Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco Jr. (born January 10, 1974) is a Filipino retired boxer, comedian and actor from Bago, Negros Occidental. Competing in the 48 kg category he won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games and a silver at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the Philippines' only medal at those Games. He is the younger brother of Roel Velasco, a light-flyweight boxer who won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.[1]
Velasco retired from boxing due to lack of government support and pursued an acting career, stating that he found it more financially sustainable.[2] His life and boxing career was featured in the 1997 film The Onyok Velasco Story, where he played himself. This marked his first venture into acting.[3][4]
Velasco later had a successful career as a comedian, appearing in several sitcoms and comedy films, including Show Me Da Manny on GMA 7.[5] He also played the role of a boxing trainer on the TV5 comedy-drama Beki Boxer.[6][7]
For his feat in the 1996 Summer Olympics, he received pledges of monetary and non-monetary incentives. He was able to receive ₱1 million from then-Manila Mayor Mel Lopez and ₱500,000 from the Philippine Sports Commission. However, not all of these pledges materialized as of 2021 including a ₱2.5 million pledge by the House of Representatives in 1996 and the title for the house and lot he received.[8][9]
1966–2006: 48 kg • 2010–2018: 49 kg | |
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