answer. These are guys who sell tickets and have a name. I also have a name so it makes sense. Seriously how good is [Alfredo] Angulo? He’s another average guy and he’s boring. Angulo will never have the name Vargas has. Never no matter how good he is nobody knows who he is,” said Camacho.

“Its not like I’m out there chasing these old guys, it just fell in my lap. They came to me, Vargas came to me, and it’s a good pay day and a name. The funny thing is me and him are like the same age. So if we can make the fight, we can sell some tickets out in California where he’s a big hero and his fans will come out. We fight Campas in Texas with those fanatical Mexican fight fans and we can sell tickets. It’s a messed up situation I’m in right now. If I beat up a washed up Vargas its like yeah you won but he’s washed up. If he beats me I got beat by a washed up Vargas. But its a good pay day for me and an easy win for me,” said Camacho.

Camcho continued, "I like him as a person. He’s a cool dude. We are from the same amateur class, but business is business. He wants to fight me, than he’s really looking to get retired for good and knocked out. Let’s be real Socrates, I ask for [Miguel] Cotto and HBO and people in general are going to laugh at me. If I call out [Manny] Pacquiao it’s the same thing. So I have to build myself up against guys from my era Vargas or even a Zab Judah. I’d love to fight Zab. I’ve wanted that fight for a long time. To me it makes a lot of sense it’s a crossroads fight and, we both from NYC,” Camacho.
 
Camacho does not think too highly of another top flight junior middleweight, former welter weight champion and fellow Puerto Rican Kermit Cintron.

“I know people think Vargas is shot but to me with like 6 months training Vargas beats Cintron. I don’t think he’s got the heart to beat a Vargas. If he don’t like those comments come fight me,” Camacho.

As of now a tentative date is set for a Camacho versus Campas encounter in late October probably on Halloween. Corpus Christi, or San Antonio, Texas are like destinations.

“Its interesting for me, I want to knock him out something that my father did not do, he’s over the hill but no walk in the park either. Nobody dominates or beats up Yuri Boy. Honestly I personally feel I’m about two fights away from a big name like a Cintron or any big name,” Camacho.

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