EAST HARLEM–His contemporaries turned out in force to pay tribute to legendary boxing champion Hector Macho Man Camacho at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in the fighter’s old neighborhood on Friday and Saturday.
The general public, thousands of mourners, was permitted to file through the church for a final viewing of the larger than life Camacho for seven hours on Friday in the heart of this, his old Spanish Harlem stomping grounds.
You knew Thomas Hearns’ conqueror Iran “The Blade” Barkley would be there. I did a video interview with Iran, speaking on his fondness for the mercurial Camacho, and it ended abruptly when tears came to the ex-world midddleweight champion and he choked up.
SEE VIDEO FROM CAMACHO TRIBUTE IN SPANISH HARLEM
Barkley wasn’t the only fistic colleague to turn out for Camacho, killed in what looks like a Puerto Rican drug deal gone bad, dead at age 50.
Sweet Saoul Mamby, the onetime Bronx gypsy cab driver who was a fine world champ in his own right, was there to pay his considered respects.
“We were sparring one day and Hector clocked me after the bell,” Mamby said, smiling at the memory. “So we did not speak for a few days but then he apologized and it was forgotten. He was quite the character, always laughing and joking.
Brooklyn journeyman heavyweight Mitch Rose was there also. Rose had his big boxing night when, with a measly 1-6-1 record, he shocked colorful and unbeaten Eric Esch, better known as Butterbean, at Madison Square Garden.
“I loved the Macho Man,” Rose said. “I had to come over here.”
Rose, who sells boxing cards and is peddling a crazy book entitled “Mike Tyson Tried To Kill My Daddy” also had a nightclub altercation with Iron Mike.
But, according to Rose, he and Tyson are buddies today.
“It’s all good between me and Tyson, Mike knows I’m just out here hustling,” the bombastic Rose said.
Another familiar face at the service was photographer Teddy Blackburn, a Bronx native who was a one man charity fundraiser for mentally and physically crippled ex-middleweight champ Gerald GMan McClellan.
“The Macho Man entertained the people, he made you laugh,” Blackburn said.
Former middleweight contender Dennis “The Magician” Milton was also present.
Camacho was buried at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx following a funeral mass on Saturday.
For two final days in his ‘hood, they cheered the Macho Man one more time.
Thoughts and prayers to boxer Hector Camacho Jr. and the whole family.
“This was your enemy and your friend,” Hector Jr. said to me.
Junior was kidding. The Macho Man was always a friend.
He was a friend to all journalists and to everyone in boxing.
Like Manny Steward, we’ve lost another ambassador of our sport.
Siempre, Macho Man, siempre.
