By Brian Yalung
Leopoldo Serantes, 1988 Seoul Olympics boxing bronze medalist, passed away on Wednesday morning (Sept. 1) at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. He was 59 years old.
Serantes suffered from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and his condition reportedly worsened on Tuesday (Aug. 31).
The native of Bicol is best known as one of the Filipino boxers behind the resurgence of the sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics where he bagged the lone bronze medal in the light flyweight division.
Aside from the Seoul Olympics, Serantes also bagged the gold medal at the 1985 Bangkok and 1987 Jakarta Southeast Asian Games.
Serantes was among nine other Filipino sporting icons who were recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as Hall of Famers in July. He also received a P200,000 grant from the PSC.
Serantes is survived by his six children. His wife, Divina, passed away in 2019. -jlo
