He vanished from the bus driver’s seat to championship accolades.
Wendy Toussaint, a school bus driver from Long Island, zips through her routes while simultaneously pursuing her passion as a champion boxer.
“The kids are super excited, and parents often tell them I’m a professional fighter,” Toussaint, 33, shared after clinching the IBF USBA junior middleweight title on June 6 against Olympian Joe Hicks Jr.
“They ask things like, ‘Does it hurt when you get punched?’ or, ‘Have you made a million dollars yet?’ I have to remind them I’m a Deer Park bus driver, not someone with that kind of cash,” the 17-3 champion explained.
Toussaint aspires for even greater achievements, fueled by her management and training team at Heavy Hitters Boxing in Ronkonkoma, who aim to gain national recognition with only two wins under their belt.
“I was waiting for opportunities, hoping something would come up,” she noted. “I realize the importance of taking on bigger challenges, and that keeps me motivated.”
Moving the Distance
Toussaint isn’t exaggerating when she says she’s been working toward this for quite some time—specifically, 23 years.
Originally from Haiti and later raised in Guiana, France, Toussaint took up boxing at age 10, thanks to trainers who recognized her remarkable strength and speed.
She rapidly climbed the amateur ranks but understood that moving to America with her mother was crucial for pursuing bigger opportunities.
After arriving at 17 and eventually becoming a US citizen, Toussaint, nicknamed “Haitian Fire,” committed to improving in the ring, but reality meant she had to also pay the bills.
“It was tough; I wanted to support my mother,” she shared. “I worked in elderly home care, at a factory, did security, before finally becoming a bus driver, and also volunteered as a firefighter in Wyandanch.”
Toussaint has found that her job driving a bus for the past six years suits her lifestyle perfectly.
“After I drop the kids off in the morning, I can catch a train, pick them up in the afternoon, and make time for training,” she explained.
For her, it’s not just a job; it’s a blessing at 154 pounds.
“Sometimes, you have these dreams, and they don’t seem to materialize,” she reflected. “But when you start to see success, it’s exhilarating. You just feel this light, and you think, ‘Wow, I want to keep chasing that feeling.’
She’s also become a local hero in her Caribbean hometown as many tune in to witness her fights.
“They say, ‘Oh my, this is amazing!’ and think I’m swimming in money, but I joke and say, ‘I’m not even close,'” she laughed.
Fully Committed
When Toussaint shifts into boxing mode, the gentle bus driver transforms into a fierce competitor.
“Each time I step into the ring, it feels like someone has wronged my mother, and now it’s personal,” she revealed.
“It’s like entering an apocalypse.”
This moment, she believes, is pivotal for her boxing career. The next two opponents could really shape her future.
With confidence radiating from her pre-fight energy before battling Hicks, she’s ready to tackle whatever comes next.
“I knew I was going to win that fight,” Toussaint claimed. “Now I feel like I’m on top of the world. I’m thrilled.”
No matter the challenges ahead, Toussaint feels prepared to navigate her path, shaping it by everything she’s overcome to get here.
“Coming to America wasn’t easy,” she said. “I may not have the money yet, but I’m living the American dream.”
