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Valerio Zea probably has one of the most misleading records in boxing history.
It would be easy to look at his bare stats. 9 fights 9 defeats stopped 4 times and go “Yeah he’s rubbish”
But in order to truly asses him we need to look at the 8 opponents he boxed.
He boxed Jose Meneses twice
For his pro debut he faced the Ruben Dario Palacios whose record at the time was 6 wins no defeats and lost on points over 10 rounds. Palacios subsequently fought 4 times for world titles. Winning the WBO Featherweight title from Colin Mcmillan in his last fight.
In his next bout he faced the unbeaten Jose Meneses who boasted a 7 wins no defeats record and lost by a 3rd round tko.
He boxed Meneses again in his 5th bout and lost by 2nd round ko.
For his third fight things got even more difficult as he faced Israel Contreras who at the time sported a 16 wins no defeats record and who would subsequently win both the WBO & WBA Bantamweight titles. Contreras only lost three times during his career. (2 of his losses were in World title bouts) his first loss was to the legendary Khaosai Galaxy. His one none title loss was a split decision loss to Elvis Alvarez who went on to win both the WBO & WBA Flyweight titles. Contreras stopped Zea in the 3rd round. He subsequently stopped Wilfredo Vasquez in the 1st round.
So after 3 bouts Zea had a 0-3 pro record and his oppents combined records when he faced them were 29-0
Next up for Zea was an opponent who had actually lost a bout Miguel Maturana whose record was 8-1-1. Zea lost on points over 8 rounds. Maturana’s only loss had been a 10th round tko loss to Ruben Dario Palacios. Maturana never won a World Title but did challenge for the IBF Bantamweight title losing to Kelvin Seabrooks
Next up was another easy fight against Rafael Orono who boasted a 30-2-2 record and had twice held the WBC Super Flyweight title. Zea lost on points over 10 rounds.
For his 7th bout he faced two-fight novice Luis Mendoza, losing on points over 6 rounds. Mendoza would go on to become WBA World super bantamweight champion. Mendoza lost 7 times in his career. 6 of his losses were in world title fights.
Up next was a boxer who had a hit and miss career Juan Polo Perez who at the time he faced Zea was 11-4 and who ended up with career stats of 46 wins, 46 losses and 4 draws. Like most of Zea’s opponents Perez won a World title. He beat Elly Pical for the IBF super flyweight title. Zea lost this bout on points over 8 rounds.
So after 8 easy bouts it was time for Zea to end his career with one final easy bout against Azael Moran, who at the time boasted a 15-1 record. Zea lost by 3rd round tko. Moran never won a World title but did box for the WBA World bantamweight title.
So Zea ended with a 0-9 record and the combined record of his opponents at the time he boxed them was 106 wins 9 defeats and 4 draws.
5 of his opponents held world titles and 2 others challenged for them. In fact of the opponents he boxed only Jose Meneses never boxed for a World title.
It would be easy to look at his bare stats. 9 fights 9 defeats stopped 4 times and go “Yeah he’s rubbish”
But in order to truly asses him we need to look at the 8 opponents he boxed.
He boxed Jose Meneses twice
For his pro debut he faced the Ruben Dario Palacios whose record at the time was 6 wins no defeats and lost on points over 10 rounds. Palacios subsequently fought 4 times for world titles. Winning the WBO Featherweight title from Colin Mcmillan in his last fight.
In his next bout he faced the unbeaten Jose Meneses who boasted a 7 wins no defeats record and lost by a 3rd round tko.
He boxed Meneses again in his 5th bout and lost by 2nd round ko.
For his third fight things got even more difficult as he faced Israel Contreras who at the time sported a 16 wins no defeats record and who would subsequently win both the WBO & WBA Bantamweight titles. Contreras only lost three times during his career. (2 of his losses were in World title bouts) his first loss was to the legendary Khaosai Galaxy. His one none title loss was a split decision loss to Elvis Alvarez who went on to win both the WBO & WBA Flyweight titles. Contreras stopped Zea in the 3rd round. He subsequently stopped Wilfredo Vasquez in the 1st round.
So after 3 bouts Zea had a 0-3 pro record and his oppents combined records when he faced them were 29-0
Next up for Zea was an opponent who had actually lost a bout Miguel Maturana whose record was 8-1-1. Zea lost on points over 8 rounds. Maturana’s only loss had been a 10th round tko loss to Ruben Dario Palacios. Maturana never won a World Title but did challenge for the IBF Bantamweight title losing to Kelvin Seabrooks
Next up was another easy fight against Rafael Orono who boasted a 30-2-2 record and had twice held the WBC Super Flyweight title. Zea lost on points over 10 rounds.
For his 7th bout he faced two-fight novice Luis Mendoza, losing on points over 6 rounds. Mendoza would go on to become WBA World super bantamweight champion. Mendoza lost 7 times in his career. 6 of his losses were in world title fights.
Up next was a boxer who had a hit and miss career Juan Polo Perez who at the time he faced Zea was 11-4 and who ended up with career stats of 46 wins, 46 losses and 4 draws. Like most of Zea’s opponents Perez won a World title. He beat Elly Pical for the IBF super flyweight title. Zea lost this bout on points over 8 rounds.
So after 8 easy bouts it was time for Zea to end his career with one final easy bout against Azael Moran, who at the time boasted a 15-1 record. Zea lost by 3rd round tko. Moran never won a World title but did box for the WBA World bantamweight title.
So Zea ended with a 0-9 record and the combined record of his opponents at the time he boxed them was 106 wins 9 defeats and 4 draws.
5 of his opponents held world titles and 2 others challenged for them. In fact of the opponents he boxed only Jose Meneses never boxed for a World title.
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