'Macho: The Hector Camacho Story': Recalling late boxer's mom Maria who had cardiac arrest scare at his funeral
Showtime Sports is all set to roll out the documentary that follows the life of the famed Puerto Rican boxer, Hector Camacho. Titled 'Macho: The Hector Camacho' story, the scintillating documentary, helmed by two-time Emmy Award winners Eric Drath with Aaron Cohen, follows Camacho's journey to fame and his controversial death on November 12. The 90-minute feature also sees his mother, Maria Matias, give a personal account of her son and the hero he was for East Harlem.
One of the stories that would be equally heartbreaking was how the mother came perilously close to having a cardiac arrest during the boxer's funeral. And thankfully, it wasn't one, it was later revealed to be a panic attack after she was rushed to the Jacobi Hospital. On the day Camacho was laid to rest, Matias was inconsolable and screamed, “My star. My star”, in Spanish, according to the New York Post. Soon after she collapsed and was rushed away to a waiting stretch limo.
Camacho's brother, Ponchito who was with the mother in the limo felt she was going into cardiac arrest, and the FDNY ambulance immediately gave her oxygen before rushing her to the hospital. Camacho’s grieving sister complained of chest pains as well soon after. It was a sad day for the family with each member at loss after Camacho's violent death. The 50-year-old was shot fatally while sitting in his car in Bayamon Puerto Rico on November 20.
It was reported that Camacho's left mandible was pierced and the bullet also damaged his fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae before damaging his carotid artery. While paralysis was looked at as the outcome, Camacho's condition worsened after he went into cardiac arrest that night. The following day, he was described as "brain stem dead" and his mother announced he would be taken off life support on November 23. He was officially declared dead after another heart attack.
And while it remains to be seen if this aspect will be covered in the docu, it is still the heartening tale of a mother who broke down after her champion son's death. The official synopsis reads: "A hard-hitting look at the rise, fall and untimely death of one of boxing’s most colorful champions."
"Hector Camacho’s dynamic speed, footwork, and power made him a fighter to be reckoned with, but it was his flamboyance and showmanship that ushered in a new era in boxing. The film chronicles his epic battles inside the ring, his struggles with addiction outside of it, and the mystery of the double homicide that claimed his life. It’s an unflinching portrait of a fighter who transcended the sport but ultimately couldn’t defeat his own demons."
'Macho: The Hector Camacho Story' releases on Friday, December 4, at 9 pm ET/PT on Showtime.