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UPDATED: Mother of Brain Dead Ex-Boxing Champ: Turn Off His Life Support

Nov. 24, 2012 7:46am Becket Adams

Mother of Brain Dead Hector Macho Camacho Tells Doctors to cut off his Life Support

Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho (AP)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (TheBlaze/AP) — The mother of Hector “Macho” Camacho says she has decided to have doctors cut off life support for the former world champion boxer Saturday once three more of his sons get a last chance to see him.

Though opposed by Camacho’s eldest son, Maria Matias, the boxer’s mother, said she had decided it was time for doctors to disconnect the machines that have kept him alive since he was shot in the face earlier in the week.

“I lost my son three days ago. He’s alive only because of a machine,” Matias said. “My son is not alive. My son is only alive for the people who love him,” she added.

She said at a news conference Friday night that she was waiting only for Camacho’s three other sons, who were expected to arrive from the U.S. mainland early Saturday. “Until they arrive, we will not disconnect the machine,” Matias said.

Another news conference was scheduled for Saturday morning at Centro Medico, the main trauma center for San Juan.

The former champion’s mother has the final say in the matter, but his eldest son, Hector Camacho Jr., said he wanted to keep his father alive.

“He’s going to fight until the end. My father is a boxer,” the son said.

Hector Camacho (Holly Stein/Getty Images)

Although doctors had said Camacho was clinically brain dead from a shooting Tuesday night in his hometown of Bayamon, relatives and friends told The Associated Press they were still wrestling with the idea of removing him from life support.

“It is a very difficult decision, a very delicate decision,” former pro boxer Victor “Luvi” Callejas, a longtime friend, said in a phone interview. “The last thing we lose is hope and faith. If there is still hope and faith, why not wait a little more?”

Aida Camacho, one of the boxer’s aunts, said in an interview that the family could decide by late Friday whether to donate his organs.

As some relatives and friends continued to pray for a miracle, condolences flowed in for Camacho’s family and preparations were being made for memorials and a funeral Mass.

Gov. Luis Fortuno lamented what he called a sudden loss. “‘Macho’ will always be remembered for his spontaneity and charisma in and out of the ring,” he said.

Also offering condolences was governor-elect Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who defeated Fortuno in November.

“The life of Macho Camacho, like other great athletes of ours, united the country,” he said. “We celebrated his triumphs in the streets and we applauded him with noble sportsmanship when he didn’t prevail.”

1 Aug 1992: Boxer Hector Camacho sits in his corner between rounds of his fight against Eddie Van Kirk. (Credit: Holly Stein/Allsport)

Camacho was shot as he sat in a car with a friend, 49-year-old Adrian Mojica Moreno, who was killed in the attack. Police spokesman Alex Diaz said officers found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend’s pocket and a 10th bag open inside the car.

Police reported no arrests and said investigators continued to look for potential witnesses. Capt. Rafael Rosa told reporters Friday that they were following several leads, but declined to say whether police had identified any suspects. He said very few witnesses were cooperating.

Hector Camacho Jr. decried the violence that grips Puerto Rico, a U.S. island territory of nearly 4 million people that reported a record 1,117 homicides last year.

“Death, jail, drugs, killings,” he said. “That’s what the streets are now.”

Camacho’s sisters have said they would like to fly Camacho’s body to New York and bury him there. Camacho grew up mostly in Harlem, earning the nickname the “Harlem Heckler.”

Getty Images

He won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s and fought high-profile bouts against Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard while compiling a career record of 79-6-3. He knocked out Leonard in 1997, ending the former champ’s final comeback attempt.

Camacho battled drug, alcohol and other problems throughout his life. He was sentenced in 2007 to seven years in prison on burglary charges, but a judge eventually suspended all but one year of the sentence and gave Camacho probation. He wound up serving two weeks in jail after violating that probation. A wife also filed domestic abuse complaints against him twice before their divorce.

UPDATE: Hector Camacho died Saturday at the hospital in Puerto Rico where he has been unconscious since he was shot in the face in an attack in his hometown.

Camacho went into cardiac arrest in the pre-dawn hours and he was then taken off life support and died shortly thereafter, said Dr. Ernesto Torres, the director of the Centro Medico trauma center in San Juan.

Luckily, Camocho’s three sons were able to visit him before he passed, said former pro boxer Victor “Luvi” Callejas, a longtime friend.

“The family is destroyed,” Callejas said outside the hospital.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Front page photo source courtesy Getty Images.

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Comments (46)

ghost dad - active military
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:08am
Cocaine is a hell of a drug……-Rick James

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- Scooby_Do
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 6:55am
  This is a tough decision, but my belief is you protect life no matter what. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
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Yakov-Yurovsky
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:23am
Its horrible when a guy gets shot in the face. My hear† goes out to his family!

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South Philly Boy
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:48pm
Very sad

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:27pm
In honor of Hector Camacho, let us propose a citizen swap. 500,000 PRs that want to come here in exchange for taking in 1,000,000 liberals who cannot stand to be here..

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denkat56
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:58pm
My condolences to his family. Rest in peace hector.

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Hawk69
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 6:53pm
Hector “Macho” Camacho was a very charismatic icon in the world of boxing. He was not only popular to boxing fans but also to most causal sports fans. He had some of the fastest hands and feet in boxing. He brought a since of pageantry and occasion to the boxing world. Entertaining both inside and out of the ring. Yes he struggled with issues of abuse as do millions, yet he will be missed by many.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 5:09pm
Good boxer

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Magyar
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 4:40pm
A savage sport fraught with crime and corruption and now– regrettably a violent end —

Unfortunately, they seem to go hand and hand…………….

May he rest in peace….

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Tex Expatriate
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 1:33pm
If Camacho was doing cocaine, then I’ve lost my respect for him.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 3:11pm
  George W. Bush admitted to using cocaine. Do you respect him?
  
  Report this comment
- UnGreen
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 4:54pm
  Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.
  
  Report this comment
- Kupo
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 6:45pm
  Such a petty thing to criticize someone for.
  
  Report this comment
forthepeople
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:37pm
Thanks for the memories !

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:16pm
That is what happens, when one follows the Catholic line-of-thinking, if you can call it thinking!

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- Elena2010
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 3:06pm
  What are you talking about?
  
  The Roman Catholic Church permits both the use of life sustaining machines, their disconnection when appropriate, and organ transplantation.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 3:12pm
  You think he deserved to get shot in the face because he was Catholic?
  
  Report this comment
MrKnowItAll
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:45am
Camacho’s Life was not a Waste. Hector inspired millions of youth and all. Everyone on earth has their Demons. “I am The Macho Camacho”….I Loved The Guy.

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rickc34
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:34am
A world class boxer stepped into eternity, a family is left in tears and sorrow struggeling over the loss. My thoughts and prayers to his family. I cannot imagine the feelings his poor mother is going thru, to make that call . I had a friend growing that was involved in an accident and was declared brain dead and the grief his parents felt making that choice. You will be missed.

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Bronx
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:30am
You walked a hard life my boxer friend. I will never forget that cold blizard day in the Bronx, it was a saturday and a fight day for you. You placed a warm and cheering smile on our faces that cold snowy day.

My prayers go out to your family “Macho” and may you rest in peace my boxer friend.

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Marsh626
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:14am
We need to kick Puerto Rico out of America. They have chronic poverty, failing schools and soaring violent crime rates. They’re a 3rd world country. Right now they’re merely a U.S. territory. But they’ll soon become a state because the idiot Republicans don’t want to be seen as keeping brown skinned “hispanics” out of America. Puetro Ricans can already easily immigrate here. That needs to end before they bring even more of their backwards 3rd world cancer here. But go ahead and keep convincing yourselves that Puerto Ricans will be “natural conservatives”, a great benefit to this country and then delete my comment for daring to say otherwise…

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- SolitudeBliss
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:37am
  Shame on you…. Puertoricans are American citizens who are treated like second class citizens. Do not speak unless you are informed about the problems and issues that face this commonwealth. Not only are most puertoricans hard working people, they are mired with problems of corruption, drugs and crime, unemployment and more (same thing we face in this country) but without a say in the federal govt and thus lack of US support. And yet they have one of the largest VETERAN populations in the entire US.
  
  Report this comment
- Thornyrose13
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:06am
  This is not the time or the place for this discussion. This is about the tragedy of a man, a son, a father dying, and the agony of his family. My condolences to the family, with a sense of relief they did not have to actually “pull the plug”.
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:14am
  There is always a Liberal DH who opens his/her mouth at the time when they should not. Did your mother ever teach you about respect or did you beat her daily because you couldn’t get your way.
  
  This man is clinically dead and you are bashing Puerto Rico? There is no correlation, which means you are brain dead. Do us a favor go back into your cave/basement and leave the adult topics to the adults.
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:16am
  You are the biggest racist on this forum. Maybe you should practice what you preach. Grow up.
  
  Report this comment
- Marsh626
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:17am
  Yes, clearly the reason why Puerto Rico is such a dump is because the evaaaal White Americans and holding them down. It obviously has nothing to do with the low-IQ degenerates who live there. Nope.
  
  *eye roll*
  
  As to this not being the right time to make such comments, on the contrary, it’s the perfect time. This savage violence is coming to your neighborhoods because you’re too politically correct to severely restrict immigration.
  
  I know from personal experience. My best friend was murdered by “hispanic” immigrants. Ignore high “hispanic” and black violent crime rates at your own societal and personal peril…
  
  Report this comment
- SolitudeBliss
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:38am
  @MARSH626 Right ! Only hispanics and blacks commit crimes. Got it.
  
  Report this comment
- SolitudeBliss
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:42am
  Marsh626 – Right ! Only hispanics and Blks commit crimes. Got it !!!!
  
  Bleeeping Moron
  
  Report this comment
- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:04am
  SOLITUDEBLISS – MARSH626 didn’t say “Only hispanics and blacks commit crimes”. You did. Keep it honest.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:19pm
  More Puerto Ricans live in the US mainland than in Puerto Rico.
  
  The only big change that will occur with Statehood is they will finally have to start paying Federal Income Tax like the rest of us…
  
  Personally, i’ve been to Puerto Rico a few times… rural areas as well as resorts… i really enjoyed it and the people were quite nice.
  
  Report this comment
- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 1:29pm
  EASTINFECTION – problem is…only a very small percentage of Puerto Ricans make enough to even pay federal income tax. The majority will likely qualify for the Earned Income Credit (income redistribution) giveaway.
  
  Report this comment
- dosdelgados
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 2:28pm
  Marsh. My husband is a decorated Captain in the US Air Force. He is an honorable, honest, Christan, conservative family man. He grew up where? Yes, in Puerto Rico. He learned English during ROTC in college and has been in the states since 2007, when he took his oath of service. He loves this country. I’d trade Puerto Rico for Calfornia in a heartbeat. Puerto Ricans on the island are more conservative than the “New Yorkiquans” on the mainland. How dare you suggest that my husband and his America-loving family are not a benefit to our society!
  
  Report this comment
- UnGreen
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 5:00pm
  “We need to kick Puerto Rico out of America. They have chronic poverty, failing schools and soaring violent crime rates. They’re a 3rd world country. ”
  
  Sounds like you are talking about Obama’s America.
  Chicago – NYC – Detroit – LA – Cleveland – Atlanta. In the next four years, I’m sure this list will grow.
  
  Report this comment
- freepr008
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:31pm
  I agree this is not the forum to discuss PR. But here are some data to consider: according to official data Puerto Rico bought goods from the U.S. worth 22.6 billions whit the use of the U.S merchant fleet (the only allowed by fed law) for which the country paid 1.5 billions. U.S. companies have taken about 34 billion dollars in profits from the country. Assignments from the federal budget for social services and insurance made up about $13.5 billion. To put in a nutshell the USA spent $13.5 billion from 58.1 billion of received profit. This is very good business for the USA.
  
  That was just a parenthesis. This is about the tragic dead of a great boxer and the pain of his family and his country. Rest in peace macho man.
  
  Report this comment
- Yakov-Yurovsky
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:20am
  MARSH626,
  
  They don’t get it! Any liberal will tell you that crime is associated with social economics, thus the Puerto Rican!
  
  Where I live Puerto Ricans are the largest minority group, especially amongst latinos. They are also the largest ethnic group in our prisons. They do have a lot of pride for their heritage, unlike white youths nowadays.
  
  Once I had a conversation with a proud Puerto Rican who had kids with a small town white girl (got to love that hip hop)! He said why are whites so racist? I pointed to his Puerto Rican flag tattooed on his shoulder and said, how would you feel if Puerto Rican men went off to fight for Puerto Rico by the hundreds of thousands and many got killed fighting for the flag! And then hundreds of thousands of foreigners from Asia immigrated to Puerto Rico and made up 40-50% of the New Puerto Rico! Marrying Puerto Rican women, changing the language, culture, etc… He got the message and understood it all too well. We agreed and he understood, but life goes on…
  
  We assimilated whites from the old majority are not allowed to claim America as our own, even though past generations fought and died for it. Well, small amounts of non-whites have also helped but our immigration policy has been out of control for 47 years now!
  
  So I ask you MARSH626, how many generations does it take to be considered Native American? According to the multicult and these soilless, bloodless globalist; never-lol!
  
  Report this comment
- Yakov-Yurovsky
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:38am
  One last thing. Whenever I hear a marxist demonize those so called inbred rednecks or hillbillies. I reply, you mean like those Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Cubans, etc…
  
  Don’t worry, I always take the safety off my gun when I talk about culture. Even though I’m from the Northeast, I don’t let these cultural marxists get away with it!
  
  Report this comment
- Mijinion
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:26pm
  @Yakov.
  
  Ah, the irony. So emigration to an area is a problem? Do you not realize that America was diverse from it start? You classify all whites as the same when we’ve had Dutch, German, French, English, Spaniard, Russian, and many more here from the start.
  
  Your issue here is NOT of ethnicity but of sheer color. Simply because you can classify all white as having this country originally.
  
  You sir, a bigot.
  
  Report this comment
- freepr008
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 7:42pm
  YAKOB@- Is obvious you don’t know even where you have your nose. I assume you even have half brain functioning.
  MARSH- you seem to have more information regarding PR relation with the USA. I don’t agree with your perception however. I agree with you in something, PR should never become a state. Statehood is not the prefered status in the island. The statehood is the prefered choice of puerto Ricans who are misguided in believing that becoming a state we are going (yes I’m from PR) to be treated as equal citizens. The USA across more than a hundred years of possession did and still do more harm than good. Personally I don’t want to be part of a nation that clearly don’t care a s***** about us and think we are s*****. So please call you’re congressman. Reunite with people who think the same and demand the congress to give Puerto Rico the independence.
  
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Gonzo
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:08am
A wasted life.

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- chips1
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:31am
  GONZO:
  Can’t fool you. Many are putting him on a pedestal and yet he was involved in the dark side of life. Is it possible that the wrong people are called heros? Guess that’s why Obama was re-elected. I just wonder how many kids have been turned to the evil side of life because of his status. The only sad part of his death is that nothing was said that would make me believe he asked God for a pardon. He misused his free will.
  
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tradcatholicgirl
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:53am
There is peace for the mother knowing that, if by some miracle he starts breathing on his own a after the machines are turned off, then he is still alive. And that God wants it that way. He will then need hydration and other care.

If he passes away without the mechanical support, then she can still rest easy that it was the right thing to do.

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- hi
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:26am
  THat makes sense. I agree.
  
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- DMENTED
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:52am
  You must be kidding. She was licking her chops at the thought of the insurance money. Not even a day in, she was yowling for his life support to be turned off. Nothing like giving your own son a chance to heal.
  
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blkbelt7
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:31am
an ICON in boxing that went to the dark side, drugs took over his life and now is paying for his lack of good judgement…what a waste of talent….

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- leftisneverright
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:47am
  He was prominent in my late teens to early twenties. I feel sad, but it is tempered with the realization that if you live that type of lifestyle, it will eventually catch up with you. (ie. John Belushi, Chris Farley, etc.)
  
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freemama
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:06am
This is a decision no mother should have to make. Pray for her peace.

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