Trinidad fight CANCELLED at the last minute

[Ryan Wissow]

Gisselle Salandy failed her physical the day of the fight.
why they didnt give her this physical at the weigh-in is beyond me.
she is having her period and the doctors say she is anemic.
so the fight was cancelled at the very last minute, after the preliminary fight.
people in the crowd were ticked.
Gisselle came to the ring and apologized to the fans, and said she isnt scared of Stone. that was when Stone stormed into the ring and got in Gisselle's face, and they had to be physically seperated.
the ringside consensius was that Salandy 'chickened out'
it was an ugly scene.
RYAN

[Rick Scharmberg]

Jeez...

[B. Singh]

Trinidad Newsday
October 2 2007
By WALTER ALIBEY Tuesday

Boxing Board to get tough


TRINIDAD and Tobago’s top female boxer Giselle Salandy is anaemic.

That is the main reason why on Sunday her World Boxing Council (WBC) title fight with American Dakota Stone was called-off after three doctors deemed her unfit to fight.

According to Dr Jacob Hadeed, who examined her yesterday, the boxer also suffered from low blood pressure and was severely dehydrated.

Yesterday Salandy’s promoter and international match-maker Boxu Potts accompanied the undefeated fighter as she was being examined thoroughly by Dr Hadeed, the brother of Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board (TTBB) vice-chairman George Hadeed at his Alexander Street office in St Clair.

Afterwards he said, Salandy, holder of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight championships also had ‘a low blood count.”

Dr Hadeed said that had Salandy fought on Sunday night she would have endangered herself.

“She would have become so weak that she could have fainted without collecting a blow, and therefore it was good that she did not fight,” Potts said yesterday.

However he dismissed concerns and suggestions that Salandy would need to get blood transfusion to build back her strength.

“That is a worse-case scenario but after Dr Hadeed checked her yesterday, he determined that it was a treatable problem,” Potts said.

However if Salandy does get a blood transfusion, she could run afoul of world anti-doping laws.

Potts assured Newsday that Salandy will be back in the ring in two weeks once Dr Hadeed’s prescriptions are followed. He was one of the three doctors who examined Salandy at Skinner Park on Sunday night.

The others were boxing board member Dr Calvin Inalsingh, a specialist in sports medicine and Dr Kameel Mungroo, a general medical practitioner.

Potts said talks are being held with Stone to reschedule the bout although the American has stated that she has a prior commitment in the coming weeks.

He said if Stone does not accept their offer, they will be looking at Yahadi Hernandez of Santo Domingo for Salandy’s next clash.

Meanwhile president of the Boxing Board of Control, Melchior Taylor said that while he sympathised with Potts and Salandy for the situation, the time had come for the board to ensure that medicals are done and presented at the weigh-in at the latest.

At Saturday’s weigh-in at Cascadia Hotel in St Ann’s, the board stood firm on its decision to collect purses for the boxers and threatened to cancel the card had the promoter not provided it.

“Usually the board would go on the assumption that boxers are checked medically before they are put into the ring to fight. But now we are seeing that we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that boxers are fit to enter the ring,” Taylor said.

The former top referee also revealed that the board has paid Stone half of her purse— US$3, 000– because they believe that the cancellation of the bout was no fault of hers.

Promoter Potts said that fans who paid for their tickets for Sunday’s card will be refunded their money.
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Triniad Express
Tuesday, October 2nd 2007

Low blood count kayoes Salandy
By Ian Prescott [e-mail]
www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161210356


Jizelle Salandy visited a doctor yesterday to conduct a series of medical tests, according to her promoter Buxo Potts.

Salandy was said to be suffering from a low blood count, leading to her world title fight against American Dakota Stone being postponed at the 11th hour on Sunday night at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

Dr Jacob Hadeed, who examined Salandy an hour before the fight, said yesterday that her problem is not a difficult one and that with treatment it should clear up soon. Salandy was also examined by Dr Calvin Inalsingh and Dr Mungroo.

Asked if blood was taken from Salandy before the fight to determine that she had a low blood count, Hadeed said: "She (Salandy), in fact, had anaemia, which I detected before the fight. That has since been confirmed by a blood test. She was not fit to fight yesterday (Sunday). It is not a big problem. But, because it was not detected early, she would not have been at her best had she fought. It's a common problem with young women."

The abrupt cancellation of the fight caused an uproar from intended opponent Stone and also those in attendance.

Melchoir Taylor, chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board, said the cancellation of the fight was unfortunate, but he defended both Salandy and promoter Potts, stating that none of them were at fault.

"I feel the doctors should have examined Jizelle before that," Taylor said. "Usually, the doctor examines the fighters before the fight and all is well. Apparently Jizelle has not been well for a while, but at this stage nothing can be done.

"We got the doctor to examine Jizelle Salandy. He said that Jizelle's blood count is very low. We were not satisfied with that, so we got another doctor, and another doctor...three doctors, and they all agreed. We feel that the fight should be postponed for a week or two, pending what the doctors say," Taylor said.

Promoter Potts said he had insisted that Salandy not fight, even though she wanted to. He said he wanted to take no chances. He added that, once recovered, Salandy would fight again in two weeks.

Stone, who left for the United States yesterday after being paid 50 per cent of the purse for the title bout, would be asked to return.

Quizzed about whether the stoppage of the bout was due to financial problems, Potts stated that Stone's purse was lodged with the T&T Boxing Board and called on chairman Taylor to confirm that.

Potts said every effort will now be made to have Stone meet Salandy in two weeks' time.

"After all that hype and drama, we have to fight Dakota Stone again. But, I don't think she wants to fight. We made all kinds of offers to her. Now, she is saying that she has all kinds of commitments. We will see if she really wants to fight, or just to talk," Potts declared yesterday.


Trinidad Guardian
Tuesday 2 September 2007
BY EVERARD GORDON

No Stone return ...Vows not to return to T&T
www.guardian.co.tt/sports3.html


Vowing never to return to Trinidad, American woman boxer Dakota Stone and her handlers left Trinidad yesterday, one day after her ten-round title fight against local champion Jizelle Salandy, failed to come off.

Just around 1,000 persons were at Skinner Park on Sunday to hear boxing promoter Boxu Potts, announced that Salandy, who only one day earlier was eager and ready to defend her title at the weigh-in, was ill and unable to take her place in the ring.

Potts stunned the small crowd by revealing that Salandy had failed a medical after being tested by three doctors—Dr Calvin Inalsingh, Dr Jacob Hadeed and Dr Mungroo.

“The only medical problem she has is fear. She has chicken fever,” Stone is reported to have said.

However Dr Hadeed revealed that his examination showed that Salandy was anaemic and having low blood pressure.

Potts yesterday said that Stone would be approached to return to Trinidad for the fight in two week’s time but if she failed to take up the challenge, she would be replaced by either Jahara Hernandez or Belinda Laraquente.

“We will be approaching Stone but if she does not want to return, either of the two will take her place,” Potts said yesterday.

The bout would have earned Stone US $5,000 while Salandy’s pay cheque was US $25,000.

The evening turned out to be a fiasco as far as patrons were concerned with the programme which was scheduled to start at 4 pm, eventually getting underway more than two hours later, with the first of the two bouts.

T&T’s Kevin Placide, the WBE welterweight champion, lost to Zenny Dalton of Guyana over 12 rounds, kayoed in the tenth round in his bid to capture the vacant CABOFE title.

Dalton had a decision over Placide but that was not apparent in the opening rounds as Placide outpunched his slower opponent. The southpaw Placide scored with stinging right jabs and followed with left crosses mainly to the head and it looked as though he would reverse his former defeat as he dominated the first four rounds. The bout was marred by some boring in, head first and lifting of his opponent off his feet by Dalton, infringements which were allowed to pass with hardly any reprimand from referee Granger.

From round five, though, it was apparent that Placide had shot his bolt and was merely hoping to last the limit. Dalton, sensing this, began to throw more punches that connected. On several occasions, particularly in round six and in round nine it looked as though Placide was out but Dalton was just not able to finish the bout. Come round ten, over in Placide’s corner, Dalton connected with a combination of punches ending in a long right cross, that dropped Placide. At the count of six he attempted to rise on hands and knees but crumpled up and fell prone on the canvas, out for the count at 2:48 of the round.

Problems with the two-bout card started as early as Saturday, when the mandatory medical examination for all fighters failed to take place, in direct contravention of the rules and regulations of the TTBBC.

In addition to the failure to have medicals performed at the weigh in, there was no ambulance with required personnel at the site during the bouts.

Placide suffered a deep cut under his left eye, and it was up to a spectator to take him for medical attention.

According to Potts, spectators with tickets would be given free tickets for the follow up bout with Stone or her replacement.

[B. Singh]

What amazes me is that:

1. It well know in the boxing fraternity that Salandy is anaemic, and has been for as long as I can remember. This madness that Salandy and others are unaware of her condition is a BIG FAT LIE!!!

2. How did these doctors confirm on the night in question that she was anaemic? Did they draw blood and send it to a lab (keep in mind the fight took place on a Sunday when labs would be closed) and got back the results in one hours magical time? Or did they do they own 'test' and confirmed that yes, she is anaemic (despite the fact they know already know she is anaemia).

3. Why was Salandy and Placide (another fighter on the card) not given the mandatory medical the day before the fight? The TTBBOC as well as the sanctioning bodies failed in this area. Or was this done intentionally to prevent Salandy and Stone from fighting?

4. The day after the fight Potts and TTBBOC chairman? were on TV trying to explain what happened and Potts screwed up by first saying that Salandy was sick on the appointed day and that was the reason she did not fight. Later on in the program he then stated that he had to counsel Salandy the night BEFORE the fight to encourage her not to back out of the fight. He forgot his own lie.

5. Salandy was bold enough to go in the ring and give Stone talk about not fighting. If I was Stone I would have beat the crap out of Salandy then and there, and believe me the crowd would have helped Stone. Stone showed up for the fight and was ready and all hyped up…..Salandy was not.

6. That Potts is so BOLDFACED to state that they made all types of offers for Stone to fight again, but she (Stone) is refusing to accept, stating commitments and he is wondering if she wants to fight or just talk.

Potts u IDIOT! Stone got on a plane, showed up in Trinidad, came to the venue, gloved up, warmed up waiting to fight but YOUR FIGHTER DID NOT FIGHT!. Instead Salandy used some stupid excuse that she is anaemic…which everyone knows already...DUH! Instead he should be questioning HIS so call fighter.

Hey Stone if u are reading this, take this piece of advice ...STAY AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM TRINIDAD ONCE POTTS IS INVOLED. Cause if u do come back believe me they will find some way to screw u over AGAIN.


Personal I believe Salandy should have been suspended for that crap she pulled.

I do believe that having her period and being anaemic may have affect her, but since Salandy already knew about her condition then that is not an excuse. I cannot belive that she knows she is anaemic, does the training required for boxing and yet not take the required medication to control her condition.

Also she is older enough to know her menstrual cycle and if she believed her period would affected her performance, then she should have informed Potts that the date in question for the fight would not have been good and they should have scheduled the fight for another date.

It is amazing the madness that takes place in Trindad and that they get away with it.

I guess only Salandy and Potts know why the fight did not take place.

[B. Singh]

Trinidad Express
Thursday, October 4th 2007
Mark Pouchet [e-mail]

SALANDY WANTS STONE...T&T boxer keen to return to the ring
www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161211298


Trinidad and Tobago's top female boxer Jizelle Salandy, whose scheduled showdown with American Dakota Stone was cancelled at the last minute on Sunday because of the local fighter's anaemic condition, is expected to be back in the ring in two to three weeks.

At a media conference, at the Mas Camp Club, yesterday, T&T's multiple world champion said she is looking forward to meeting the American fighter.

"I'm feeling fit. I'm taking my medication and I should be fit enough to get back in the ring in two to three weeks. And after that show she (Dakota Stone) put on in the ring, I definitely want to fight her," Salandy declared.

Salandy said she felt a little weak on Sunday, but still wanted to battle at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

At the media conference, promoter Boxu Potts responded to Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control (T&TBBC) member Melchoir Taylor.

Taylor was reported to have said that Potts had presented a budget of some $362,000 to the Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs which was approved for a four-bout card, adding that the Board was given $62,000 by Potts to pay for officials while the remaining $300,000 remained in Potts' hand.

Yesterday, Potts stated, without giving a breakdown, that the remaining $300,000, which was approved by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, went towards the following expenses-the T&TBBC, travel agents, hotel accommodation and sanctioning fees to the respective international bodies.

"Boxu Potts enjoyed no money out of that," the promoter declared.

Potts also said that Iva Weston reneged on her contract when she failed to appear for the weigh-in last week.

Potts said there were only 200 paying patrons at Skinner Park on Sunday, while the rest of the crowd were complimentary and VIP pass holders.

In the only fight, a scheduled 12-rounder which fans paid $100 to witness, local boy Kelvin Placide was knocked out by Guyana's Denny Dalton in the 10th round.

Potts said he would subject himself to a forensic audit to show that the money was spent as budgeted.

[B. Singh]

Trinidad Guardian
Thursday 4 October 2007
www.guardian.co.tt/sports1.html

$196,000 is all I got says Potts


BOXING promoter Boxu Potts yesterday denied that he was handed $300,00 by the State, for the staging of his ill-fated card at Skinner Park, last Sunday.

Instead, the maverick boxing promoter said he received $196,000 which represented payments for sanction fees, airline tickets and hotel accommodation for the fighters and their handlers on Sunday’s event.

Only one of the three overseas based fighters showed up while only one of the original four fights on Potts’ budget, submitted for Ministerial approval came off.

The original four-bout card left patrons disappointed as the main bout between Potts’ charge Jizelle Salandy and American Dakota Stone, was called off minutes before its scheduled start with Salandy reportedly failing a medical.

Only one of the original four fights eventually took place with local fighter Kevin Placide being kayoed in the 10th round of a scheduled 12-round contest.

Members of the boxing fraternity on Monday were questioning Potts’ relationship with the local boxing board and the two Ministries (the other was the Ministry of Sport) who were assisting with his promotions.

Potts called a press conference at Sweet Lime Restaurant where he told reporters that he did not receive a cent from any of the Ministries.

Admitting that he presented a budget for the $362,000 to the Ministries and the Boxing Board, the former jockey said that $62,000 was handed to the Boxing Board to pay officials while his organisation United Promoters received a cheque for $198,000.

Potts said he took care of hotel bills and airfare, fees for the foreign fighters and for the sanctioning fees of the various championships.

However, he could not provide exact details, promising to furnish that information shortly.

He did not say what is to happen with the fees that were expected to go towards the two fights and four fighters who never made it to the card.

“The entire sum will be accounted for to the Ministry and I hope that this will be written when it is done,” he said with some passion, without giving a time-frame.

Questioned as to the two fights which never seemed to be on the card, Potts said the first between Lisa Brown and an American (whom he did not name) was called off because the American informed him on the Friday before the fight that she did not have a passport.

The other bout, featuring Iva Weston, with whom he had a signed contract, was called off because Weston failed to show. She later told Potts that she was advised by her manager not to fight on his card.

Again, Potts did not name her opponent or say whether or not there was a contract in place with the opponent.

Concerning Salandy’s condition, which led to the cancelling of the main bout, he said that Salandy had done her HIV and pregnancy tests and they were all satisfactory but that on the day of the fight, she did not appear to be herself and on examining her, two doctors, Calvin Inalsingh of the WBC and TTBBC’s Camile Mungroo were not satisfied with her condition.

This was confirmed by Dr Jacob Hadeed, who found her to be anaemic and her blood pressure to be unsatisfactorily low. They agreed that she should not be allowed to fight and that she should have treatment for the condition.

He said that Salandy is responding well and expects to be ready to return to the ring within a one month period.

A healthy looking Salandy was also present at the conference and said that she was confident of beating anybody in her class. She said she is eager to get back in the ring, especially against Stone, who has vowed never to return to Trinidad.

[Christian Brown]

looks like Salandy won.