Boxing Board refuse to budge

TEENAGER Giselle Salandy has been denied a special licence to fight as a professional under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control.

This decision was taken last Thursday after the Boxing Board headed by the experienced Melchoir Taylor heard a passionate plea for special consideration to be given to the talented Siparia schoolgirl. Salandy’s manager Cecil Forde and her adopted father/trainer Curtis Joseph told the special sitting of the Boxing Board that if the youngster is not granted a special licence to fight by next month she will be stripped of the Ibero-Latin American title. The 16-year-old captured the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) championship late last year by defeating Paolo Rojas of Colombia in Curacao. The authorities in the Dutch island had granted her a licence to fight despite her tender age. But yesterday Taylor, an internationally recognised referee said his board discussed the matter thoroughly after the presentation by Forde and Joseph but could not accede to their request. “We are all sympathetic to their plight as we would not like to see Salandy lose her belt. But the law clearly states that a boxer must be 17 years of age to be granted a licence to box professionally in Trinidad and Tobago,” Taylor said yesterday.

He said it is not within the jurisdiction of the Boxing Board of Control to grant a temporary or  special licence like what is requested by Salandy’s handlers. “These licences do not exist. So our hands are tied. We wish her well and would like her to go on to better things in the ring but the Boxing Board cannot break the law. To do so would create a situation where we would have to resign our position,” said Taylor. He said the legal brain on the Boxing Board, Elton Prescott has given his considered opinion on the matter after the lengthy meetings on Thursday and a decision was made to write Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes and apprise him on the development. “I personally delivered the letter to the minister’s office. However I understand he is away for two weeks on Government business and one can only assume that he will address the situation when he returns,” said Taylor. He agreed that the laws governing the Boxing Board of Control, drafted in 1933 were antiquated but stated that he is not in favour of changing the age requirement which is the current bone of contention. “I would not tamper with this law. I am not in favour of lowering the age requirement especially for women. We know what kind of sport boxing is,” said Taylor.

He said although the Act which governs the Boxing Board of Control grants discretionary powers, the Salandy matter falls squarely into the hands of the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs. Taylor said that his understanding is that the Prime Minister can intervene and bring the matter to his Cabinet. Parliament can then be asked to amend the law said Taylor. The Boxing Board chairman said in three months Salandy will be 17-years-old and will fulfil the age requirement to get a professional licence to fight in Trinidad and Tobago. “In the interim we wish her well. We told her adopted father we were very happy that he has shown an interest in her continuing education. We are very supportive of him and wish to see Salandy pursue her boxing career and achieve success in the future,” said Taylor.