Background
He was born in Ronan and fought out of Missoula.
He was born in Ronan and fought out of Missoula.
Camel fought Mate Parlov in Yugoslavia to a draw in the first ever cruiserweight world title bout. In the rematch, in Las Vegas, Camel beat Mate Parlov for the vacant WBC world Cruiserweight title in 1980, losing the title in his first defense, to Carlos De León. He lost the title to Lee Roy Murphy.
He is the subject of a biography released in December 2014, titled "Warrior in the Ring" by Brian Doctorate"Ambrosio, as well as a documentary.
Camel’s journey was an amazing example of gritty determination: punishing runs on Montana’s back roads, relentless training in makeshift gyms, sleeping in beat-up cars before fights in glittering Las Vegas, and even training and fighting for a world championship in a foreign country, alone. Camel’s victory over Parlov 35 years ago raised his professional record to 35-2-2.
He lost his final bout in June 1990 against Eddie “Young Joe Louis” Taylor in Minneapolis. The 10-round decision left his lifetime mark at 45-13-5.
Camel"s pro career took the rangy southpaw from Ronan to 13 states and seven foreign nations on three continents.
“I’ve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world,” Camel said in 2015. “Some things people only dream about having, I did lieutenant I’ve been there. I’ve been to the top of the mountain.
But I feel there’s still something out there that I’ve got to have, and I don’t know what it is.”
In December 2014, as part of Camel"s "return from the dead," Doctorate"Ambrosio and Camel attended the 52nd Annual World Boxing Convention.
Quotations: “I’ve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world,”.