Marvin Camel (born December 24, 1951) is a Native American former professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1990. He was the first cruiserweight world champion, having held the WBC title in 1980 and the IBF title from 1983 to 1984. He is also the first Native American to become a major world boxing champion.
Marvin Camel was born December 24, 1951, in Ronan, Montana, part of the Flathead Indian Reservation. His father was Henry Camel Sr. (né Campbell), an African-American WWII Navy veteran, and his mother was Alice Nenemay of the Pend d'Oreilles. Through his mother, Marvin Camel is a registered member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Camel grew up in a house with a wood stove and no running water. He had 13 siblings, including one half-sibling with a different father. The elder Camel, who worked as a ranch hand 12 hours a day every day, was a strict disciplinarian who would beat Marvin with a belt. Marvin and most of his siblings were bullied on the reservation due to their partial African-American heritage, getting into a lot of fights growing up; his half-sibling was the only one who wasn't black.
In high school, Camel was a star athlete, having set a school record in track and being all-conference in football and basketball, as well as a stint at baseball. He took up boxing at 15 and became a local AAU and Golden Gloves champion and made the national finals of both a combined 15 times.
Marvin Camel fought Bill Sharkey in the first cruiserweight title fight ever when the NABF sanctioned a bout for its continental title on June 5, 1979. Camel won the match, which led to the WBC sanctioning a cruiserweight title fight between him and Mate Parlov. Held in Split, Yugoslavia on 8 December 8 1979, the two fought to a 15-round draw in the first ever cruiserweight world title bout. In the rematch, held on 5 March 1980 in Las Vegas, Camel beat Parlov by unanimous decision after 15 rounds for the inaugural WBC world cruiserweight title. Later that year, he lost the title in his first defense to Carlos De León, who had replaced David Pearce. After losing in a rematch to De León, he became the IBF's first world cruiserweight champion by beating Roddy MacDonald on 13 December 1983 in Halifax; MacDonald had also replaced David Pearce after the BBBoC would not sanction the cruiserweight division in the UK. Thus, Camel became a two-time cruiserweight world champion, the second in history after Carlos De León. Like the WBC title, he lost his first defense, this time against Lee Roy Murphy in 1984.
Following his second title reign, Camel went 2âÂÂ2âÂÂ8 in his last 12 fights. He lost his final bout in June 1990 against Eddie âÂÂYoung Joe Louisâ Taylor in Minneapolis. The ten-round decision left his lifetime mark at 45-13-5.
Camel's pro career took him from Ronan to 13 states and seven foreign nations on three continents.
âÂÂIâÂÂve had a good life, as far as boxing is concerned, winning two world titles, losing world titles, seeing the world,â Camel said in 2015. âÂÂSome things people only dream about having, I did it. IâÂÂve been there. IâÂÂve been to the top of the mountain. But I feel thereâÂÂs still something out there that IâÂÂve got to have, and I donâÂÂt know what it is.âÂÂ
He is the subject of a biography released in December 2014, titled 'Warrior in the Ring' by Brian D'Ambrosio. The book was nominated for a High Plains Book Award and several other awards.
In December 2014, D'Ambrosio and Camel attended the 52nd Annual World Boxing Convention.
In 2006 at the World Boxing Council's 44th annual convention WBC President José Sulaimán awarded Camel honorary champion status.