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Step Into His Ring

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2007

YBOR CITY - Wilberto 'Will' Velez recalls growing up in the rough city of Newark, N.J. He said he was hyper before children were diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

Two things helped settle Velez and give him direction: his father's understanding and boxing.

Today, Velez, 38, is owner of Velez Electric, One Call Construction and Hurricane Boxing Gym, all under one roof at 3715 E. Seventh Ave.

The 28,000-square-foot building on the eastern edge of Ybor City offers little evidence of its electrician and construction operations. Velez relocated electrician and construction equipment from the building to a storage container on the property.

Pass the front office, and the building becomes a gym with a boxing ring, punching bags, weight room and fitness room. Men and women jump rope, throw punches at gloves held by trainers and spar in the ring.

There are no big-screen televisions, fresh towels or gimmicky workout equipment.

Everyone is sweating, even those watching the training unfold.

About 40 regulars, including children, work out at the nonprofit gym. For some, it's exercise. For others, it's a way to enter amateur boxing and develop skills that could lead to a professional career.

Velez charges $50 a month for use of the gym, weight room and personal training. But if a teenager needs financial help, Velez said he doesn't hesitate to lend a hand.

'He is a hard-working, dedicated person,' said Gary Wingfield, 59, who used to run a Tampa boxing gym and now volunteers at Velez's gym.

'This puts a lot of discipline in the kids,' Wingfield said. 'They see a potential. They see something that can happen in life.'

Velez opened the gym in 2001 near Temple Terrace and moved it to Ybor in 2004.

As a youngster, Velez said he couldn't sit still. His father, Domingo, owned a construction business in Newark and would take him to jobs and let him do small tasks.

'I tell people the nails and hammers were my toys,' Velez said.

Wanting to imitate his father, Velez created model houses and planes out of scrap wood.

By age 9, his father had put him in a boxing program at the suggestion of a family friend. Velez said he enjoyed the one-on-one challenge. The daily routine of school, boxing gym, homework and sleep helped him stay out of trouble.

'It made a man out of me,' said Velez, whose father died in 2005 at age 57. 'I don't smoke. I don't drink.'

Velez said he turned pro at 27 and retired at 33 as a middleweight with six wins and no losses. He said he did it to achieve a goal, not with plans of turning it into a career.

The father of five spars with some of his clients, mainly using defensive tactics to teach technique to younger fighters. He also helps his 9-year-old son, Will Jr., who recently showed interest in the sport.

Amateur boxer Danilo Albadan, who joined Velez's gym three years ago, said the discipline needed in boxing has helped him become more focused in life. Before boxing, he ran on idle with no plans.

Albadan, 20, a baggage handler at Tampa International Airport, said he wants to study criminal justice at Hillsborough Community College.

He credits Velez for trying to help children in the community and for hosting amateur fights to give participants experience and exposure.

'This showed me what hard work is like,' said Albadan, of Tampa. 'Every day I come here I work hard. He is showing me how to work hard in the gym and on the streets.'

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Hurricane Boxing Gym
WHERE: 3715 E. Seventh Ave.

WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday

FOUNDER: Will Velez

INFORMATION: (813) 248-3035 or www.myspace.com/hurricane boxinggym

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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