Hilario Zapata
Encyclopedia
Hilario Zapata is a former boxer
who was a two time world Jr. Flyweight champion and a one time world flyweight champion. Zapata is a Panama
nian.
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: By his fifth bout, on July 1, 1978, he was meeting former world Flyweight champion Joan 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, and he gifted himself with a birthday present by beating Kim by a 10 round decision on August 19 of that year, when he turned 20. Then, he met future 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 10 at Las Vegas
, on the Marvin Hagler
-Roberto Durán
undercard, 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 Sunkil 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 recently on one of their editorials that Zapata, according to their opinion, should be inducted to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
soon.
Zapata had a record of 43 wins and 10 losses, with 1 draw, and 15 wins by knockout.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who was a two time world Jr. Flyweight champion and a one time world flyweight champion. Zapata is a Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian.
Zapata began his professional boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
career in 1977, beating Victor Lopez
Víctor López
Víctor Manuel López Narge is a retired football striker from Uruguay, who was nicknamed "Campanita" during his career...
by a knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in the second round. He had 2 wins in '77.
He had a fast ascent to the top: By his fifth bout, on July 1, 1978, he was meeting former world Flyweight champion Joan Guzmán
Joan Guzman
Joan Guzmán is a Dominican professional boxer who was the WBO's super bantamweight and super featherweight champion. His nickname is "The Little Tyson"." Guzmán is now trained by Former World Champion Roberto Garcia. Former unheralded boxer Floyd Mayweather, Sr...
in Panama City, beating Guzman by a decision in ten. His next fight, against Yong-Hwang Kim, in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, was his first fight abroad, and he gifted himself with a birthday present by beating Kim by a 10 round decision on August 19 of that year, when he turned 20. Then, he met future 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
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, 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
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
.
Zapata went to Japan in March 1980, and on the 24th day of that month he beat defending world champion Shigeo Nakajima
Shigeo Nakajima
is a retired Japanese boxer who is a former WBC junior flyweight champion. He is an alumnus of the Komazawa University.Nakajima began boxing at Yonekura Boxing Gym at the age of a high school student...
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
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, 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
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
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
Germán Torres
Germán Torres is a former Mexican world boxing champion. His nickname was Ozeki.- Pro career :Torres turned pro in 1975 at the age of fifteen, and won the vacant WBC light flyweight title in his fifth attempt at attempting to win that title, with a decision win over Soon-Jung Kang in 1988...
by a decision in 15 to retain his belt, and then he faced former world Jr. Flyweight champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh
Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh
Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh was a Thai world boxing champion. His realname was Net Ladnork.Sor Vorasingh turned pro in 1975 at the age of fifteen, and in 1977 won the WBC light flyweight title with a decision win over Luis Estaba. On September 30, 1978, Sung-Jun Kim of Korea knocked out Sor Vorasingh in...
, 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
Tadashi Tomori
is a retired Japanese boxer who is a former WBC junior flyweight champion.Tomori won the Japan's inter-high school championship in the 45 kg class in 1977, and compiled an amateur record of 16–4 before turning professional. Hitoshi Misako who is the president of Misako Boxing Gym in Tokyo went to...
. 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 10 at Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, on the Marvin Hagler
Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler , is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%...
-Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
undercard, 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
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
among Flyweights, and on December 8 of that year, he challenged world Flyweight champion Santos Laciar
Santos Laciar
Santos Benigno Laciar , known familiarly as Santos Laciar and nicknamed Falucho, was an Argentine world flyweight champion.-Biography:Laciar was born in Huinca Renancó, in the province of Córdoba, Argentina....
of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
at Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
' 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
Fidel Bassa
Fidel Bassa, born 18 December 1962 in El Reten, Colombia, is a former professional boxer.He was WBA Flyweight Champion from 3 February 1987 until 30 September 1989...
of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, 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 Sunkil 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 recently on one of their editorials that Zapata, according to their opinion, should be inducted to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
soon.
Zapata had a record of 43 wins and 10 losses, with 1 draw, and 15 wins by knockout.