Velez became the first Puerto Rican to win a women's world boxing championship on January 19, 2001, when she defeated Kathy Williams on a unanimous decision over 10 rounds to win the IBA women's bantamweight title. Ten months later, she moved up in weight and challenged undefeated Mary Elizabeth Ortega for the WIBA super bantamweight title, again winning a 10-round unanimous decision.
Velez won her first 10 pro fights before suffering her first and to date only loss, in her first defense of the WIBA title. On June 21, 2002, Melissa Del Valle decisioned Velez in Waco, Texas in the featured bout on an all-women's card featuring world champions Anne Wolfe, Sumya Anani, Delia Gonzalez and Kelsey Jeffries.
On December 21, she bounced back to reclaim the IBA version of the world bantamweight title by decisioning Lakeysha Williams over 10 rounds. This fight was an ESPN televised bout, giving Velez her first national exposure.
Velez has (as of October 2003) fought twice since then, and added the WIBA bantamweight title to her IBA belt on June 28, when she beat Gonzalez on a seventh-round disqualification.
Her current record is 14 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, with seven knockout wins.