ODESSA, TX (KWES) - Tomas Villa was a prominent boxer in the community and left his mark here in the Basin. Last week, 34-year-old Midland Native Tomas Villa died in a car accident. He ended his boxing career with a 23-8-5 record and with 14 knockouts. During his career he was a two-time Texas State featherweight champion and in 2008 Villa captured his first world title. He made a lasting mark in the boxing community around the Basin.
"Back when I was younger and I'd get to work with him or get to go to their gym and see him hit the bag or something I would watch just learn. My dad used to tell me you learn by beating them, but you also learn by watching other people. So he was a big deal and he meant a lot of people and to me too. Just watching him from the amateurs all the way to the pros it was just inspiring. Someone from this small of a town could do something like that," said professional boxer Joey Adlay.
Villa is arguably one of the best boxers to come out of the Permian Basin.