Weston lined up for world boxing title crack

“Iva Weston can take Giselle Salandy, anytime, anywhere.”
This is the assertion of Ibero-American “Trainer of the Year 2003” Fitzroy Richards and box-er/trainer/manager Kim “Bone-crusher” Quashie.

The statement arose out of events within both the Weston and Salandy camps which came to a head on the heels of an article published by another daily newspaper recently. Salandy, who successfully defended her Ibero-Latin American Junior Welterweight title recently, was said to be in line for a title shot sometime in May. This report fact was doubted by Richards, who is a top level WIBA/UBC official in the English speaking Caribbean. Richards revealed that Weston is herself currently warming up for a world title shot in late March against Panama’s Ana Pascal. She will leave on February 26 for the United States of America to compete in one of the bouts on the “Night of the Gladiators” card on February 28 in Miami. Weston, who is said to have great potential and was named “Rookie of the Year 2003”, will take on Belinda Laracuente of Puerto Rico.

The Trinidiadian is unbeaten in nine fights and said yesterday she has nothing to fear going into the match-ups. The 18-year-old pugilist said she has been prepared sufficiently for the fights by Richards and Quashie and all that is left for her to do is perform in the ring. A determined Weston revealed an eagerness to tackle Laracuente but at the same time lamented the fact that there was no suitable opposition available to her in Trinidad and Tobago. While the two foreign outings are purely business, the word around the Weston camp is that her challenge directed at Salandy is a more personal issue involving the now acclaimed boxer turning her back on the trio.

Salandy and Weston had been long-term training partners until recently when she is reported to have “jumped ship.” Weston feels that Salandy has not acknowledged foundation work done by Richards and Quashie and as a result holds the honour of her camp on her shoulders. Quashie was of the view that Weston was the better fighter and stated that she will put Salandy to the canvas in under three rounds. She also stated that there was nothing for Weston to prove directing questions instead to the fighter’s record. Both handlers referred to Weston as “the champ” and with her resume in full view there was no reason for this title to be questioned all that is left for her to do now is perform.