José Luis Villanueva was the first Filipino boxer to reach the semi-final in an Olympic boxing tournament. In the bantamweight division of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, he lost on points against eventual gold medalist Lefty Gwynne but went on to win bronze beating American Joseph Lang, also by decision.
Later, Villanueva became a boxing trainer coaching, amongst others, Gabriel “Flash“ Elorde, professional world champion in the super featherweight division and considered the greatest champion of all times in this division. Villanueva died from a heart attack at the age of 70 in the Kamuning neighborhood of Quezon City allegedly watching the Roberto Durán – Marvin Hagler fight on TV (not as spread in some sources the Roberto Durán – Sugar Ray Leonard fight!). His son Anthony Villanueva won a silver medal in the featherweight division of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics before he entered a short and unsuccessful professional career. Both father and son were inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.
Philippines