?ONYOK? VELASCO TO ATTEND PSC-PACQUIAO CUP
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 Feb 2018
VISAYAS PRELIMS IN BAGO CITY FEB. 3-4
BAGO CITY (Feb. 1) ? Olympian Mansueto ?Onyok? Velasco is arriving here in his hometown to grace the two-day Visayas Preliminaries of the on-going PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup slated on February 3 and 4 at the Bago City Sports Coliseum.
This was confirmed by supervising technical director Rogelio ?Roger? Fortaleza of the Philippine Sports Institute.
Velasco won the silver medal in the light flyweight division during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan.
His older brother Roel Velasco, a light-flyweight boxer also won a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics.
Bago City is known as the ?Boxing Capital of the Philippines? for being the hometown also of the other Olympian boxers Reynaldo Galido, Isidro Vicera, Leopoldo Cantancio, Roger Ladon and Larry Semillano.
In fact, Semillano was coached by Fortaleza when he won the gold medal in the 1997 Southeast Asian Games held in Jakarta. Semillao also took a silver medal in the 2007 SEAG and also saw action in the Sydney Olympics.
Semillano, 41, is now already the head coach of the Bago City boxing team that will see action this weekend.
?We?re hoping to discover the next Olympians here,? said Fortaleza, who also has his own memorable moments here in Bago City.
He was the youngest among the four fighting Fortaleza brothers, who each captured a gold medal to give the Far Eastern University boxing team the over-all title in the National Youth Amateur Boxing Championship.
The other Fortaleza brothers were Rey, Renato and Ricardo.
?Memorable din sa akin itong Bago kasi dito ako unang nanalo ng gold medal sa national competition,? said Fortaleza, who also became a coach and secretary-general of the country?s amateur boxing association.
Aside from Bago, also expected to join are teams from Bacolod City, Morcia, Sipalay, Victorias, San Carlos City, Escalante, Cebu, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu, Leyte, Iloilo, Tacloban and Bohol.
Bago City Mayor Narciso Yulo has promised to give the visiting teams and guests a memorable experience in his city, which is billed as the ?Home of Historical and Natural Treasures?.
The opening program and Day 1 of the two-day competition is on Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. It is free to the public. The event is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the office of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
File photo of Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco Former 1997 Jakarta SEA Games gold medalist LarrySemillano (right) with former coach Roger Fortaleza reunited now in Bago City for the Visayas Preliminaries of the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Lito delos Reyes.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 19 Dec 2025January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 19 Dec 2025Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Dec 2025RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
Fri, 19 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Three boxers aim for finals
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 17 Dec 2025BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
Tue, 16 Dec 2025