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Hilario Zapata

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Hilario Zapata
Born (1958-08-19) August 19, 1958 (age 66)
Panama City, Panama
Other namesBujía
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach68 in (173 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights54
Wins43
Wins by KO14
Losses10
Draws1

Hilario Zapata (born August 19, 1958) is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1993. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC light flyweight title twice between 1980 and 1983 and the WBA flyweight title from 1985 to 1987.

Professional career

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Zapata began his professional boxing career in 1977, beating Victor Lopez by a knockout in the second round. He had 2 wins in '77.

He had a fast ascent to the top, starting in 1978. By his fifth bout, on July 1, he was meeting former world Flyweight champion Juan Guzmán in Panama City, beating Guzman by a decision in ten. His next fight, against Yong-Hwang Kim, in South Korea, was his first fight abroad; he gave himself a twentieth birthday present by beating Kim by a 10-round decision on August 19. Then, he met former world Flyweight champion Alfonso Lopez, for the vacant Latin American Jr. Flyweight belt. Zapata suffered his first loss in the fight against Lopez, when he was beaten by a decision in 12.

He started 1979 with a fight against Ramon Perez in Puerto Rico, winning by a knockout in nine. He had three more wins in 1979, including one over the two time world Flyweight champion Freddie Castillo, and by the end of that year he was ranked number one in the world among Jr. Flyweight challengers by the WBC.

Zapata went to Japan in March 1980, and on the 24th day of that month he beat defending world champion Shigeo Nakajima to become world Jr. Flyweight champion. He defended his title against Chi-Bok Kim, winning a 15-round unanimous decision in South Korea, against Hector Rey Melendez in Venezuela, winning also by a 15-round decision, against Nakajima in a Tokyo rematch, winning by knockout in 11, and against Reynaldo Becerra in Venezuela. He closed out 1980 win a 15-round decision win over Becerra.

In 1981, he and future world Flyweight champion Joey Olivo fought what was the only Jr. Flyweight title bout ever broadcast on American national TV live until Michael Carbajal came along nine years later.[1] Zapata beat Olivo by a knockout in round 13 to retain his belt, and then, he went to San Francisco to retain the crown once again, with a 15-round decision over Rudy Crawford. On August 15, and back home in Panama City, he beat Mexican German Torres by a decision in 15 to retain his belt, and then he faced former world Jr. Flyweight champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh, retaining the belt by a knockout in 10.

In his next fight, on February 6, 1982, Zapata lost the world title by knockout in two at the hands of Amado Panterita Ursua, but Ursua in turn would lose it to Tadashi Tomori. On July 20, Zapata regained the world title by beating Tomori on a 15-round decision in Japan. Then, he beat future world champion and Zapata-conqueror Jung-Koo Chang by a decision in 15 in Chonju, and he closed out the year with a rematch against Tomori in Tokyo, knocking Tomori out in eight rounds.[2]

On March 26, 1983, Zapata and Chang met again in South Korea, and this time, Chang became world champion by knocking Zapata out in the third round. Then, on November 9 at Las Vegas, on the Marvin Hagler vs. Roberto Durán's undercard's week, Zapata was beaten by a knockout in 10 by Harold Petty.

His career seemingly over, he quickly recovered from those back to back losses and began winning again, but this time as a Flyweight. By the end of 1984, he was ranked number one by the WBA among Flyweights, and on December 8 of that year, he challenged world Flyweight champion Santos Laciar of Argentina at Buenos Aires' legendary Luna Park. Zapata lost a 15-round decision that night, but in 1986, after Laciar had vacated the crown, the WBA gave him a second chance, and he beat Alonzo Gonzalez to win the WBA world Flyweight championship. He then beat Javier Lucas to retain the belt. He retained the title also against Shuichi Hozumi, Dodie Penalosa, Alberto Castro and Claudemir Calvalho, all by decision, before losing it to Fidel Bassa of Colombia, also by a decision.

In 1993, he tried to become a world champion once again, but was knocked out in the first round by the WBC world Jr. Bantamweight champion Sung-Kil Moon. A win against Moon would have made Zapata a member of the exclusive group of world boxing champions in three different weight categories or more.

It can also be added that Zapata's first pair of boxing gloves, when he was 12, came as a present from Duran himself.

Panamanian newspaper El Panama America declared on one of their editorials that Zapata, according to their opinion, should be inducted to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame soon. Zapata eventually was voted into the Hall of Fame, in December 2015, and was inducted during June 2016.[3]

Zapata had a record of 43 wins and 10 losses, with 1 draw, and 14 wins by knockout.

Professional boxing record

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54 fights 43 wins 10 losses
By knockout 14 4
By decision 29 6
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
54 Loss 43–10–1 Moon Sung-kil TKO 1 (12), 2:54 Feb 27, 1993 Olympic Fencing Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea For WBC super flyweight title
53 Win 43–9–1 Noel Cogollo UD 12 Nov 28, 1992 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Won WBC FECARBOX super flyweight title
52 Win 42–9–1 Eduardo Lopez UD 10 Oct 31, 1992 Arena Panama Al Brown, Colon City, Panama
51 Loss 41–9–1 David Merchant TD 7 (12) Sep 19, 1992 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama For WBA Fedelatin super flyweight title
50 Win 41–8–1 Guillermo Salcedo TKO 7 (10) Aug 15, 1992 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
49 Win 40–8–1 Juan Rios UD 10 Aug 1, 1992 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
48 Win 39–8–1 Emilio Diaz KO 2 (10), 2:02 Feb 21, 1991 Hotel El Panama, Panama City, Panama
47 Win 38–8–1 Genaro Manjarres UD 10 Oct 26, 1990 Hotel El Panama, Panama City, Panama
46 Win 37–8–1 Orlando Legal KO 6 (10), 0:25 Sep 13, 1990 Estudios de TV 2, Panama City, Panama
45 Win 36–8–1 Agustin Garcia UD 10 Aug 30, 1990 Estudios de TV 2, Panama City, Panama
44 Loss 35–8–1 Pedro Romero SD 10 Apr 22, 1989 Arena Panama Al Brown, Colon City, Panama
43 Loss 35–7–1 Julio Gudino UD 10 Dec 3, 1988 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
42 Draw 35–6–1 Fidel Bassa SD 15 Aug 15, 1987 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama For WBA flyweight title
41 Loss 35–6 Fidel Bassa UD 15 Feb 13, 1987 Estadio de Tenis del Country Club, Barranquilla, Colombia Lost WBA flyweight title
40 Win 35–5 Claudemir Carvalho Dias UD 15 Dec 7, 1986 Hotel Quatro Rodas, Salvador, Brazil Retained WBA flyweight title
39 Win 34–5 Alberto Castro SD 15 Sep 13, 1986 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA flyweight title
38 Win 33–5 Dodie Boy Peñalosa UD 15 Jul 5, 1986 University of Life Training & Recreational Arena, Pasig City, Philippines Retained WBA flyweight title
37 Win 32–5 Shuichi Hozumi UD 15 Apr 7, 1986 Municipal Gymnasium, Nirasaki, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
36 Win 31–5 Javier Lucas UD 15 Jan 31, 1986 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA flyweight title
35 Win 30–5 Alonzo Gonzalez UD 15 Oct 5, 1985 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Won vacant WBA flyweight title
34 Win 29–5 Alonzo Gonzalez PTS 10 Mar 29, 1985 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
33 Win 28–5 Ramon E. Espinal TKO 1 (10), 1:22 Feb 2, 1985 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
32 Win 27–5 Rafael Cabrera UD 10 Dec 28, 1984 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
31 Loss 26–5 Santos Laciar UD 15 Dec 8, 1984 Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina For WBA flyweight title
30 Win 26–4 Alberto Castro PTS 10 Oct 10, 1984 Porlamar, Venezuela
29 Win 25–4 Alex Miranda TKO 9 (10) Sep 1, 1984 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
28 Win 24–4 Ramon Nery UD 10 Jul 14, 1984 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
27 Win 23–4 Juan Polo Pérez UD 10 Jun 23, 1984 Centro de Convenciones Atlapa, Panama City, Panama
26 Loss 22–4 Harold Petty TKO 10 (12), 2:38 Nov 9, 1983 Showboat Hotel and Casino Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For NABF bantamweight title
25 Loss 22–3 Chang Jung-koo TKO 3 (15), 2:46 Mar 26, 1983 Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, Japan Lost WBC light flyweight title
24 Win 22–2 Tadashi Tomori TKO 8 (15), 1:59 Nov 30, 1982 Kokugikan, Japan Retained WBC light flyweight title
23 Win 21–2 Chang Jung-koo SD 15 Sep 18, 1982 Jeonju Gymnasium, Jeonju, South Korea Retained WBC light flyweight title
22 Win 20–2 Tadashi Tomori SD 15 Jul 20, 1982 Sangyo Hall, Kanazawa, Japan Won WBC light flyweight title
21 Loss 19–2 Amado Ursua KO 2 (15), 2:47 Feb 6, 1982 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Lost WBC light flyweight title
20 Win 19–1 Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh TKO 10 (15), 2:50 Nov 5, 1981 Suranaree Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Retained WBC light flyweight title
19 Win 18–1 Germán Torres UD 15 Aug 15, 1981 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBC light flyweight title
18 Win 17–1 Rudy Crawford UD 15 Apr 24, 1981 Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S. Retained WBC light flyweight title
17 Win 16–1 Joey Olivo RTD 13 (15) Feb 8, 1981 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBC light flyweight title
16 Win 15–1 Reinaldo Jose Becerra MD 15 Dec 1, 1980 Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBC light flyweight title
15 Win 14–1 Shigeo Nakajima TKO 11 (15), 2:56 Sep 17, 1980 Civic Center, Gifu, Japan Retained WBC light flyweight title
14 Win 13–1 Hector Melendez UD 15 Aug 4, 1980 Caracas, Venezuela Retained WBC light flyweight title
13 Win 12–1 Chi Bok Kim UD 15 Jun 7, 1980 Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea Retained WBC light flyweight title
12 Win 11–1 Shigeo Nakajima UD 15 Mar 24, 1980 Kokugikan, Japan Won WBC light flyweight title
11 Win 10–1 Jose Ricard TKO 7 (10), 1:00 Oct 6, 1979 Arena Panama Al Brown, Colon City, Panama
10 Win 9–1 Freddy Castillo UD 12 Jun 23, 1979 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
9 Win 8–1 Nestor Obregon UD 10 Apr 7, 1979 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
8 Win 7–1 Ramon L. Perez TKO 9 (10) Jan 14, 1979 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Panama
7 Loss 6–1 Alfonso López SD 12 Nov 1, 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
6 Win 6–0 Young Hwan Kim PTS 10 Aug 19, 1978 Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
5 Win 5–0 Juan Guzman UD 10 Jul 2, 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
4 Win 4–0 Alfredo Thomas TKO 3 (8) Apr 15, 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
3 Win 3–0 Humberto Mayorga PTS 6 Mar 4, 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
2 Win 2–0 Cesar Becerra TKO 3 (4), 2:05 Nov 26, 1977 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
1 Win 1–0 Victor Lopez TKO 2 (4), 1:25 Oct 28, 1977 Arena de Colon, Colon City, Panama

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ZAPATA RETAINS TITLE". The New York Times. 9 February 1981. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  2. ^ "Hilario Zapata of Panama succeeded in the second defense..." United Press International. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  3. ^ "International Boxing Hall of Fame Announces 2016 Class". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
[edit]
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC light flyweight champion
March 24, 1980 – February 6, 1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBC light flyweight champion
July 20, 1982 – March 26, 1983
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Santos Laciar
WBA flyweight champion
October 5, 1985 – February 13, 1987
Succeeded by