Salandy was likely to make as much as US$1 million (TT$6.29M) in boxing in 2009
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Boxing manager Boxu Potts is lamenting Sunday’s horrific car crash that aborted huge plans he had for his deceased young boxing star Jizelle Salandy.

He believes 2009 would have been her most successful year in the ring.

Salandy, a multiple world light-middleweight champion, died Sunday morning after the Toyoto Yaris motor car she was driving smashed into a concrete pillar on the Beetham Highway near the city.

Potts declared at a media conference at Alicia’s Palace on Lady Chancellor Road, Monday, that Salandy was on the verge of securing US six-figure paydays.

“But now that will be no more,” Potts said.

Salandy, who would have turned 22 years old on January 25, was earmarked for six fights during the year including a huge clash with top American Mary Jo Sanders.

Potts was negotiating for the clash — with Sanders — to be worth approximately US$150 000 to Salandy.

With Salandy’s profile growing internationally, Potts was also anticipating appearances at the famous Madison Square Gardens in New York and also on top cable network Home Boxing Office (HBO) a popular viewing port for some of the world’s biggest championship fights.

Unbeaten in 17 professional fights, Salandy was widely regarded as one of the world’s most gifted female boxers.

On September 15, 2006, she became the youngest boxer – man or woman — to unify the two most prestigious titles in the world, the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) world titles when she defeated Elizabeth Mooney on a seventh round knockout as an 18 year-old.

Later that year, she shattered yet another world record by being the first boxer in the world to win six belts in one fight – the WBA, WBC, WBE, NABC, IWBF and WIBA titles.

A grieving Potts described Salandy as the greatest Caribbean boxer ever, based on her accomplishments.

“She was the only fighter in the history of the Caribbean to win and defend her titles five times,” Potts said.