Hilario Zapata: How good was he in your view?

[elmersalsa]

How good was this slick Panamanian master in your view? He fought in 23 world title fights from jr flyweight to Jr Bantamweight. Was a two-time WBC world jr flyweight champion and a one-time WBA world flyweight champion.

[giacomino]

I followed his career in the 1970s and 80s and I always considered him a slick boxer with a little bit of a weak chin. He didn't have a big punch, and I think that cost him at times. But he out-pointed former jr. light champs Freddy Castillo and Juan Guzman before becoming a champ, outpointed Korean legend Jung-Koo Chang in Korea, beat future jr. light champions German Torres and Joey Olivo in title defenses, lost a competitive flyweight title challenge to the very underrated Santos Laciar in Argentina then later won the WBA fly title, eventually losing it to Bassa on a decision in Bassa's hopetown. He was 12-7 against other alphabet champs and a lot of his big fights were away from home. Overall, a fine record

[bennie]

Sadly, he will always be remembered for his 'performance' on the Hagler-Duran bill in Las Vegas in 1983 when he stank the joint out against Harold Petty.