St.George’s Grenada – Giselle Salandy of Trinidad and Tobago ,died in a serious vehicular accident on the morning of January 4, 2009, when she crashed into a concrete pillar while driving west into Port of Spain on the Beetham Highway. She succumbed to her injuries at around 8:29 a.m.^[3] She was 21. The other occupant of the vehicle, national footballer Tamar Watson is said to be in a critical condition, having suffered massive internal injuries and broken limbs.

Salandy was born in Siparia in south Trinidad & Tobago. She began boxing at the age of 11, where she was discovered by pro-boxer Kim Quashie. Quashie directed the girl’s talent under the management of Fitzroy Richards who had been her coach.^[1] Salandy made her professional boxing debut at the age of 13, when she knocked out Nimba Wahtuse in the 3rd round on February 25, 2000. Fighting with a falsified birth certificate claiming she was 17 and 18, when in fact she was only 13, Salandy went on a tear in the professional ranks, under the management and training of Fitzroy Richards.

In her third pro fight, Salandy won a 4-round decision over future WIBA Mini Flyweight World Champion Ria Ramnarine, on May 3, 2000. In her fourth bout, Salandy defeated power-punching southpaw Johanna Pena-Alvarez, on August 5, 2000.

Salandy ran up a record of 6-0 with 3 KOs over the course of a year, before the Trinidad Boxing Commission realized the true age of Salandy, and banned her from fighting within the country until she turned 17 years old, which is the minimum age they license professional boxers in that country.

Salandy would only have 2 fights from that time in early 2001, until her 17th birthday in January 2004. Salandy KO’d Maria Rosario in the Virgin Islands in February 4, 2001. Salandy fought and defeated Paola Rojas, via 8-round decision to win the vacant WIBA Ibero-American Super Lightweight Title, on November 9, 2002 in Curaçao.

After the Curaçao fight Salandy changed trainer and guardian, by being adopted by Curtis Joseph.

It would be over a year until Salandy would see ring action again, when she turned 17 and was finally granted her professional boxing license in Trinidad.

Five days after her 17th birthday, Salandy rematched Paola Rojas, and again Salandy won another 8-round unanimous decision.

On September 23, 2005 in Trinidad, Salandy won an 8-round unanimous decision over Manela Daniels from Guyana.

Salandy rematched Daniels on June 15, 2006 and this time Salandy TKO’d Daniels in the 3rd round.

On September 15, 2006 in Trinidad, Salandy defeated Elizabeth Mooney by 7th round TKO, to win the WBA and WBC Light Middleweight World Title.

Salandy defended these two titles and added the IWBF title to her collection by defeating Miriam Brakache by 10-round unnimous decision on December 9, 2006 in Trinidad.

On March 24, 2007, Salandy defended her WBA, WBC, and IWBF titles while also acquiring the vacant WIBA Light Middleweight title by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Yvonne Reis, the former WBC Middleweight champion.

Her last fight took place on December 26, 2008 when she defeated Yahaira Hernandez of the Dominican Republic.^[2]