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| Thirty years after almost winning it all in Atlanta, Onyok Velasco looked back at how he sacrificed a shot at turning pro to go for a glorious Olympic run. Luis Fabregar (file photo) |
MANILA—Thirty years ago, one of the most glorious moments—and maybe a great what-if—in Philippine boxing happened when Onyok Velasco won a silver medal in the Atlanta Olympics.
Of course, everyone until the present time knows it would have easily been a gold if not for a classic case of rigging that favored eventual champion Daniel Petrov.
However, even if he fell short in the most bizarre way back then, Velasco still feels happy that the Philippines eventually racked up three Olympic golds, all the more that they all came in sports where there have been no recent traces of spotty officiating and judging like weightlifting and gymnastics.
"Siyempre natuwa ako dahil hindi lang sa boxing nakakuha kundi sa weightlifting at sa gymnastic. At least yung inaasam-asam natin ng Pilipino na makakuha ng gold medal sa Olympics, nakuha natin sa ibang sports," Velasco told Dugout Philippines upon seeing the golden moments of Hidilyn Diaz in 2021 and Carlos Yulo three years after.
He admitted, though, that he seriously thought about running it back in Sydney in 2000, but the Philippine Olympic-style boxing's former light-flyweight king eventually pulled the plug on a revenge arc as he struggled to trim his weight back to a shade below 48 kilograms.
"Mahirap eh kasi yung timbang ko kasi. Yun yung kalaban ko, yung timbang eh. So doon siguro mahirap," Velasco began relaying his weight management issues during the turn of the millennium.
He also said that he felt like he was more comfortable playing at the light flyweights that moving up to the 51-kilogram flyweights would be a very risky move.
"Pinabigat ako ng pinabigat eh, so nagbaba ako ng timbang. So doon ako nahirapan. Nagti-training ka, walang kain. Grabe yung training talaga. Tapos di ba wala kang kain? Mahirap talaga. Kaya sabi ko pag nagka-medal na ako, medyo baka mag-isip na ako na mag-stop na. Kasi nga, kung tataas pa ako ng timbang, mas malalaki ang kalaban," Velasco continued, adding that his budding post-Atlanta Olympic career as a comedian somehow factored in his decision to retire from the sport at a young age of 22.
One can argue, though, that he could have considered turning pro like what Floyd Mayweather, who coincidentally also lost to a Bulgarian opponent in another controversial bout, did after Atlanta.
Velasco revealed that at least one offer to move out of the amateur ranks came as early as 1994 right after ruling the Asian Games in Hiroshima.
"Noong 1994 pa lang may nag-offer na sa amin na mga Hapon eh na mag-pro. Sabi ko, 'Hindi, okay na ako dito sa amateur lang.' Hindi masyadong bugbugan kasi three rounds lang eh. Sa pro kasi 12 rounds, medyo tapos gagamitin ka nang gagamitin, ilaban ka nang ilaban. Mahirap eh. Hindi ka makakuha ng magandang promoter," Velasco shared why he said no to the deal.
He also bared that the potential prize purse he would have received was not at par with what Luisito Espinosa, the Filipino pro superstar that time, was getting, adding that the skyrocketing of the purse later on was more of a "Manny Pacquiao effect".
"Yung time na yun, Wala namang pera noon sa pro, parang gagamitin ka lang eh. Nung dumating si Manny, yun yung lumaki na mga premyo at may mga magandang offer na. Tapos na yung career ko nung nandiyan na si Manny," Velasco further said.
Pacquiao actually had a solid amateur career and was a prospect to join Velasco in the Philippine team to Atlanta before ultimately deciding to turn pro in 1995 at just 16 years old.
Now enjoying his retirement, Velasco, who was recently inducted to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame, hopes that his Olympic glory would inspire the Filipino young athletes to strive further and be more disciplined.
"Sa mga kabataan, ipagpatuloy lang nila yung training nila at iwas lang sa drugs. Importante ang disiplina, at maaabot nila yung inaasam nila na tagumpay," Velasco concluded.
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