Ada "Ace" Vélez (born September 15, 1969) is a Puerto Rican female professional boxer from

Dania Beach, Florida Dania Beach (Dania until 1998) is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 31,723. It is part of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010 census ...

who lives in

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...

. Vélez was brought into boxing by former

women's boxing Although women have participated in boxing for almost as long as the sport has existed, female fights have been effectively outlawed for most of boxing's history until recently, with athletic commissioners refusing to sanction or issue licenses ...

world champion

Bonnie Canino Bonnie Canino (born 11 January 1962) is a retired American boxer and kickboxer, and former world featherweight champion for two different associations. She also won world titles in kick boxing for two different associations. She is the former ...

. After a successful undefeated amateur career that included a national title, Vélez became the first Puerto Rican to win a women's world boxing championship on January 19, 2001, when she defeated Kathy Williams on a unanimous decision over 10 rounds to win the IBA bantamweight title. Ten months later, she moved up in weight and challenged undefeated Mary Elizabeth Ortega for the WIBA super bantamweight title, again winning a 10-round unanimous decision. Vélez won her first 10 pro fights before suffering her first loss as a professional, in her first defense of the WIBA title. On June 21, 2002,

Melissa Del Valle Melissa Del Valle (born June 2, 1969, in New York) is an American multiple champion in women's boxing. A member of a sports-minded family of Puerto Rican decent. Del Valle took up boxing in the early 1990s, while her older brother Lou Del Vall ...

decisioned Vélez in

Waco, Texas Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the st ...

in the featured bout on an all-women's card featuring world champions Anne Wolfe,

Sumya Anani Sumya Anani (born February 12, 1972) is a retired American professional female boxer nicknamed "The Island Girl." She was 5'6" and boxed as a junior welterweight. She is best known for a 1996 bout which left her opponent severely injured and may ...

Delia Gonzalez Delia 'Chikita' Gonzalez (born November 20, 1971) is an American former flyweight female boxer. She has a record of 13-9-4 with 3 knockout wins, although several of her losses have been controversial. Personal and early life Gonzalez is Mex ...

and Kelsey Jeffries. On December 21, she bounced back to reclaim the IBA version of the world bantamweight title by decisioning Lakeysha Williams over 10 rounds. Vélez has added the WIBA bantamweight title to her IBA belt on June 28, 2003, when she beat Gonzalez on a seventh-round disqualification. Vélez traveled to Denmark to defend her WIBA bantamweight title against Anita Christensen. on January 17, 2004, Vélez lost a highly controversial 10 round split decision to Christensen. Vélez had knocked down Christensen in the 9th round, and looked to be the obvious winner of their encounter. The Danish press strongly criticized this decision, saying on record that Vélez was robbed of her title. Vélez' current record is 20 wins, 5 loss and 3 draws, with six knockout wins. She now teaches kids, teens, and adults boxing at Velez Boxing and Fitness in

Oakland Park, Florida Oakland Park, officially the City of Oakland Park, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 44,229. It is part of the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach Metropolitan ...

. She makes them do exercise machines, running, strength and conditioning, and boxing.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Velez, Ada 1969 births Living people Puerto Rican women boxers Bantamweight boxers People from Dania Beach, Florida 21st-century American women Sportspeople from Broward County, Florida Boxers from Florida

Professional boxing record

See also

References

External links