In preparation for this interview, I kept thinking, what can I possibly ask him that he hasn't been asked a hundred times already? What do I say to the "Macho Man"? Somehow, I forgot the strength of our common thread, which is the sport of boxing. There is another very strong thread through this interview, and that is the love between a father and his son.

Perhaps all of Macho's accomplishments in the ring don't measure up to the positive influence that he has on his son, Hector Jr., and I don't say that lightly. My conversation with Junior gave me a newfound respect for young people who grow up under less than ideal circumstances, and survive unscathed. He has taken the bad situations that have taken place in his dad's life and turned them into positive learning experiences, and continues to strive to take the good and make it much better. One cannot argue with that formula.

This is what we talked about.

BRC: You are getting ready to fight Roberto Duran again. Can you tell me why?

HC: I don't know, I guess because he wants to fight me. I beat him four years ago and he claims that they robbed him, which is crazy because at that point he was the living legend of the moment. I was able to coast through the whole twelve rounds and still beat him.

BRC: I saw you at the "Macho Madness" in South Beach, Florida, this past February. Roberto was there, and if I remember correctly, Hector, you called Duran out.

HC: Maybe I did, maybe I did. What's the big deal?

BRC: No big deal, Hector. But you two are living legends, and I am in awe that you have it to do one more time.

HC: I think that it's good, you know. It excites me, I am training pretty hard now, you know, and if I can get to Sugar Ray Leonard, hopefully I'll knock his ass out too.

BRC: Your career record is like an encyclopedia of boxing. The men that you have fought and beaten, incredible! However, looking at the losses, Oscar de la Hoya and Tito Trinidad stand out. Would you care to talk about those two?

HC: Well, when I fought Tito Trinidad, it wasn't a very good time for me. I was under house arrest in Florida. I wasn't quite motivated to push my ability to the highest peak. But he managed to outpoint me fairly good, you know, not all that great, and he won the decision. Then I came back and beat Duran, and I beat Sugar Ray, and then, after Sugar Ray, I fought Oscar de la Hoya. Which the last time I had made 147 before that was four years prior, and I could barely make the weight. But since the money and deal was good, I went for it, and I lost a one sided decision against Oscar de la Hoya.

BRC: This may not be a fair question, but since you were in the ring with both Oscar de la Hoya and Tito Trinidad, who do you think is a better fighter?

HC: Well, really, I think they are both 'homos' because they both beat me. But, other than that, I think they are both two great fighters at (sic) their own time. I'd say Tito has the edge.

BRC: What about Greg Haugen?

HC: Greg Haugen? Surely I beat him twice; the first time I was clearly robbed. It wasn't no question about that. In the last round they took one point, and even with the point taken I felt I beat him pretty good.

BRC: How about Julio Cesar Chavez?

HC: Chavez, he beat me fairly well, yeah, he beat me fairly well. I fought the fight backing up, and then, when I stopped backing up and took it to him, I think he looked better. But even after that, he was way up on points, so, he took the decision.

BRC: Hector, I have a reader who asked me to ask you about your fight with Edwin Rosario. Did your style of boxing changed after that fight?

HC: I don't know, you know. People claim different things. Rosario was that kind of a strong fighter and I was being the same fellow I have always been.

BRC: Your P4P #1?

HC: Me.

BRC: Okaaay... Now, let's talk about your son Hector Jr. How did you feel when he decided that he wanted to do this for a living? What were your thoughts?

HC: My thoughts were fairly well. Hector has been involved with me since he's been eight or nine years of age. I used to take him to training camps, take him to the gym, so he kind of grew into this, you know. Hector is a throwback to me, he does exactly everything I do and he does it very well. Hector will go on to be a super star in boxing.

BRC: Do you think Hector Jr. will be a bigger legend than Hector Sr.?

HC: Well, to be a bigger legend than me he has to live longer. And he has to win six world championships.

BRC: Do you think he can?

HC: Possibly so.

BRC: His first pro fight, were you nervous?

HC: Yeah, pretty much.

BRC: Were you watching? Were you cheering?

HC: Yeah, he fought in my under card. Yes, I was, he fought a very good fight.

BRC: Do you guys give each other advice? Do you critique his performance in the ring?

HC: I do that pretty much, you know. Obviously, being the great fighter that I am and as a father, yes I do.

BRC: I know that at one time you were coming up in the ring in Junior's corner but then you stopped. What happened?

HC: Well, I'm pretty loud and I talk a lot while the fight is going on, so I chose to work outside, because I think I am more effective from the outside.

BRC: What do you consider to be your son's biggest asset as a fighter?

HC: Hector is a very good puncher, he is a great boxer and he is a great student, you know, he is great. He learns so quickly, it's a thrill to work with my son.

BRC: What do you think is his biggest fault in the ring?

HC: He is still growing, he's still learning. And although he is young, he is maturing pretty well.

BRC: Is he a good son, off the ring as well?

HC: Hell yeah!!! He is a great son, a great, great son.

BRC: If you had a wish for him as a dad, what would that wish be?

HC: I wish for him to keep being who he is.

BRC: Who would you like to see Junior fight next, assuming that he gets by Jesse James Leija on July 7th?

HC: Right now Hector is there, and everybody else is very small, like Sharmba Mitchell and all the rest. I would let them fight each other, and then let Hector just clean up the act (sic).

BRC: I saw Randall Bailey fight recently, and although his opponent wasn't top notch, he did look very impressive. Do you think that Bailey and Hector Jr. would be a good match up?

HC: It would be a good fight, and Hector is there to beat all of them. It's just how I pick the fights for him. You pick the right fights, you'll win the right fights. Right now, Hector is there to beat almost anybody, but all at the right time.

BRC: What do you think of his upcoming fight with Leija? A tough fight?

HC: Maybe so, I think Hector should take care of this guy in two or three rounds. Hector is bigger, faster and punches harder.

BRC: What are your plans after you fight Roberto Duran?

HC: I would like to fight Tony Ayala, if he doesn't go to jail. Then I plan to do a re-match with Chavez, because Chavez is screaming out for me. Then after that, hopefully I could get a shot at any of the big guys and then, after that, just call it quits.

BRC: Sounds like there is going to be "Macho Time" for some time...

HC: Well, you know, I am having fun, so why retire? I feel that I'll have a very good, strong year, and I'll take advantage of it.

BRC: Do you still enjoy the rigors of the gym, the discipline of training before a fight? Is that still a good experience for you?

HC: Well, you know, I haven't been the most disciplined guy into my career. But, I've always had fun. I've beaten some great fighters, and I am who I am.

BRC: Do you have a message for your many, many loving fans?

HC: Yes, I do. I want to let them know that it's Macho Time now and after me comes Hector Junior.

BRC: Hector, I thank you very much, I appreciate your time, and wish you all the best in the upcoming bout and always.

HC: Thank you, baby!

HECTOR CAMACHO Jr.

BRC: Your dad told me all about how you kind of grew into this business, how he took you around to training camps and gyms when you were a little boy. Can you tell me what the other side of that coin was like?

HCJr.: Most of it was fun, but it was also nerve wracking. As a boy I would go to the gym, and see him train. I used to want to imitate him, I wanted to be like him. I saw all the attention that he would get, a lot of people around him, a lot of support, a lot of fans, and I liked that. I said, you know what? This is what I want to do. I wanted to imitate my father, I wanted to be like him. It was fun at that time, but then come fight time...I would get nervous, that was my father, my blood. When he won, I would get happy, and that kind of feeling is hard to explain. It was like, the greatest feeling.

BRC: Did the "brutality" of it ever bother you?

HCJr.: Well, sí and no, verdad? (yes and no, true?) This is the sport of boxing, and I knew it was a physical sport. I have been around boxing all my life. Yo sabía (I knew) it was a physical sport.

BRC: So, you were okay with it?

HCJr: I was okay with it as long as my father was winning. At that time, my father "estaba pegao" (was winning). Best fighter that there was at his time, always winning. The nervousness used to come but then it would go away, I always had "confianza" (confidence). I was always positive about my father winning, because he was always winning.

BRC: Your dad had you when he was very young, you two kind of grew up together. Hector has had his problems outside the ring, how did that affect you, if at all?

HCJr.: Well, at first, it affected me big time. Yo era chiquito, (I was very young), and growing up in Spanish Harlem, you know, it was not the best of neighborhoods to grow up in. I used to go to school, my father was a big topic at that time. They would say "Camacho is this" or "your father is that". At first it bothered me, but through the years experiencing life, he wouldn't be who he was if he didn't do those things. But then again, these are things that happen in life. Hay gente en la calle, (there are people in the streets), doing what he was doing, but since they are not celebrities, they are not in the limelight, nobody is paying them any attention. But since he is in the limelight, it shows more.

BRC: Have all those experiences helped you to stay more, shall we say, on the straight and narrow?

HCJr.: Yes, I learned a lot from those experiences. I even learn how to stay out of the limelight, stay clean, live a positive life. How to stay away from certain people...gente que estàn haciendo lo malo (people that are up to no good). I have learned from my father's mistakes.

BRC: Now that you are getting ready to fight, for example, does your dad tell you how you should do things, does he give you his impression of things? How does it work with the Camachos?

HCJr.: Hasta ahora, (so far), he lets me be me. I've been doing what I've been doing. I've been doing me, and I haven't done badly, I am 32-0. This is the first time we have been in training camp together, first big fight, and he wants to help me, his way. I have told my father, "dad, whenever you see something, step in". Who knows more? Who knows best than you? I am always open for him, whenever he has to step in, he has to step in.

BRC: You don't have a problem with him doing that?

HCJr.: No, I don't. Even though he hasn't been there for the longest time, he hasn't been a big part of my career so far, because he has been busy with his. But I know he has the experience, he has been there. He has been where I want to get to, so I have to listen to him.

BRC: I asked your dad if he had a wish for you what would the wish be, and you know what he told me?

HCJr.: What?

BRC: He wished for you to always be yourself.

HCJr.: Humble.

BRC: I also asked him if he thought that you could be a bigger legend than he has been?

HCJr.: (Breaking in) And he said I have to fight longer, and I have to win six championships, verdad? (right?)

BRC: You've heard it before, huh?

HCJr.: (Laughing heartily) Yeah, he always tells me that...

BRC: Then, I asked him who was his P4P#1 and in the back of my mind, I am thinking that he is going to say you, and you know what he said?

HCJr.: Who? Tito?

BRC: Nope, he said himself.

HCJr.: (Really laughing now, barely able to answer) I mean you know, that's Macho, that's him...(still laughing)

BRC: Who is your P4P?

HCJr: Right now, I would say, Trinidad. I have trained in the gym with Trinidad, and I have seen the hard work that he puts in. I would say right now no other fighter trains as hard as he does. In my head, right now, I would say Trinidad is the best pound for pound, at the moment.

BRC: What do you think will happen when he meets Hopkins?

HCJr.: I am willing to see that fight, it will be a great fight. People think it's going to be an easy fight, it's no blow out by any chance. Hopkins is a dangerous fighter. Tito Trinidad will have to fight.

BRC: I was talking to your dad about Randall Bailey. Would you like to fight Randall?

HCJr: Randall Bailey is a big puncher, he is one of the best out there at 140, he is a strong fighter. But right now, Randall Bailey?? El no tiene nombre, (he is not a marquee name), a dangerous opponent, doesn't have a championship. Sooo, I don't see a big thing with Randall.

BRC: What about Ener Julio? Would you want to fight him?

HCJr: He is the WBO champion, there are other champions there. Yo no tengo prisa, (I'm not in a hurry), I just don't want to win one title. I want to win four, five or six titles.

BRC: If you had a choice, after Leija, who would you want to fight?

HCJr.: De verdad? (Really?) I haven't made up my mind. I am focused on Leija, I don't know about what's next. There are a lot of fights out there, like the winner between Judah and Kostya Tszyu, but right now my main focus is Leija.

BRC: How are you going to fight Jesse James Leija?

HCJr.: I haven't seen the films yet, I have only been in camp two days. I'm going to wait until I look at them, to get more focused on the fight. I know Leija is a veteran fighter, he has been around for the last longest. But tambien, (also), he has been in a lot of wars at 130 with Gatti, Ruelas, de la Hoya, he has been in tough fights...

BRC: Do you know what your dad told me about that?

HCJr: What?

BRC: He said that you will get rid of him in two or three rounds.

HCJr.: I think that's where we are going to head for. I think that by him coming up to 140, I am stronger, I am a natural 40 pounder. I walk around at 160, 165, while Leija is a 130 coming up. I will be stronger than Leija, and I will be faster than him too. El tiene 35 años, la edad no perdona. He is 35 years old already, I am a young baby, only 22, with fire power, a lot of energy. I see me going right at him. I'm going to go right at Leija. I'll give the fans what they want to see, a fight! I'm not going to box, I'm going to go right at him. Voy a plantar mi bandera (I'm going to plant my flag) in the middle of the ring, right there.

BRC: You know that there are some people who say that you are not the real deal...

HCJr.: I accept that, people are entitled to their opinions.

BRC: In the whole scheme of your division, how and where do you see yourself?

HCJr.: Right now, I am just learning. If you ask most 140 pound fighters who they want to fight, who they would like to fight, 7 out of 10 times, my name will come up, Camacho. You ask Kostya he'll say Camacho, you ask Judah he'll say Camacho. I am one of the premier 140 fighters out there, facing the fact that I am still a baby, holding no title on me.

BRC: Now that you are an adult, what is your relationship with your dad like?

HCJr.: You know it's like a friendship relationship, a lot of respect but more like a friendship type.

BRC: Does Macho ever embarrass you?

HCJr: Yeah, when I was younger I would say hey dad, you are doing this, this and that. But he was having fun, he was living his life.

BRC: What would you like to tell your fans?

HCJr.: I would like to ask them not to ever give up on me. There is a lot of Hector Camacho for a long time, I am just starting, we have a long ways to go. Just stick by me, I will give you the fun times, I will give you the positive times, I will give you what you want to see, a true Latino champion. A true champion inside the sport and outside the ring. Always count on me.

BRC: I thought it was "odd" for a lack of a better word, that you are headlining over Larry Donald and Kirk Johnson on July 7th. That is a big deal. Do you agree?

HCJr.: I agree, I mean I have the charisma, I have the personality. I am the draw. We are in my hometown, and I can pack it up. I'm a people's champion, people come to see me, I perform. Even though sometimes I might give a boring fight, I am always winning, Hector Camacho is real. And this fight was Leija is a meaningful fight, people want to see what I'm about. I'm not surprised that I am the head liner, I'd be pissed if I wasn't.

BRC: Is this the toughest fight of your career?

HCJr.: On paper it could be. All fights are tough, is just a matter of how hard you train, to make it easier. I am feeling cut, strong, I'm taking my training very seriously, and I feel great.

BRC: Now I want to ask you about something that perhaps only a woman would question. The outfits. (We both laughed here). Who designs them?

HCJr.: I design them. At home I draw, I also want to be a designer. I want to have my own clothing line by next year. It's something I am working on. But this fight, I don't know, I might wear something more sencillo (simple), I am not sure yet.

BRC: Are you going to design dad's outfit too?

HCJr.: (Laughing) I don't know. It's funny, he called me, and it's hard for him to admit it, but he said: "Son, can you design my outfit?" I said, aha, ahora quieres? (now you want me to?) It's great, it's fun, it's part of my marketing. But this is a serious fight, so I might come in más sencillo, (simpler).

BRC: So, did you design the outfit for Macho?

HCJr.: No, not yet. (Laughing) I don't know what he wants, we have totally different mindsets. He is in his own world...

BRC: (Rudely interrupting) Yes, he dances to his own music, he always has...(Sorry about that!)

HCJr.: I haven't had time to concentrate on my outfit, or the entrance music, I am concentrating on the fight. Who knows I might come in on a helicopter.

BRC: Don't do a Hamed, (laughing)...

HCJr.: No, don't worry, I don't want to upset the crowd.

BRC: If you had a wish for your dad, what would it be?

HCJr.: Stand by me at all times, be my angel.

BRC: You are a dad yourself, aren't you?

HCJr.: Yes, I have a daughter.

BRC: Is she going to follow in the Macho Time tradition?

HCJr.: I don't know, I take her to the gym with me sometimes, she hits the bag, I tell her to bob and weave, she does it. I ask her, cómo hace papi? (how does papi do?), and she throws punches. Really cute. But do I want her to box? That's her decision. I am setting the groundwork for her now, so she can live comfortably, so her future can be secure and she can make her own decisions.

BRC: I take it, then, that you have no problem with women boxing. Do you think that women boxers have the same skills as men boxers? For instance, let's take Laila Ali, do you think she has skills?

HCJr.: I mean, I think she does, I mean I don't want to be too "machismo". But, I think I am surprised at the skills of some women boxers, like Ali, like Larracuente, the Puerto Rican boxer, I am surprised at their boxing skills. Give them a couple of years and women will develop more skills. Right now en las casas, las que mandan son las mujeres, (women are in charge at home).

BRC: Women are going to love you after this interview, more than they do already. Does it bother you to be considered somewhat of a sex symbol with the females?

HCJr.: No, I'm going for it now. I am going to wear short shorts, sexy shorts. I want to bring female audiences to boxing.

BRC: Wait, are you trying to steal the spotlight from Oscar de la Hoya?

HCJr.: (Laughing) Nah, I am just trying to be me. Any type of audience that I can bring to boxing is good for me. A female audience would be good for me, I want to be a household name, I want for the kids to want to see me, I want to be a role model. I want the women to look at me, I like that. They don't call me Macho for nothing, (laughing).

BRC: You want to be a role model?

HCJr.: I would like to, particularly with me coming from the streets of Harlem, not the best or safest of places. If I could do it, so can other kids. I would like for the kids to follow my lead. I always go back to where I came from. I stop in the streets, I take the kids to the store, I get them sodas. I go to the Boys Club, I talk to kids, try to influence them, but they have to make their choices. I can only do my best, but it's the parents job to get the kids off the streets. All I can say is watch how I do it.

BRC: As a well known athlete, do you feel that this is your responsibility or do you do it because it's in your heart?

HCJr.: I do it because it's in my heart to do it. I do what I do, and if you want to follow my lead, follow my lead. I feel that I am a good role model for kids, for people in general. People can be motivated by me, I'm doing well for myself, I'm off the streets, I'm not getting in trouble. I visit kids in the hospital, I help old ladies walking in the street, I do what I do from the heart. I don't do it for show, I don't want any cameras like some people, I do it off camera, from the heart.

BRC: Hector, I am glad to hear you say that. Let me thank you and dad, again, for the time and the candor of your answers. I have watched the two of you, and I feel that there is a lot of love there.

HCJr.: Thank you Elisa, and I will be tuning in for Bragging Rights Corner. You are going to come to Coney Island, right?