Hilario Zapata


Hilario Zapata is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1993. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Council light flyweight title twice between 1980 and 1983, and the World Boxing Association flyweight title from 1985 to 1987.

Professional career

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
54Loss43–10–1Moon Sung-kilTKO1, 2:54Feb 27, 1993Olympic Fencing Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaFor WBC super flyweight title
53Win43–9–1Noel CogolloUD12Nov 28, 1992Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaWon WBC FECARBOX super flyweight title
52Win42–9–1Eduardo LopezUD10Oct 31, 1992Arena Panama Al Brown, Colon City, Panama
51Loss41–9–1David MerchantTD7 Sep 19, 1992Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaFor WBA Fedelatin super flyweight title
50Win41–8–1Guillermo SalcedoTKO7 Aug 15, 1992Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
49Win40–8–1Juan RiosUD10Aug 1, 1992Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
48Win39–8–1Emilio DiazKO2, 2:02Feb 21, 1991Hotel El Panama, Panama City, Panama
47Win38–8–1Genaro ManjarresUD10Oct 26, 1990Hotel El Panama, Panama City, Panama
46Win37–8–1Orlando LegalKO6, 0:25Sep 13, 1990Estudios de TV 2, Panama City, Panama
45Win36–8–1Agustin GarciaUD10Aug 30, 1990Estudios de TV 2, Panama City, Panama
44Loss35–8–1Pedro RomeroSD10Apr 22, 1989Arena Panama Al Brown, Colon City, Panama
43Loss35–7–1Julio GudinoUD10Dec 3, 1988Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
42Draw35–6–1Fidel BassaSD15Aug 15, 1987Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaFor WBA flyweight title
41Loss35–6Fidel BassaUD15Feb 13, 1987Estadio de Tenis del Country Club, Barranquilla, ColombiaLost WBA flyweight title
40Win35–5Claudemir Carvalho DiasUD15Dec 7, 1986Hotel Quatro Rodas, Salvador, BrazilRetained WBA flyweight title
39Win34–5Alberto CastroSD15Sep 13, 1986Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA flyweight title
38Win33–5Dodie Boy PeñalosaUD15Jul 5, 1986University of Life Training & Recreational Arena, Pasig City, PhilippinesRetained WBA flyweight title
37Win32–5Shuichi HozumiUD15Apr 7, 1986Municipal Gymnasium, Nirasaki, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
36Win31–5Javier LucasUD15Jan 31, 1986Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA flyweight title
35Win30–5Alonzo GonzalezUD15Oct 5, 1985Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaWon vacant WBA flyweight title
34Win29–5Alonzo GonzalezPTS10Mar 29, 1985Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
33Win28–5Ramon E. EspinalTKO1, 1:22Feb 2, 1985Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
32Win27–5Rafael CabreraUD10Dec 28, 1984Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
31Loss26–5Santos LaciarUD15Dec 8, 1984Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFor WBA flyweight title
30Win26–4Alberto CastroPTS10Oct 10, 1984Porlamar, Venezuela
29Win25–4Alex MirandaTKO9 Sep 1, 1984Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
28Win24–4Ramon NeryUD10Jul 14, 1984Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
27Win23–4Juan Polo PérezUD10Jun 23, 1984Centro de Convenciones Atlapa, Panama City, Panama
26Loss22–4Harold PettyTKO10, 2:38Nov 9, 1983Showboat Hotel and Casino Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For NABF bantamweight title
25Loss22–3Chang Jung-kooTKO3, 2:46Mar 26, 1983Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, JapanLost WBC light flyweight title
24Win22–2Tadashi TomoriTKO8, 1:59Nov 30, 1982Kokugikan, JapanRetained WBC light flyweight title
23Win21–2Chang Jung-kooSD15Sep 18, 1982Jeonju Gymnasium, Jeonju, South KoreaRetained WBC light flyweight title
22Win20–2Tadashi TomoriSD15Jul 20, 1982Sangyo Hall, Kanazawa, JapanWon WBC light flyweight title
21Loss19–2Amado UrsuaKO2, 2:47Feb 6, 1982Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaLost WBC light flyweight title
20Win19–1Netrnoi Sor VorasinghTKO10, 2:50Nov 5, 1981Suranaree Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandRetained WBC light flyweight title
19Win18–1Germán TorresUD15Aug 15, 1981Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBC light flyweight title
18Win17–1Rudy CrawfordUD15Apr 24, 1981Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.Retained WBC light flyweight title
17Win16–1Joey OlivoRTD13 Feb 8, 1981Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBC light flyweight title
16Win15–1Reinaldo Jose BecerraMD15Dec 1, 1980Nuevo Circo, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC light flyweight title
15Win14–1Shigeo NakajimaTKO11, 2:56Sep 17, 1980Civic Center, Gifu, JapanRetained WBC light flyweight title
14Win13–1Hector MelendezUD15Aug 4, 1980Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBC light flyweight title
13Win12–1Chi Bok KimUD15Jun 7, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC light flyweight title
12Win11–1Shigeo NakajimaUD15Mar 24, 1980Kokugikan, JapanWon WBC light flyweight title
11Win10–1Jose RicardTKO7, 1:00Oct 6, 1979Arena Panama Al Brown, Colon City, Panama
10Win9–1Freddy CastilloUD12Jun 23, 1979Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
9Win8–1Nestor ObregonUD10Apr 7, 1979Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
8Win7–1Ramon L. PerezTKO9 Jan 14, 1979Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Panama
7Loss6–1Alfonso LópezSD12Nov 1, 1978Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
6Win6–0Young Hwan KimPTS10Aug 19, 1978Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
5Win5–0Juan GuzmanUD10Jul 2, 1978Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
4Win4–0Alfredo ThomasTKO3 Apr 15, 1978Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
3Win3–0Humberto MayorgaPTS6Mar 4, 1978Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
2Win2–0Cesar BecerraTKO3, 2:05Nov 26, 1977Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
1Win1–0Victor LopezTKO2, 1:25Oct 28, 1977Arena de Colon, Colon City, Panama