Born: 1987 (Siparia, Trinidad)
Died: 2009
Biography:
Giselle Salandy, born Joenette Giselle Ife Salandy on January 25, 1987, in Siparia, southern Trinidad, was a Trinidadian professional boxer who left an indelible mark on the sport. Despite her untimely death in 2009, Salandy made significant contributions to women’s boxing and earned the title of undefeated unified light middleweight world champion.
Salandy’s early life was marked by both tragedy and determination. Her mother, Maureen, passed away when she was just 11 years old, leaving her under the care of Ivy Corian until the age of 14. She attended St. Bridgid’s Girls’ RC School, Penal Junior Secondary School, and later Fyzabad Composite School. She grew up with two siblings, Josanne and Joel, who provided support and encouragement throughout her life.
At the age of eleven, Salandy discovered her passion for boxing. Nursing a broken arm, she accompanied her stepbrother, Joel Eligon, to the White Eagles Gym. There, she began punching a punching bag, catching the attention of trainers Kim ‘Bone Crusher’ Quashie and Fitzroy Richards. Recognizing her talent, they encouraged Salandy to pursue the sport, which she wholeheartedly embraced.
Salandy made her professional boxing debut at the tender age of 13 under the guidance of coach and manager Fitzroy Richards. She quickly established her dominance, winning a series of six fights across Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the islands of Tortola and Anguilla. During these early bouts, she faced formidable opponents like Johanna Peña-Álvarez and Ria Ramnarine, proving herself as a force to be reckoned with.
In October 2001, at the age of 14, Salandy achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Paola Rojas and becoming the youngest person to win a boxing title, the WIBA IBERO Title. However, due to boxing regulations in Trinidad and Tobago, which prohibited individuals under the age of 17 from obtaining a professional boxing license, Salandy’s career hit a temporary roadblock.
Undeterred by this setback, Salandy returned to the ring just five days after her 17th birthday. She successfully defended her IBERO Title against Paola Rojas on a card co-promoted by Curtis Joseph, her adopted father, Boxu Potts, and Cecil Ford. However, her manager, Curtis Joseph, struggled to secure fights for her, leading to another pause in her boxing career.
Salandy received a lifeline when Boxu Potts privately contacted her about a show he was promoting. With determination and conviction, she convinced Curtis Joseph to allow her to represent her country by accepting Potts’ offer. In a historic match on September 23, 2005, Salandy, at the age of 18, fought and defeated Manela Daniels, breaking yet another world record and becoming the youngest female in the world to win the NABC World Title.
Despite her remarkable achievements, Salandy faced numerous challenges throughout her career. Securing fights became increasingly difficult, leaving her frustrated and hindered in her pursuit of greatness. However, her impact on the boxing world and her determination to push through these obstacles cannot be overstated.
Tragically, Giselle Salandy’s life was cut short on January 4, 2009. However, her legacy continues to inspire and motivate aspiring female boxers worldwide. Salandy’s undefeated record, unified championships (WBA and WBC), and numerous other titles (IWBF, WIBA, WIBF, and GBU) solidify her place as one of the most accomplished and influential boxers of her generation.
Awards:
– WBA Light Middleweight World Champion
– WBC Light Middleweight World Champion
– IWBF World Champion (female)
– WIBA World Champion (female)
– WIBF World Champion (female)
– GBU World Champion (female)