At the age of 31, Juan is a four-year pro. A contender at 140 pounds, he had a good amateur career before his debut that included three years on Argentina’s national team, as well as five fights in AIBA’s World Series of Boxing.
He has fought 18 times in his native Argentina, where he is a popular performer, and one time each in Mexico and the United States.
Juan stayed active with four fights in 2017 and is fighting for thie third time this year.
In his last fight on May 11, 2018, in Buenos Aires, he won by second-round TKO against Jorge Garcia.
Boxing News’ Eric Armit reported [excerpts]: Velasco, a favorite of the local fans, gets early win. Velasco landed some jarring punches in the first.
Southpaw Garcia came out aggressively in the second taking the fight to Velasco, but the local fighter used good footwork to avoid the rushes and then landed two body punches followed by a short left hook to the head that floored Garcia.
He made it to his feet but the referee ruled he was in no condition to continue and stopped the fight.
The 31-year-old “Pitbull” moves to 12 wins by KO/TKO. [End Armit item]
Trainer Herman Caicedo said, “This is my first fight working with Juan. Our training camp for this fight will be eight weeks total here in Miami, but Juan was training before he came here. We’re training at my gym, Caicedo Sports.
“Juan just had a fight in Argentina on May 11th. He won by second-round knockout, so it was really just like another sparring match, not really a fight. He had a full training camp before the fight in Argentina, and he came to my gym here in Miami just days after it. We had zero downtime. We literally hit the ground running when he got to Miami – I picked him up at customs at 5:45 and we were at the track at 6:15 or 6:20. He said, ‘I don’t get a day’s break?’ I said, ‘No, you don’t get a day’s break. Your break was the flight over here.’ When you add the two fights together, he’s probably had 16 weeks of preparation for this fight.
“This is definitely an important fight for Juan, and I want to make sure that he’s prepared. He came here in shape and he’s very astute in the game.”
Juan said through an interpreter, “In general, fighting a southpaw is a little bit uncomfortable, but they don’t give me a lot of trouble. It’s still a fight, we still have to try to hit each other. At the end of the day, it comes down to just that.
“I have a lot of respect for Regis Prograis. I’m happy for the opportunity and I’m very excited to showcase who I am and what I can do. I’m going to leave nothing behind in the ring.”
Regarding his nickname, he said, “I got that nickname early in my career because I was very, very aggressive. I had a seek and destroy, no quit attitude.”
AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Juan said through an interpreter, “I was born in Palpalá, Jujuy, Argentina, and I have two sisters, both younger than me. My parents are in business, they buy and sell. I’m the only boxer in my family.
“I was close to 20 years old when I started boxing. I started with a group of friends just as a hobby, a past time, just for sport. All of the friends I started with quit almost immediately, but I found the passion for it. The trainer thought I had the most abilities of the group.
“I had around 60 amateur fights, with a record of 55-5, but it could be a little more than that. I won a national championship and I was on Argentina’s national amateur team for three years. I also had international experience but didn’t win any of the tournaments.
“I’m naturally right-handed. I’m married and I have two children – a boy and girl, fraternal twins. They’re three years old.”…
AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:
2014 WORLD SERIES OF BOXING – 152 pounds – on 2-21-14 in Algiers, Algeria, he lost a 3-0 decision against Sofiane Tabi of Algeria…
2013 COPA ROBERTO BALADO – Havana, Cuba, 152 pounds: in his first fight on 6-12-13 he lost a 3-0 decision against Huricha Bilige of China…
2013 GIRALDO CORDOVA CARDIN TOURNAMENT – Havana, Cuba, 152 pounds: in his first fight on 6-4 13 he lost a 3-0 decision against Islam Edisultanov of Russia…
2013 WORLD SERIES OF BOXING – 160 pounds – on 1-11-13 in Algiers, Algeria, he lost a 5-round decision against Ilyas Abbadi of Algeria; on 2-8-13 in Pruszkow, Poland, he lost a 5-round decision against Tomasz Jabłoński of Poland; on 2-23-13 in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, he lost a 5-round decision against Gamzat Gazaliev of Russia…
2012 WORLD SERIES OF BOXING – 160 pounds – on 12-8-12 in Mendoza, Argentina, he won a 5-round decision against Mateusz Tryc of Poland…
STRENGTHS: Has an aggressive style and good punching power…
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 4 years, 2 months…20 fights…100 rounds…
AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 5 rounds…
KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 60 %…
DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 0…10 rounds – 2 (2-0)…
