Bleacher Report - Articles by Sue Fox

A Final Tribute for Junior Middleweight Champion Giselle Salandy

Sue Fox — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:40:12 -0500

On Sunday morning shortly before 7 a.m., female multi-world champion Giselle Salandy of Trinidad and Tobago was involved in fatal car accident, crashing into a concrete pillar on Beetham Highway, located on the outskirts of Port of Spain.

Salandy, just 21 years old and two weeks short of turning 22, was rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital, where she died of massive head and internal injuries at 8:29 a.m.

Salandy also had a passenger, National footballer Tamar Watson, in the front seat at the time of the accident. There is speculation at this time that Salandy may have fallen asleep at the wheel, and police are saying that alcohol was not involved.

Salandy had just fought on Dec. 26, 2008, at the Jean Pierre Complex, successfully defending three of her junior middleweight world titles [WBC, WIBA, and WBA] against Yahaira Hernandez of the Dominican Republic, where she won the bout by points.

Salandy made history twice in women’s boxing, by first becoming the youngest world champion at age 14, and then fighting for six world title belts in a unified championship bout, in 2006.

Salandy was not only a champion inside the ring, but also outside the ring. She would give presentations to youths in her country, and perform other public service tasks to represent her country in a positive light.

Salandy said in one presentation to a group of young girls in August of 2006: “I came here today to speak to you all on how things can get better for you and that there is always hope no matter what. As a young girl growing up, I lost my mother; she died of a heart attack. I had to fend for myself at age 11.

"It was very possible for me to end up in an institution like this, but by the grace of the almighty father he pointed me in the direction of a gym where I began boxing, and I was able to pull through.

"I am pleading with you, as a young woman to you young women, get involved in sport, it helps boost your self-esteem and confidence—it also gives you discipline. However it helps to be successful if you have your academics attached, so stay focused on it."

WBAN [Women Boxing Archive Network] recognized Salandy’s efforts 2006, when she was awarded the "Top History Making Fighter of the Year for 2006." That same year, Salandy was also awarded the First Citizens Sportswoman of the Year for 2006.

Her funeral service was held yesterday at 11 a.m., at the St Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, La Romaine, and she was buried at the Siparia Cemetery.

[To read thoughts and condolences to Salandy and her friends and family, go here: http://womenboxing.com/NEWS2009/news010809salandyfinaltribute.htm. You can also email your condolences to wban100@aol.com, and it will be posted on the WBAN Final Tribute page]

Did Baligjagic-Adler Receive an Early Christmas Present?

Sue Fox — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:03:39 -0500

On Wednesday night at the Olympic Arena, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Irma Balijagic-Adler, 125½, of Bosnia, won by a controversial 10-round split decision over Jeannine Garside, 125¾, of Canada. The two were fighting for the WIBA World Featherweight title. One of the judges gave the fight to Garside [98-92]; the other two gave it to Balijagic-Adler [96-97, 95-96].

It did not take long for the rumblings to begin about the controversial decision between Garside - Balijagic-Adler that ruled in favor of the hometown fighter.

Garside said after the fight, "I was robbed. I am still the Champ."

According to Canada.com, Balijagic-Adler said that she was surprise at the win, and she praised Garside.

Canada.com also reported that in this 10-round World International Boxing Association title bout Garside battered her opponent, knocking her down twice but, that in the end; the judges scored it a close victory for Adler.

Women Boxing Archive Network (WBAN) is requesting a video of this fight for review. If there is anyone who has a video, please contact us at wban100@aol.com.

History First for Women’s Boxing

Sue Fox — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:24:51 -0400

This year, for the first time in the history of women’s boxing, professional women boxers have been awarded independent world title belts. The belts were previously only awarded to male boxers by Ring Magazine.

On June 13, 2008, at the Isleta Casino & Resort, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the televised Pay-Per-View event, “FINALLY”, the Women's Boxing Archive Network gave out two history-making belts.

One WBAN belt was awarded to Holly Holm, after she defeated Mary Jo Sanders in a 10-round fight by unanimous decision. In a second bout, Chevelle Hallback received a WBAN belt for defeating Jeannine Garside in a 10-round fight by unanimous decision, too.

The WBAN belts were individualized with their names and the date of the fight on each belt, in addition to the venue, weight class, and the numeric order of when the belt was made. For more information on women’s boxing, stop by http://www.womenboxing.com, or http://www.hotboxingnews.com.