Women's boxing champion Salandy dies

Jan 4, 2009 - 11:10 PM PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (Ticker) -- One of boxing's rising stars, Jisselle Salandy, died Sunday from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was 21.

The WBA, WBC and WIBF female light middleweight champion crashed into a concrete pillar while driving into Port of Spain on the Beetham Highway.

Salandy, who was 17-0 with six knockouts, defeated Yahaira Hernandez of the Dominican Republic in her last bout on December 26.

Known for her quickness, Salandy claimed the welterweight title in 2002 after outpointing 23-year-old Colombian Paula Rojas in Curacao. She was 16 at the time.

Salandy was born in Siparia in south Trinidad and Tobago.