PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Trinidad and Tobago's women's world boxing champion Jizelle Salandy died yesterday morning following a vehicular accident.

She was 21 years old and held multiple international titles in the 154-pound light middleweight division.

Reports are that Salandy died shortly after she was brought to the hospital following a vehicular accident about 7 a.m. on the Beetham Highway on the outskirts of the city.

Spirited challenge

Only nine days ago, Salandy repelled a spirited challenge from the Dominican Republic's Yahaira Hernandez on a Boxing Day card at the Jean Pierre Complex to retain her world titles.

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

Last weekend, her manager Boxu Potts had told CMC Sport that his young star fighter was preparing to face American Angelica Martinez in late January in the first of a lucrative six-fight plan for 2009.

Her victory over Hernandez two Fridays ago meant Salandy had retained her eight international belts, including the Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles.

Salandy had been named 2008 'Boxer of the Year' by WIBA mainly for her win in March over previously unbeaten Karolina Lukasik.