Camacho Getting Ready to Face Rosario June 13

The word was that we would be seeing a new, improved Hector (Macho) Camacho; a more sophisticated, more mature model, ready to resume his boxing career with a vengeance.

The WBC lightweight champion is back under the promotional aegis of Don King, preparing for a June 13 Madison Square Garden defense against Edwin Rosario. His new boxing advisor is 88-year-old Marty Cohen, who was not the matchmaker for Cain and Abel but reportedly saw the fight.

The once flamboyant Macho Man had toned down his act and might have been expected to unveil his new image in something appropriately sedate, perhaps a pinstriped three-piece suit.

No way.

For his debut the other day, Camacho wore a silver and black sequined jacket with matching sequined choker collar, black tights and shirt, an earring, black kid gloves, gold bracelets on each wrist with a script “M” and his trademark “MACHO” chain that reached halfway down his chest.

It’s nice to know there are some things you can depend on in this world. One of them is that Macho Camacho will never be understated.

“Forty-five thousand dollars,” King roared, pointing at the silver lame boots. “The boots cost $45,000.”

What did he expect, $17.90 plastic-coated jobs from K-Mart? For the Macho Man? Are you kidding?

“All you have heard about me is bull,” Mr. Macho began.

That apparently would include his positive drug test in New Jersey last year and various managerial and promotional problems.

“We’re gonna stop all that,” he said. “We’re going back to our roots.”

That would be in the streets of New York’s Spanish Harlem, where Camacho is legendary. “I’m a spoiled kid,” he said. “I’ve got everything I want. Everything is first class. I’m too big to be stationary. I get away with things, like driving 100 mph and driving my car on the sidewalk.”

There was an episode only a day before, Camacho dutifully reported, when he was driving a friend around the neighborhood. “There were funny people going in and out the building that my boy went to,” he said. Soon, Camacho and his pal found themselves in a car chase, driving rapidly through the streets of Manhattan with another vehicle in hot pursuit, two traffic lights and 75 mph worth.

“I thought,” Camacho said shyly, “they were fans.”

Eventually, as you might expect, the chase attracted police. “A cop car stopped me. They came out with sticks and guns. Then the sergeant found out it was me and he let me go. I gave him my autograph.