Showtime to air Camacho documentary on Dec. 4

Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

November 24th marked the eight-year anniversary of “Macho’s” death

Saturday, December 5th is a ludicrously cramped day of boxing; luckily, Showtime is here to ease us into it. The network today announced “Macho: The Hector Camacho Story,” which will air the day prior at 9:00 PM Eastern.

Via press release:

For the first time on film, MACHO: THE HECTOR CAMACHO STORY offers a thorough examination of an unlikely sports hero. The film celebrates Camacho’s sublime boxing skills and the unbridled charisma that brought Spanish Harlem and Puerto Rican culture to the center of the sports world. Through rare and revealing interviews with his mother, Maria Matias, sisters, wife Amy and son Hector Jr., the documentary also delves into the legendary fighter’s troubled mind and spirit, his battle with addiction and the inner turmoil that ultimately lead to his demise – a mysterious double homicide on a roadside in November 2012.

“Macho Camacho’s charisma, boxing prowess and flamboyant style made him a Puerto Rican sports icon, and, for a time, the biggest star in boxing. When he stepped into the ring, everyone knew it was ‘Macho Time,’” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “This film reveals the complex highs and lows of Hector’s life: the joy he brought so many, as well as the demons that he battled privately behind the scenes. Through it all, however, Camacho brought boxing a level of showmanship and flamboyance that was far ahead of his time.”

Born in Bayamon and raised in the projects of Spanish Harlem in the 1970s, Camacho ascended to the pinnacle of boxing. His dynamic speed, footwork and power combined with his unparalleled showmanship helped usher in a new era of modern boxing and made him a member of an exclusive club of fighters who transcended the sport. The film tells the story of Camacho’s rise from a troubled youth to a multi-division world champion. MACHO: THE HECTOR CAMACHO STORY revisits Camacho’s unforgettable performances against legends such as Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Julio Cesar Chavez, and pivotal career turning points in bouts with Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and beloved New England fighter Vinny Pazienza. Through all the ups and downs and wins and losses, Camacho’s story of resilience is inspiring, though, in the end, there was one opponent he could never beat – himself.

The documentary is directed by Eric Drath, whose work includes Assault in the Ring and three separate ESPN 30 for 30 shorts, among them the boxing-centric No Mas and Robbed.

Camacho (79-6-3, 38 KO) spent 30 years in the ring, facing and often beating some of the most notable figures of the 80s and 90s. As the summary mentions, however, he struggled badly with addiction, and ultimately suffered an untimely death at the age of 50 two years after his final bout.

Also, just because it reminded me, here’s Carlos Acevedo’s excellent piece on Camacho’s 1986 clash with Edwin Rosario.