José Laureano: Puerto Rican Boxer, Coach and Official
José Laureano, born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, began in boxing as a competitor and went on to work as a coach, official, and sports administrator.
From the ring to boxing leadership
The International Boxing Association’s 2021 biography says Laureano graduated from Puerto Rico’s Sports Specialized School and earned a master’s degree in physical and special education. He worked as a teacher and boxing adviser before serving as a judge, referee, and head coach. The IBA says he coached Puerto Rico’s national team during three Olympic cycles.
In 2016, Laureano was elected president of the Puerto Rican Boxing Federation, according to Primera Hora. Five years later, delegates elected him president of the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) at its assembly in Rio de Janeiro. The IBA reported that the election also made him a member of its board; in February 2025, the organization continued to identify him as AMBC president in a later report.
Professional record databases disagree on Laureano’s career totals.
Laureano’s career is notable for its range of roles, not just its chronology. He moved from competing to teaching, coaching and officiating, then took on federation leadership in Puerto Rico and the Americas. The three Olympic cycles cited by the IBA give a concrete measure of his national-team work; the differing professional records are best treated cautiously.
Sources
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
