Better defensive skills: Eusebio Pedroza or Hilario Zapata?

At his best Zapata was the most talented defensive stylist I’ve ever seen along with Locche. Pedroza was very good defensively, but a couple levels below.

 

Zapata.

Pedroza wasn't that hard to hit.

 

Yea I'd put Zapata a solid notch above Pedroza when it comes to defense.
Pedroza mixed his offense with his defense more fluidly than Zapata and 90% of boxers for that. Pure defense goes to Zapata though.

 

Zapada but hard to compare as there styles and the way they approached the game was so different. What if Zapada appreciated the game the way Pedroza did

 

Pedroza had an excellent defense...he could slip punches as well as anyone....he could slip punches with his back against the ropes

 

Zapata.

Pedroza was the better fighter though.

 

Pedroza could do everything but punch

 

He could punch your balls!

 

Zapata could fight like Pedroza. Both went into these kind of high energy zones where they’d interweave aggressive offense and defense in a way that completely flummoxed the opponent. Against Joey Olivo he maintained that pace throughout most of the fight.

 

What were Zapata’s major flaws in your opinion ( I’ve seen like 4 of fights )

 

I know you didn't ask me, but I've seen like 7 15 rounders from him and a bunch of others, I really like the guy. I think at his best (pre-Ursua) his biggest flaw was plain and simple: his chin. It was never glass, but never granite either. After Ursua he could be a bit passive and over defensive without maintaining a steady workrate. He could also be very inconsistent. In some fights he could look like ****, and others he could look like one of the most talented fighters ever.

He didn't have a big punch either, but he could wear an opponent down if need be.

 

That one punch that changes your whole life ? Lol

 

Well, yeah! He definitely didn't get as aggressive as that again. Well, not as often anyway.

 

He was almost entirely lacking in power/strength and his durability was suspect at best. Combine those flaws in someone who could be a total head case and you have a recipe for Titanic level disaster.

The fact that he went as far as he did is testament to what a miraculous talent he was. And he had longevity, which is even crazier. Especially when you look at the major setbacks he faced in the middle of his prime. To completely rebuild his career and start another title reign after moving up in weight. He really was something else.

And I still think he was a big underachiever.