Boxing world commends PM, PottsBy ZAID MOHAMMED Sports Editor Sunday, January 28 2007
THE STUNNING achievements of Trinidad and Tobago’s female boxer Giselle Salandy continue to reverberate around the world.
And officials of the leading international boxing organisations are sitting up and taking notice of the 19-year-old who they believe is one of the hottest talents in the sport.
Salandy currently holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight championships, the two most prestigious titles in world boxing.
She won the double crowns last September by beating into submission American Liz Mooney in a scheduled ten-rounder at Skinner Park, San Fernando. And in early December Salandy outboxed Morocco-born American Marium Breakache in a hard-fought ten-round bout at which six international belts were at stake.
It is believed to be the first time that six championships were on the line in one boxing contest with Salandy being considered for inclusion in the world famous Guinness Book of World Records.
She is currently preparing for another fight, this time in Bermuda against American Roselyn Morales on March 24. Salandy is currently undefeated in 13 professional bouts and is angling for a middleweight showdown with Laila Ali, the daughter of legendary former heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali.
Yesterday Salandy’s promoter Boxu Potts said the Bermuda fight will be shown “live” on NCC Channel 4 and will be sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs headed by Joan Yuille-Williams.
Potts, an internationally known match-maker has emerged as the driving force behind Salandy’s rise to prominence in the boxing world. After she won the Ibero-Latin American title at age 14, her career was put on hold as she juggled her budding career with high school and family issues.
Convinced that her talent remained untapped after the long absence from the ring, she was approached by Potts who immediately charted a course for her up the world rankings.
Working closely with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and specifically the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs, Potts was able to mould Salandy into one of the most marketable personalities in the world female boxing arena.
With meticulous planning, shrewd negotiating and a lot of arm bending, Potts has helped Salandy become the next biggest female boxer after Laila Ali. This has not gone unnoticed by the movers and shakers in the sport namely the WBC who were so impressed with Potts that they rushed off a letter to Prime Minister Patrick Manning. Dated January 23 and signed by Jose Suliaman, president of the WBC the letter stated:
“The World Boxing Council is enforcing a world plan to bring international boxing to as many countries as it is possible, as boxing is the friendly hand extended to the humblest people of the world, and I am proud and grateful for your sponsoring this history-making event which places you among those visionary and exemplary leaders of the world.
“I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr Boxu Potts for his great efforts to make this event a reality for the prestige of Trinidad and Tobago as well as Ms Giselle Salandy for her acts of gallantry in winning this historic fight, hoping that Trinidad and Tobago will respond greatly and give them the recognition that they deserve.
“Your Excellency, the Board of Governors of the World Boxing Council feels committed to commend you for your great sponsorship to the world of boxing and deeply congratulate you, for your excellent leadership of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Also praising PM Manning and extending their congratulations to Potts was Mark Chang, chairman of the World Boxing Empire organisation. “Our organisation would like to thank the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for sponsoring the history making bout between Giselle Salandy and Marium Brakache on December 9, 2006.
“Promoter Boxu Potts is a true visionary in promoting the first ever boxing match in which six championships were contested in the same bout. Boxer Giselle Salandy showed she is among the best, if not the best in the world by winning this history-making bout.
“We wish all involved continued success and hope that Ms Salandy and Mr Potts receive the full support and accolades from their native land of Trinidad and Tobago,” Chang stated in a letter to PM Manning.
