Career
He competed in the light flyweight (– 48 kg) division during the late 1980s, early 1990s. 1997 was a banner year for Velasco as he added the gold medals in the 1st Muhamad Ali Invitational Boxing Championships in Kentucky, the Italian Boxing Championships and the Roberto Balado Cup in Cuba to his World Championship hardware. Velasco is currently serving with the Philippine Navy with the rank of Petty Officer First Class (P01) while doing double duty as a coach with the Philippine Boxing Team.
As a trainer, Roel is known for his way of selecting his pupils.
As he welcomes anyone who want to learn from him. He is also known to have an interest to inexperience or slow learners stating that:
"Kahit na anong Hina ng isang boxer basta masipag sa training, siya ay gagaling na pwede pang higitan and isang boxer na may talento." (Even if a boxer is weak, he/she can grow into a strong fighter as long as he/she is dedicated to his/her training and can even surpass the strength of a talented boxer")
Defeated James Wanene (Kenya) 16-1
Defeated Rajendra Prasad (India) 15-6
Defeated Rowan Williams (Great Britain) 7-6
Lost to Rogelio Marcelo (Cuba) Royal Society of Chemistry 1 (1:36).
