Background
His father died when he was 15, leaving his mother to raise the family. To help his mother, he started driving a tricycle, making him to earn as much as 100 pesos ($250 United States dollar) a day.
His father died when he was 15, leaving his mother to raise the family. To help his mother, he started driving a tricycle, making him to earn as much as 100 pesos ($250 United States dollar) a day.
He is currently under the super flyweight division. Villanueva is the second youngest of 12 children in their family. Despite of these hardships, he was able to finish high school and immediately proceeded to college with Bachelor of Arts Mathematics course.
King as often called by his friends, is also an avid chess player.
He earned 4 medals competing inner-city chess tournaments during his elementary and high school years. The young Villanueva started boxing at the age of 16, losing only 7 out of his 50 amateur fights.
He turned professional at age of 19. Villanueva made his professional debut on November 29, 2008, at the age of 19, defeating fellow debutant Alan Magno via TKO in the second round at PAGCOR Hotel and Casino, Goldenfield Commercial Complex, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
On July 13, 2013, Villanueva captured the vacant WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight title by defeating a Mexican fighter Arturo “Fuerte” Badillo via TKO on the 4th round.
During the Pinoy Pride XXVII held at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Arthur Villanueva gained the IBF International Junior Bantamweight title by stopping Henry "El Crespo" Maldonado of Nicaragua via split decision, scoring 117-110 and 116-113 from two judges. On July 19, 2015, "King" lost via technical decision on former olympian Mcjoe Arroyo for the vacant world title.