Salandy gets another title offer

EMBATTLED teenaged female boxer Giselle Salandy will not be stripped of her Ibero-Latin American Welterweight Cham-pionship. However the title will be declared vacant and the 16-year-old Siparia schoolgirl will be asked to fight for the world junior middleweight (154-lb) crown.

This was revealed by Ryan Wissow, executive director of the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) and chairman of the Rating Committee. In a long-distance telephone call from his Miami, US office, Wissow said the WIBA were not inclined to strip Salandy of her title won last November in Curacao although she has not fought since. Wissow said WIBA president Luis Bello is suggesting that Salandy be asked to drop to 154 pounds from her present weight of 160 and given the No 1 ranking in the junior middleweight rankings. He explained that the current No 1 ranked fighter in that division is American Vienna Williams who recently failed a physical examination after contracting hepatitis. “Williams is not coming back so we have the option of giving Salandy the top ranking and match her against fellow Trinidadian Scroller Carrington for the world championship,” said Wissow.

He said he is currently looking around for promoters to stage the championship card but if there are no takers will promote the bout himself before the end of the year in Barbados. Also expected to get a chance for an Ibero-Latin American Championship is impressive flyweight Ria Ramnarine against Shandelle Alfred in the 108-pound category. “We recognise Salandy as a great champion and would like to keep her in the rankings,” said Wissow. He said he was very concerned about reports he has been hearing about the present condition of Salandy and her weight. “I am very worried about her excess weight. I don’t think it will be very healthy for her to lose 20 pounds to get back to 140 and fight. It will be dangerous,” said Wissow. He said everything about Salandy’s present circumstances have been taken into consideration and that a decision will be made soon to make the welterweight championship vacant. Then the offer for her to fight for the junior middleweight title will be made and the bout staged hopefully by Eric Sealy in Bridgetown. Salandy turns 17 in January when she will be eligible for a licence to fight professionally in Trinidad and Tobago. She won the Ibero-Latin American crown last year using a special permit issued by the Curacao boxing authorities. If the card in Barbados is sanctioned, Salandy will once again need some consideration to fight in the Land of the Flying Fish.