By Peter Covino

Entertainment Editor

Hector Camacho may be just a few weeks shy of being 48, but he still looks like he could be lord of the ring.

Camacho, better known as “Macho” Camacho in his championship days, has a date with destiny of sorts in Kissimmee May 14. He will fight veteran Mexican boxer Saul “Baby” Duran the top feature in an evening of boxing at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

“This is going to be a test,” Camacho said earlier this week at a press conference announcing the bout at Signature by the Lake restaurant in downtown Kissimmee. Restaurant proprietor Roy Oddo has been a big fan of boxing since his days of living in Manhattan some 30 years ago. Oddo has been a watching Camacho’s career from the beginning, when he was coming up the ranks winning three New York Golden Gloves championships.

Camacho was wearing some of the “bling” associated with being a champion, a large chain around his neck spelling out Macho. The Puerto Rican-native, who grew up in New York City, was all smiles, but taking the upcoming fight seriously.

“I have been training for the past seven months,” Camacho said, not that he never really isn’t in training. He also has a third-degree martial arts black belt.

But then life has been a fight of one sort or another for one of the most popular boxers of the 1980s and 90s, compiling a lifelong record of 79-5 and three draws. He was arrested in January of 2005 in Mississippi on charges of trying to burgle an electronics store and carrying ecstasy.

Those days seemed to be far behind this week. There are most definitely better days ahead.

Always flashy, Camacho is remembered for his pre-match flair, as much as his stellar career as a fighter. He has shown up in a leotard, diapers and even as Captain America before a fight.

“And I am working on something” outfit-wise that will get his fans going for the fight in May, though he isn’t quite sure what that will be yet, he said.

And speaking of outfits, or more to the point, the lack of one, Camacho recently finished his second photo shoot for Playgirl Magazine. He first bared it all for Playgirl 25 years ago.

“I am not sure when the magazine is coming out,” he said.

Camacho’s career has included winning the WBC Super Featherweight and Lightweight Championships and the WBO Light Welterweight Championship. His most notable fights include wins over Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.

But it is Muhammad Ali who will probably always be the boxer that most inspires him.

Camacho’s fighting style and bravado are comparable to the boxing legend “but Ali has always been my idol.” He has even met Ali on one occasion.

“I have met a lot of people in my life,” Camacho said. “But he is the only one that I said ‘wow.’”

The other big inspirations in his life are his three sons — a subject he definitely likes talking about.

Two of his sons have followed in dad’s footsteps — they are boxers too.

“I am always there for them, but they do what they want,” said Camacho, who is now a Tampa resident.

Camacho will be breaking history with his upcoming fight in Kissimmee. Few fighters come out of retirement, and almost none are almost 48 years old when they step into the ring.

“I want to get to this fight, see if I still have the spark,” he said.

Camacho and his advisor Eddie Montalvo also want to use the fight to promote charities such as Autism Speaks in Tampa.

Camacho has known a lot of adversity in his life, including troubled teen years, the upcoming fight offers yet another new beginning.

“It’s a new chapter of my life,” he said.

Tickets for the fight are available through the Kissimmee Civic Center. Call 407-935-1412 for ticket information.