Ada Vélez


Ada "Ace" Vélez is a Puerto Rican female professional boxer from Dania Beach, Florida who lives in Miami. Vélez was brought into boxing by former women's boxing world champion Bonnie Canino.

Career

After a successful undefeated amateur career that included a national title, Vélez became the first native 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 decisioned Vélez in Waco, Texas in the featured bout on an all-women's card featuring world champions Ann Wolfe, Sumya Anani, Delia Gonzalez 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.
She fought Melinda Cooper for the vacant IBF super-bantamweight title at the National Stadium in San José, Costa Rica, on 31 March 2011, winning by split decision with two of the ringside judges scoring the contest 96-94 in her favour while the third had it for her opponent by the same tally. A rematch on 20 November 2011 saw Vélez retain her title by majority decision. One judge scored the fight a 95-95 draw but was overruled by the other two who scored it in her favour 98-92 and 97-93 respectively.
She now teaches kids, teens, and adults boxing at Velez Boxing and Fitness in Oakland Park, Florida. She makes them do exercise machines, running, strength and conditioning, and boxing.
Vélez was inducted into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
28Loss20–5–3Jessica RakoczyUD1024 Jan 2013Coca-Cola Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.For vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title
27Loss20–4–3Katy Wilson CastilloUD1024 Mar 2012Palacio de Deportes, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicLost IBF super-bantamweight title
26Win20–3–3Melinda CooperMD1020 Nov 2011Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super-bantamweight title
25Win19–3–3Melinda CooperSD1031 Mar 2011National Stadium, San José, Costa RicaWon vacant IBF super-bantamweight title
24Win18–3–3Mary OrtegaUD610 Dec 2010Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
23Win17–3–3Stacey ReileUD827 Feb 2010Electricians Union Hall, Miami, Florida, U.S.
22Draw16–3–3Kaliesha WestMD621 Jan 2010San Manuel Indian Casino, Highland, California, U.S.
21Win16–3–2Kasha ChamblinUD1024 Nov 2007Paragon Casino & Resort, Marksville, Louisiana, U.S.Won vacant IBA super-bantamweight title
20Win15–3–2Jackie ChavezMD621 Sep 2007Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel, Bernalillo, New Mexico, U.S.
19Loss14–3–2Jeri SitzesUD610 Aug 2007Expo Center, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
18Loss14–2–2Anita Christensen1017 Jan 2004SAS Radisson, Aarhus, DenmarkLost WIBA bantamweight title;

For vacant WIBF bantamweight title
17Draw14–1–2Lisa Brown1030 Oct 2003Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.Retained WIBA bantamweight title
16Win14–1–1Delia GonzalezDQ7, 1:2528 Jun 2003Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.Retained WIBA bantamweight title
15Win13–1–1Leona Brown7, 1:1829 Mar 2003Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
14Win12–1–1Lakeysha WilliamsUD1020 Dec 2002American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WIBA bantamweight title
13Win11–1–1Rolanda AndrewsTKO4, 1:419 Nov 2002South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
12Draw10–1–1Layla McCarter618 Jul 2002Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon, U.S.For vacant vacant USA Oregon State featherweight title
11Loss10–1Melissa Del ValleUD1021 Jun 2002Convention Center, Waco, Texas, U.S.Lost WIBA super-bantamweight title
10Win10–0Angie BordelonTKO2, 1:5425 Jan 2002Young Pavilion, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S.
9Win9–0Mary OrtegaUD1016 Nov 2001Convention Center, Austin, Texas, U.S.Won vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title
8Win8–0Jamillia Lawrence429 Jun 2001Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, U.S.
7Win7–0Kathy WilliamsUD1019 Jan 2001Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.Won vacant
6Win6–0Linda TenbergUD815 Dec 2000Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
5Win5–0Lisa FosterTKO2, 1:4815 Nov 2000Dundee Training Center, Davie, Florida, U.S.
4Win4–0Pamela OpdykeTKO3, 1:4518 Oct 2000Dundee Training Center, Davie, Florida, U.S.
3Win3–0Jamie ChartrandTKO2, 1:598 Oct 2000Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin, Illinois, U.S.
2Win2–0Sue Chase430 Jun 2000Grand Casino, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S.
1Win1–0Jocelyn Fontanilla3, 1:2121 Aug 1999Old [West Palm Beach National Guard Armory|National Guard Armory], West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.