Following in the footsteps of his father, who took bronze at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Villanueva became a national hero when he beat American Charles Brown to progress to the final of the 1964 Olympic featherweight boxing final in Tokyo.

The 19-year-old would go on to lose the final to the Soviet Union's Stanislav Stepashkin on a point's decision in what proved an incredibly hotly contested and controversial final.

Many in the Philippines believed, and still believe, that the Filipino was robbed of victory in the final with Joey Romasanta, vice-President of the Philippine Olympic Committee, echoing this thought in his message of solace over the Villanueva's death.

"To me, he's the country's first Olympic gold medallist," he said.

"We lost a great athlete like we lost the gold in the Olympics," added Richie Garcia, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Friends of Villanueva said he died in his sleep at around 11am yesterday.

He is said to have been bedridden for several years prior to his death at his apartment in Cabuyao, Laguna

He is survived by his wife Liezel Deldia and 15-year-old son Joey.

He had three more children, Avery, 43, and Agatha, 41, with his first wife, and a son, Jose, 18, with another woman.

The Philippines have won just two silver medals in their Olympic history, with light flyweight boxer Mansueto Velasco taking the second at Atlanta in 1996.

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