Ada "Ace" Vélez (born September 15, 1969) 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.
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.[1]
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.[2]
| 28 fights | 20 wins | 5 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 12 | 5 |
| By disqualification | 2 | 0 |
| Draws | 3 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Loss | 20–5–3 | Jessica Rakoczy | UD | 10 | 2013-01-24 | Coca-Cola Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | For vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title |
| 27 | Loss | 20–4–3 | Katy Wilson Castillo | UD | 10 | 2012-03-24 | Palacio de Deportes, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Lost IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 26 | Win | 20–3–3 | Melinda Cooper | MD | 10 | 2011-11-20 | Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 25 | Win | 19–3–3 | Melinda Cooper | SD | 10 | 2011-03-31 | National Stadium, San José, Costa Rica | Won vacant IBF super-bantamweight title |
| 24 | Win | 18–3–3 | Mary Ortega | UD | 6 | 2010-12-10 | Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 17–3–3 | Stacey Reile | UD | 8 | 2010-02-27 | Electricians Union Hall, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 22 | Draw | 16–3–3 | Kaliesha West | MD | 6 | 2010-01-21 | San Manuel Indian Casino, Highland, California, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 16–3–2 | Kasha Chamblin | UD | 10 | 2007-11-24 | Paragon Casino & Resort, Marksville, Louisiana, U.S. | Won vacant IBA super-bantamweight title |
| 20 | Win | 15–3–2 | Jackie Chavez | MD | 6 | 2007-09-21 | Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel, Bernalillo, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 19 | Loss | 14–3–2 | Jeri Sitzes | UD | 6 | 2007-08-10 | Expo Center, Springfield, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 18 | Loss | 14–2–2 | Anita Christensen | SD | 10 | 2004-01-17 | SAS Radisson, Aarhus, Denmark | Lost WIBA bantamweight title; For vacant WIBF bantamweight title |
| 17 | Draw | 14–1–2 | Lisa Brown | PTS | 10 | 2003-10-30 | Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S. | Retained WIBA bantamweight title |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Delia Gonzalez | DQ | 7 (10), 1:25 | 2003-06-28 | Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S. | Retained WIBA bantamweight title |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Leona Brown | DQ | 7 (8), 1:18 | 2003-03-29 | Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Lakeysha Williams | UD | 10 | 2002-12-20 | American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. | Won vacant WIBA bantamweight title |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Rolanda Andrews | TKO | 4 (6), 1:41 | 2002-11-09 | South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 12 | Draw | 10–1–1 | Layla McCarter | MD | 6 | 2002-07-18 | Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | For vacant vacant USA Oregon State featherweight title |
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | Melissa Del Valle | UD | 10 | 2002-06-21 | Convention Center, Waco, Texas, U.S. | Lost WIBA super-bantamweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Angie Bordelon | TKO | 2 (6), 1:54 | 2002-01-25 | Young Pavilion, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Mary Ortega | UD | 10 | 2001-11-16 | Convention Center, Austin, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WIBA super-bantamweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Jamillia Lawrence | MD | 4 | 2001-06-29 | Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Kathy Williams | UD | 10 | 2001-01-19 | Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S. | Won vacant IBA bantamweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Linda Tenberg | UD | 8 | 2000-12-15 | Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Lisa Foster | TKO | 2 (4), 1:48 | 2000-11-15 | Dundee Training Center, Davie, Florida, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Pamela Opdyke | TKO | 3 (6), 1:45 | 2000-10-18 | Dundee Training Center, Davie, Florida, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jamie Chartrand | TKO | 2 (4), 1:59 | 2000-10-08 | Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sue Chase | UD | 4 | 2000-06-30 | Grand Casino, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jocelyn Fontanilla | TKO | 3 (4), 1:21 | 1999-08-21 | National Guard Armory, West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
