Opinion: The Machismo of Macho Camacho

Dec. 3, 2012— -- This past weekend, 50-year-old boxer Hector Luis "el Macho" Camacho was buried in St. Raymond's cemetery in the Bronx, NY following his death after a drive-by-shooting on November 20 in his hometown of Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

In death, just as in his life, Camacho and his family, friends, and alleged lovers have been pulled into a media sideshow that perpetuates stereotypes rather than celebrates successes. At the center of this is Camacho's "machonalidad," the intersection of his identity as a boxer and a Latino, specifically a Puerto Rican man. This is more than garden variety machismo. This is about being man enough and Puerto Rican enough.

See also: Hector "Macho" Camacho (1962-2012)

Straddling national expectations and trite assumptions imposed by colonialism, Camacho's untimely death should be an opportunity to explore the growing violence on the island and its causes, as well as the role of Latinos as participants and spectacles in the sports world. What we have instead is media sensationalizing a personal and community loss by playing up every stereotype.

The Washington Post, ESPN (ESPN is owned by Disney, ABC News' parent company) and other outlets jumped on a "catfight" between two alleged girlfriends, Cynthia Castillo and Gloria Fernandez, at the wake in Puerto Rico. While the prize fighter couldn't pull any punches, the media was thrilled to report on "wild" women throwing food and scratching over their deceased womanizing Latin lover.

Violence is the assumed nature of Puerto Rican men and women. Their anger,exoticized by TMZ which pointed out the use of their native Spanish language ("and boy was she pissed! So pissed she couldn't even speak English!"). Sports and gossip networks honed in on the "garish" style of the dead, his white suit, large gold crucifix, and gold trademark "Macho" necklace as well as the clothing of people in attendance at the wake, including an "Aztec Warrior" child.

Aztec, Puerto Rican, Taino, Mexican. What¹s the difference anyway when Camacho and other Latinos in sports and media exist for entertainment? Take for example Oscar de la Hoya, who gained more exposure for wearing women's clothing and his battle with drugs and alcohol than for his philanthropic work and own boxing legacy.

Camacho proved a talented fighter, winning super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980¹s and early 1990's. Out of 88 professional fights over his 30 year career, 79 were wins. But Camacho was a showman as well as a sportsman and perhaps that was his own undoing. Chanting "It's Macho time" before fights was more than a cry to intimidate opponents, including Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. "Macho Time" became a brand for him to set himself apart and a way for him to market himself once his fighting days were over.