Gil Velarde

                                                                      Gil Velarde     

Gil Velarde was one of those boxers that never got to the top rang of the boxing ladder. Gil nonetheless was always ready to step in the ring at the last minute to save a show. He lost as many as he won, but always gave his best. He used to put the greatest show with the speed bag I ever seen. I remember walking up the stairs to the second floor where the Main Street Gym was and hearing the ‘ra-ta-ta’ of the speed bag and thinking ‘that’s Gil Velarde hitting the speed bag’. I remember walking up and standing with others to watch Gil hit the small peanut bag.

I remember been fascinated watching Gil on his toes moving side to side none-stop for what seem like hours even though it was only minutes….I wish we had boxing back in the City of Angels so that we could watch today’s Gil Velarde’s fight.