He is the elder brother of Mansueto Velasco, who won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the same weight division. Roel won the silver medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
Roel and Mansueto Velasco are brothers who both competed in boxing, with Roel winning a silver medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships and his brother winning a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.