Three-time World Boxing Champ 'Macho' Camacho Dead at Age 50

Former world boxing champion Hector “Macho” Camacho died Saturday after being removed from life support just days after he was shot in the face.

The director of the hospital treating him in Puerto Rico says Camacho went into cardiac arrest overnight and died soon after being disconnected from life support.

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican boxing great had been declared brain dead on Thursday.

He was shot on Tuesday, while in a car parked outside a liquor store near the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan. Camacho's friend and driver of the car was killed at the scene.

Police found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend's pocket and another open bag inside the car.

It is unclear whether the two men were deliberately targeted or victims of a random act of violence. Police are investigating the shooting.

After growing up in New York's Spanish Harlem neighborhood, Camacho went on to become a three-time world boxing champion with a record of 79-6-3 across his three-decade career, including 38 knockouts.

In the 1980s, he was one of boxing's most flamboyant personalities and fought a number of the sport's big names, including Oscar de la Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. Camacho knocked out Leonard in 1997 ending his attempt to make a comeback.

Despite his successes as a boxer, outside the ring, Camacho battled drug and alcohol problems and was arrested many times. Charges against him included domestic abuse, drug possession and burglary. Earlier this year, he was accused of beating one of his sons.

(Photo by By Azalia Negron, 2009)

Tributes Pour in for Late Soul Train Creator

Tributes are pouring in to the late U.S. television host and music promoter Don Cornelius, who was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his Los Angeles home Wednesday.

Cornelius was the founder of the iconic Soul Train television show that helped introduce African-American music and culture to mainstream America from 1971 to 1993.

Police say the gunshot apparently was self-inflicted. It is not clear why Cornelius would have ended his life, although there have been reports in recent years that his health was failing.

The chairman of Black Entertainment Television, Robert Johnson, called Cornelius an “iconic figure” whose achievement was “nothing short of phenomenal.”

Singing legend Aretha Franklin, who appeared on Soul Train, called Cornelius' death “sad, stunning and downright shocking.” She called it a “huge and momentous loss.”

Composer-producer Quincy Jones said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of his friend and business partner.

Photo by Jen Knoedl. Fans with Don Cornelius at the 40th anniversary of Soul Train, 30 June 2010.

Legendary Soul Train Host Found Dead

U.S. television host and music promoter Don Cornelius has died. For more than 20 years, his iconic show Soul Train helped introduce African-American music stars to mainstream America.

Police say the 75-year-old Cornelius was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his Los Angeles home. Officials say the wound apparently was self-inflicted.

It is not clear why Cornelius would have ended his life, although there have been reports in recent years that his health was failing.

Tributes quickly poured in to honor the man who brought “soul music” to a mainstream TV audience from 1971 to 1993. Cornelius, a Chicago native, created the show in his hometown, then brought it to Los Angeles. It went on the air nationally a decade before the MTV network.

Singing legend Aretha Franklin, who appeared on Soul Train, called Cornelius' death “sad, stunning and downright shocking.” She called it a “huge and momentous loss.”

Composer-producer Quincy Jones said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of his friend and business partner.

Photo by Jen Knoedl: Don Cornelius at the 40th anniversary of Soul Train, 30 June 2010.