Post by B. Singh on Jan 12, 2007 8:01:45 GMT -5
Trinidad Newsday
Thursday, January 11 2007
Salandy to answer critics
www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,50530.html
GISELLE SALANDY has been through it all and survived many obstacles in her life to become one of the most accomplished local boxers.
She has had from a young age to deal with the death of her mother Maureen Salandy who loved her dearly but never spoon-fed her.
This gave her the level of mental toughness that she has today, having had to deal with her mother’s death at the tender age of eleven.
After the passing of her mother Salandy was then taken in by Ms Ivy Corian who took the responsibility of caring for her between the ages of 11 to 14.
Corian played a vital role in fashioning Salandy’s life in a positive direction and during that period Salandy attended Penal Junior Secondary and Fyzabad Composite.
It was during these years that Salandy visited the White Eagle Boxing Gym with her stepbrother Joel Eligon who is still an amateur boxer.
She got involved in the sport and then it all started, racking up a series of victories throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the islands — Tortola, Anguilla, meeting along the way Joanna Alvarez and Ria Ramnarine just to name a few.
Then came the moment of truth which altered her professional focus in the sport.
In October 2001 on the island of Curacao, Salandy became the youngest person to win an international boxing title at age 14 — the Ibero Latin American crown.
She then met Curtis Joseph, who adopted her and he cared for her as a father from the age of 14 to 19 years old and during this time he tried to manage her career without much success having only one fight which she won.
She left his care on June 6 last year.
International matchmaker and promoter Boxu Potts has seen Salandy fight and thought that the young woman would be an asset to the sport of boxing in Trinidad and Tobago.
He also felt that Salandy could be an inspiration to the youth of the country.
And history says he was not wrong as on the night of September 23, 2005 one of the greatest moments in TT’s boxing history unfolded.
On the TT vs USA card, four titles were up for grabs and Salandy had an opportunity to showcase her talent to the world. She did so by outpointing Manuela Daniels for the NABC title — her second international crown.
However because of poor management she had to wait nine months before fighting again, against Manuela Daniels when she stopped her in three rounds in Palo Seco on June 15, 2006.
During this time promoters and managers around the world sat on these titles which have been vacant for over 24 months. Potts with his acute knowledge of the sport decided to take it to another level when no one else would.
He took Salandy under his wings as her promoter with Ms Kim Quashie (manager) and took her through the shark-infested waters to lead her to prominence.
Under Potts, Salandy was able to win the most prestigious titles in the world — WBC and WBA super welterweight titles against Liz Mooney of the USA.
When no one else could deliver these titles anywhere in the world, the visionary Potts delivered seven titles on one card on one night and one boxer became the most accomplished fighter in local history and possibly in the world.
Since her accomplishments Mary Jo Saunders and Hally Holmes have been begging to get a shot at Salandy on their terms — offering her US $5,000 to their take of US $30,000.
But to Potts, these offers were not practical. Especially when they wanted to fight in their backyard with their judges and referees.
The WBA however has indicated that Christy Martin should be Salandy’s next opponent. But for some strange reason after Salandy’s scintillating performance against Mirian Barache, Martin has been unavailable for communication or comment.
Salandy has made a lie of reports that she has fought a bunch of unknowns but the truth is that she has made her opponents look like nobodies.
Reports have also put Salandy in a rating chart showing Iva Weston higher than her. However the ratings are for persons who fought on US soil so there is no way Weston can be rated 497th and Giselle Salandy 97th.
There obviously was a glitch in the ratings system used.
Salandy is a true champion who will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime once the price is right said Potts.
The next fight for Salandy will be against Yvonne Reese who was recently stripped of her WBC middleweight title for not defending it.
Reese was brave enough to accept a challenge from Salandy which many boxers have not been able to do.
This fight will take place on mutual ground so critics who feel Salandy is protected here in TT could be proven wrong. Potts said fans will have the opportunity to see Salandy, the daughter, the sister on an internationally televised show from Bermuda on March 3.
She continues her journey to a big showdown with the daughter of the legendary Muhammed Ali — Laila Ali on HBO Pay-per-View later this year.
Thursday, January 11 2007
Salandy to answer critics
www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,50530.html
GISELLE SALANDY has been through it all and survived many obstacles in her life to become one of the most accomplished local boxers.
She has had from a young age to deal with the death of her mother Maureen Salandy who loved her dearly but never spoon-fed her.
This gave her the level of mental toughness that she has today, having had to deal with her mother’s death at the tender age of eleven.
After the passing of her mother Salandy was then taken in by Ms Ivy Corian who took the responsibility of caring for her between the ages of 11 to 14.
Corian played a vital role in fashioning Salandy’s life in a positive direction and during that period Salandy attended Penal Junior Secondary and Fyzabad Composite.
It was during these years that Salandy visited the White Eagle Boxing Gym with her stepbrother Joel Eligon who is still an amateur boxer.
She got involved in the sport and then it all started, racking up a series of victories throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the islands — Tortola, Anguilla, meeting along the way Joanna Alvarez and Ria Ramnarine just to name a few.
Then came the moment of truth which altered her professional focus in the sport.
In October 2001 on the island of Curacao, Salandy became the youngest person to win an international boxing title at age 14 — the Ibero Latin American crown.
She then met Curtis Joseph, who adopted her and he cared for her as a father from the age of 14 to 19 years old and during this time he tried to manage her career without much success having only one fight which she won.
She left his care on June 6 last year.
International matchmaker and promoter Boxu Potts has seen Salandy fight and thought that the young woman would be an asset to the sport of boxing in Trinidad and Tobago.
He also felt that Salandy could be an inspiration to the youth of the country.
And history says he was not wrong as on the night of September 23, 2005 one of the greatest moments in TT’s boxing history unfolded.
On the TT vs USA card, four titles were up for grabs and Salandy had an opportunity to showcase her talent to the world. She did so by outpointing Manuela Daniels for the NABC title — her second international crown.
However because of poor management she had to wait nine months before fighting again, against Manuela Daniels when she stopped her in three rounds in Palo Seco on June 15, 2006.
During this time promoters and managers around the world sat on these titles which have been vacant for over 24 months. Potts with his acute knowledge of the sport decided to take it to another level when no one else would.
He took Salandy under his wings as her promoter with Ms Kim Quashie (manager) and took her through the shark-infested waters to lead her to prominence.
Under Potts, Salandy was able to win the most prestigious titles in the world — WBC and WBA super welterweight titles against Liz Mooney of the USA.
When no one else could deliver these titles anywhere in the world, the visionary Potts delivered seven titles on one card on one night and one boxer became the most accomplished fighter in local history and possibly in the world.
Since her accomplishments Mary Jo Saunders and Hally Holmes have been begging to get a shot at Salandy on their terms — offering her US $5,000 to their take of US $30,000.
But to Potts, these offers were not practical. Especially when they wanted to fight in their backyard with their judges and referees.
The WBA however has indicated that Christy Martin should be Salandy’s next opponent. But for some strange reason after Salandy’s scintillating performance against Mirian Barache, Martin has been unavailable for communication or comment.
Salandy has made a lie of reports that she has fought a bunch of unknowns but the truth is that she has made her opponents look like nobodies.
Reports have also put Salandy in a rating chart showing Iva Weston higher than her. However the ratings are for persons who fought on US soil so there is no way Weston can be rated 497th and Giselle Salandy 97th.
There obviously was a glitch in the ratings system used.
Salandy is a true champion who will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime once the price is right said Potts.
The next fight for Salandy will be against Yvonne Reese who was recently stripped of her WBC middleweight title for not defending it.
Reese was brave enough to accept a challenge from Salandy which many boxers have not been able to do.
This fight will take place on mutual ground so critics who feel Salandy is protected here in TT could be proven wrong. Potts said fans will have the opportunity to see Salandy, the daughter, the sister on an internationally televised show from Bermuda on March 3.
She continues her journey to a big showdown with the daughter of the legendary Muhammed Ali — Laila Ali on HBO Pay-per-View later this year.