Little “Eleuterio Zapanta” Dado

Eleuterio “Little Dado” Zapanta (January 1, 1916 – July 7, 1965) was a Filipino flyweight and bantamweight boxer from Negros Occidental. Active in the 1930s and early 1940s, he rose to prominence as one of the world’s top fighters, earning the No. 1 Ring magazine ranking at flyweight in 1939. Dado captured the World bantamweight title in 1940 and the World flyweight title in 1941, becoming recognized in California as champion in both divisions. Ambitious to add a featherweight crown, he sought to become only the second boxer to hold three world titles simultaneously. He retired in 1943 with an official record of 90 fights, 73 wins (22 by KO), 6 losses, and 11 draws. Remembered as a trailblazer of Philippine boxing, he died in 1965 at age 49.