Wednesday, 29 July 2026 · Philippines
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Panamanian legend Hilario Zapata inducted into the California Hall of Fame

The induction into the California Hall of Fame for the 2024 class took place this past Sunday, April 28 in Montebello, honoring former world champions including Evander Holyfield, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Arturo Gatti, Marco Antonio Barrera, Shane Mosley, Roy Jones Jr., Sumya Anani, Barbara Buttrick, Reggie Johnson, Micky Ward, Winky Wright, and Hilario Zapata.

Zapata, 66, born in Panama City, is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, inducted in the class of 2016.

Hilario Zapata holds the distinction of being the Panamanian boxer with the most world championship fights (24), spanning various countries such as Japan, Colombia, Thailand, South Korea, Venezuela, the United States, Argentina, the Philippines, and Brazil.

Throughout his career from 1977 to 1993, Zapata amassed a record of 43 wins (14 by knockout), 10 losses, and 1 draw. He faced notable world champions including Alfonso López, Juan Guzmán, Freddy Castillo, Shigeo Nakayima, Joey Olivo, German Torres, Amado Ursua, Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh, Tadashi Tomori, Jung Koo Chang, Santos Laciar, Dodie Boy Peñaloza, Fidel Bassa, and Sung Kil Moon, among others.

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