Q&A with Ada Velez!

By Andre Courtemanche

Slick Puerto Rican stylist Ada “Ace” Velez (15-3, 6 KOs) says she “lost her taste for boxing” in 2004 when she dropped what she considers a highly controversial split decision to women’s current world champion Anita Christensen of Denmark, in Denmark.

Back after three years, and set to take on Louisiana’s Kasha “The Fighting Marine” Chamblin (10-1, 5 KOs) at the Paragon Casino & Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, on November 24 for the IBA Women’s World Super Bantamweight Championship, Velez says she will be there for her “unfinished business” with boxing.

Puerto Rico has always had a strong contingency of boxers that were in the pound-for-pound ranks – Who are your boxing heroes in Puerto Rico? 

I know of others great boxers from the past, but they don't stand out much to me as Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto do. They are the Puerto Rican heroes of my time.

Did you have an amateur career? Was female boxing popular in Puerto Rico?

I had a small Amateur career in Hollywood Florida as female boxing was not popular yet in Puerto Rico in 1998, but it's growing. They need a female hero. 

How do you describe your style?

I like action. 

In your career you have an impressive 15 wins against only 3 defeats and 2 draws. Tell us about your 3 losses and 2 draws. Did you feel any of these fights could have gone your way?

I only consider myself as having one loss and one draw. I felt I lost against Melissa DelValle on ESPN 2, where she was a lightweight and I was a bantamweight and we were meeting in the middle to fight this fight on ESPN. Melissa is very tricky and she was bigger than me and I was having a bad day and was very stubborn.

The last one I lost, in August 2007, was Jeri Sitzes. I was coming back off a three-year layoff and fought a bigger girl (I am not in that weight division). But it was a start with that one step back in the ring and coming down in weight from 165 pounds. The only draw I consider was against Lisa Brown. The other two should have been my victories without question. 

Many boxing writers thought you beat Anita Christensen. What happened in that fight?

I was real upset about that fight. I poured my heart out beating up this girl. Knocked her down in the eighth and they gave it to her. I got ripped off. That’s when I lost my taste for boxing. It wasn't Anita Christensen's fault. She apologized after the fight regarding the decision. She knew I won. I will show my disdain for what happened on Nov 24.

You have fought for several championships. Which one is the one you were most proud of?

The very first title fight in my career against Linda Timber from Texas; I wanted it bad, just like this one. 

What do you know about your opponent, Kasha Chamblin, and how do you list her compared to your other opponents?

I don't know much of her except she has a good record and she's taller than me. 

The last major female world championship fight held in Louisiana was with your manager, Bonnie Canino, in March of 1997. How do you feel about having another major world title challenge in the same state your manager had hers?

I just hope the best girl that night wins on fair judging.

You've had lots of time to train for this fight to prepare yourself. How do you consider your conditioning compared to other fights?

I am always getting better and stronger with each fight. I've never felt better.

Who was your toughest opponent to date?

Lisa Brown, in that draw – I couldn’t do enough that night to take the win, but she didn't do enough to take the win from me, as we both neutralized each other.

What do you expect in this fight for the IBA Junior Featherweight Championship of the World?

To Win Impressively and I will. 

Final comments?