NO "MACHO" IN CAMACHO JUNIOR

(INSIDEBOXING) - Mailman, fireman, cowboy, cop. If Hector Camacho Jr., doesn't want to be a prize fighter, there are other career opportunities out there. Butcher, baker, candlestick maker. Ballerina. I had a hard time falling asleep early Sunday morning after watching the Jesse James Leija - Hector Camacho Jr., super-lightweight fight. I'd like to think Camacho also tossed and turned a little, but I doubt if he did. I have a feeling he slept like a baby, and that would only be appropriate.

I had a tough time falling asleep because I witnessed a mugging on live TV and there was nothing I could do to stop it. There were no guns or clubs or knives used, but it was felony robbery just the same. It happened to a tough Texan visiting Brooklyn and it was all legal and televised on HBO.

Leija lost a fight early Sunday morning because Camacho wasn't as tough as Leija was, because Camacho and his corner decided he should quit before the start of the sixth round after suffering a cut over his eye in the fifth. He was then awarded a technical decision because he was ahead on all three scorecards at the time, which in itself is worthy of a good debate. He won because he didn't want to fight. Something about blurred vision in his eye.

After looking at the cut over the eye, the ringside doctor told Camacho he could continue and it looked like they might start up again. But then Camacho said he didn't want to. He'd rather take the win now, avoid going out there again to face that crazy Texan. He was having trouble with the cut over his eye, so he gets the win. Is that how it works in Brooklyn? No wonder they haven't had a major fight there in 50 years.

You know what, Junior? Cuts happen in fist fights. Sometimes you bleed. Sometimes you can't see too well. Most of the time you don't quit.

Of course, Leija was cut over his eye in the first round, but he sucked it up and went four more rounds before Junior decided he couldn't go on. It's too bad for Leija. He thought he signed up for a fight. He didn't know it was going to be a Coney Island circus.

Before Camacho is allowed to fight again, I think both he and his handlers should be examined for possible vision problems. Maybe Camacho should be banned from fighting again for both his own sake and ours. If he can't see after receiving a cut over his eye, maybe he shouldn't be allowed in the ring. There's already enough tragedy inside the ropes.

From here on out, every time Camacho feels like he's ahead early in a fight but he's suddenly getting pushed a little, he can claim eye problems. Steal another win.

Tell me they didn't know Camacho was ahead on the scorecards when he quit. Tell me they didn't see that deer caught in the headlights look in Camacho's big eyes when he saw his own blood. Tell me they didn't know Leija was going to come out the next round and take target practice on Camacho's eye. Finally, tell me they wouldn't have pushed Camacho's butt back into the center of the ring if he was behind on the cards.

Yeah, they stole this one and we all watched it live and in living color.

If Camacho claims he quit only because his corner told him to, that won't fly. He's supposed to be a man, and that means making your own decisions. Think Hector Camacho Sr. would have quit if his corner told him to?

Going into this fight, we expected to learn a little more about Junior, to see if he was ready to step up to the next level. Sadly, what we learned is that Junior didn't acquire all his father's gifts. You can inherit a champion's speed and a champion's moves and a champion's eyes, but that doesn't guarantee you'll inherit a champion's heart. The only one showing any heart Sunday morning on Coney Island was the visiting Texan.

And then it was broken.