Roel Velasco
Encyclopedia
Roel Velasco is a retired boxer
from the Philippines
. He competed in the light flyweight
(– 48 kg) division during the late 1980s, early 1990s.
He represented his native country of the Philippines at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona, Spain, where he won the bronze medal. In the semifinals he was stopped by Cuba
's eventual winner Rogelio Marcelo
. He is the elder brother of Mansueto Velasco
, who won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in the same weight division. Roel won the silver medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships
.
Roel Velasco was the first Filipino to win a medal in the Goodwill Games by snatching the bronze in the light-flyweight division in boxing in the 1998 New York edition. 1997 was a banner year for Velasco as he added the gold medals in the 1st Muhamad Ali Invitational Boxing Championships in Kentucky, the Italian Boxing Championships and the Roberto Balado Cup in Cuba to his World Championship hardware.
Velasco is currently serving with the Philippine Navy with the rank of Petty Officer First Class (P01) while doing double duty as a coach with the Philippine Boxing Team.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He competed in the light flyweight
Light flyweight
- Professional boxing :The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds . When New York legalized boxing in 1920, the law stipulated a "junior flyweight" class, with a weight limit of 99 pounds. When the National Boxing Association was formed in 1921, it also recognized this...
(– 48 kg) division during the late 1980s, early 1990s.
He represented his native country of the Philippines at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Boxing at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Boxing at the 1992 Summer Olympics took place in the old Pavelló Club Joventut de Badalona in Barcelona. The boxing schedule began on July 26 and ended on August 9...
in Barcelona, Spain, where he won the bronze medal. In the semifinals he was stopped by Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
's eventual winner Rogelio Marcelo
Rogelio Marcelo
Rogelio Marcelo García is a retired boxer from Cuba, who competed in the light flyweight division during the early 1990s....
. He is the elder brother of Mansueto Velasco
Mansueto Velasco
Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, Jr. is a Filipino boxer from Bago City, Negros Occidental. He competed in the Men's 48 kg category at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and took home the silver medal, the Philippines' only medal of the games...
, who won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in the same weight division. Roel won the silver medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships
1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships
The Men's 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Budapest, Hungary from October 18 to October 26. The ninth edition of this competition, a year after the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, was organised by the world governing body for amateur boxing AIBA...
.
Roel Velasco was the first Filipino to win a medal in the Goodwill Games by snatching the bronze in the light-flyweight division in boxing in the 1998 New York edition. 1997 was a banner year for Velasco as he added the gold medals in the 1st Muhamad Ali Invitational Boxing Championships in Kentucky, the Italian Boxing Championships and the Roberto Balado Cup in Cuba to his World Championship hardware.
Velasco is currently serving with the Philippine Navy with the rank of Petty Officer First Class (P01) while doing double duty as a coach with the Philippine Boxing Team.
Olympic results
- Defeated James Wanene (Kenya) 16-1
- Defeated Rajendra PrasadRajendra PrasadDr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
(India) 15-6 - Defeated Rowan WilliamsRowan WilliamsRowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
(Great Britain) 7-6 - Lost to Rogelio MarceloRogelio MarceloRogelio Marcelo García is a retired boxer from Cuba, who competed in the light flyweight division during the early 1990s....
(Cuba) RSC 1 (1:36)