Hilario Zapata

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 World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title twice between 1980 and 1983, and the World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight title from 1985 to 1987.

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 WBA light 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; Beating Kim by a 10-round decision on August 19. Then, he met former WBA flyweight champion Alfonso Lopez, for the vacant Latin American light flyweight belt. Zapata suffered his first loss in the fight against Lopez, when he was beaten in a 12 round decision.

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 two division champion Freddie Castillo, and by the end of that year he was ranked number one in the world among light flyweight challengers by the WBC.

Zapata went to Japan, winning against Shigeo Nakajima to become the WBC light flyweight champion, having defended his title 8 times.

In 1981, he and future light flyweight champion Joey Olivo fought what was the only light 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, defended against Rudy Crawford in a 15-round decision. He also defended his titles against German Torres and former light flyweight champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh.

On February 6, 1982, he lost the world title by knockout against Amado Panterita Ursua. On July 20, Zapata regained the WBC light flyweight title by beating Tomori on a 15-round decision. Then, he beat future world champion Jung-Koo Chang by a decision in 15. He closed out the year with a rematch against Tomori in Tokyo, knocking Tomori out in 8 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. On November 9, 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. Zapata lost a 15-round decision. In 1986, after Laciar had vacated the crown, he beat Alonzo Gonzalez to win the WBA flyweight title. He defended his title 5 times, before losing it to Fidel Bassa.

In 1993, he challenged for a world title once again, but was knocked out in the first round by the WBC super flyweight champion Sung-Kil Moon.

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

He was inducted to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in June 2016.

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

• List of southpaw stance boxers
• List of world light-flyweight boxing champions
• List of world flyweight boxing champions

• Boxing record for Hilario Zapata from BoxRec (registration required)