Wendy Toussaint drives a Long Island school bus to pay the bills — but he's on the precipice of his big boxing break
He's gone from seat belt to title belt.
Long Island school bus driver Wendy Toussaint is moving at a mile a minute, moonlighting as a champion boxer.
'The kids get so excited about it, they always tell their parents I'm a professional fighter,' Toussaint, 33, told The Post following his IBF USBA junior middleweight title win over Olympian Joe Hicks Jr. on June 6.
'They ask me, 'Does it hurt getting punched in the face?' 'Did you make a million dollars already?' ' the 17-3 champ said, adding he will kindly point out to students that he wouldn't be a bus driver in Deer Park on a seven-figure income.
Toussaint has his eyes on the big prize, however, as his management and training team at Heavy Hitters Boxing in Ronkonkoma figure he's only about two wins away from garnering national attention.
'I've been waiting for some time, hoping something happens,' he said. 'The fact that I know I will get a shot at the big stage, that is the motivation.'
Going the distance
Toussaint didn't exaggerate when he said 'some time' — 23 years to be exact.
Originally from Haiti and raised in French Guiana, Toussaint began boxing at the age of 10 after some trainers recognized his remarkable power and quickness.
4 Long Island school bus driver Wendy Toussaint moonlights as a champion boxer.
Heather Khalifa for New York Post
He quickly rose through the ranks of amateur fighting, but realized that moving to America with his mother was in the best interest of having a chance to make it big.
After arriving at 17 and later becoming a U.S. citizen, Toussaint, nicknamed 'The Haitian Fire,' was determined to keep getting better in the ring but needed to pay the bills while doing so.
'It's not easy, I try to help my mother,' he said. 'I was doing home health care for seniors, I worked in a factory and worked security before driving the bus.' He was also a volunteer firefighter in Wyandanch.
Toussaint found that bus driving, his job for the past six years, was ideal for the other gig.
4 Wendy Toussaint has a 17-3 record as a boxer.
Heather Khalifa for New York Post
'After morning drop off, I can go train, pick the kids up in the afternoon, and then go train more,' he said.
None of it feels like grunt work, but rather a blessing to the 154-pounder.
'I would do all these things because sometimes you make dreams about something, but it doesn't happen,' he said.
'You get that feeling when you start to succeed, you feel a little light, you say, 'Wow, I like it, I want to keep looking at that light' and keep pushing.'
4 Wendy Toussaint (left) trains with Kevin Zaharios at Heavy Hitters Boxing in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Heather Khalifa for New York Post
He's also become an icon in his Caribbean home nation as tons of fans tune in to watch him on the canvas, brawl after brawl.
'They are like, 'Oh my God, this is impressive!' They think I'm rich, but I say, 'No chance,' ' he joked.
Full throttle
When Toussaint switches gears into his ambitious boxing mode, the sweet and safe driver swerves into something much more mighty.
'Every time I get in the ring, it's like you did something to my mother. We're really gonna fight,' he said.
'It's like an apocalypse.'
4 Wendy Toussaint is nicknamed 'The Haitian Fire.'
Heather Khalifa for New York Post
Toussaint said this time is now the most important for his career, as the next two fighters he squares off against may determine the trajectory of his boxing career — and a shot at trading the bus for a sweet sports car.
He is ready to move full speed ahead with the same confidence he radiated ahead of the Hicks fight.
'I knew I was gonna beat him up,' Toussaint boasted. 'Now, I feel like I am on top of the mountain. I'm so excited.'
No matter what adversity lies ahead, Toussaint knows he can steer the course after everything that's brought him to this point.
'Even coming here to America, it's not easy,' he said. 'I don't have the money yet, but I'm living in the American dream.'
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Wendy Toussaint drives a Long Island school bus to pay the bills — but he's on the precipice of his big boxing break
He's gone from seat belt to title belt. Long Island school bus driver Wendy Toussaint is moving at a mile a minute, moonlighting as a champion boxer. 'The kids get so excited about it, they always tell their parents I'm a professional fighter,' Toussaint, 33, told The Post following his IBF USBA junior middleweight title win over Olympian Joe Hicks Jr. on June 6. 'They ask me, 'Does it hurt getting punched in the face?' 'Did you make a million dollars already?' ' the 17-3 champ said, adding he will kindly point out to students that he wouldn't be a bus driver in Deer Park on a seven-figure income. Toussaint has his eyes on the big prize, however, as his management and training team at Heavy Hitters Boxing in Ronkonkoma figure he's only about two wins away from garnering national attention. 'I've been waiting for some time, hoping something happens,' he said. 'The fact that I know I will get a shot at the big stage, that is the motivation.' Going the distance Toussaint didn't exaggerate when he said 'some time' — 23 years to be exact. Originally from Haiti and raised in French Guiana, Toussaint began boxing at the age of 10 after some trainers recognized his remarkable power and quickness. 4 Long Island school bus driver Wendy Toussaint moonlights as a champion boxer. Heather Khalifa for New York Post He quickly rose through the ranks of amateur fighting, but realized that moving to America with his mother was in the best interest of having a chance to make it big. After arriving at 17 and later becoming a U.S. citizen, Toussaint, nicknamed 'The Haitian Fire,' was determined to keep getting better in the ring but needed to pay the bills while doing so. 'It's not easy, I try to help my mother,' he said. 'I was doing home health care for seniors, I worked in a factory and worked security before driving the bus.' He was also a volunteer firefighter in Wyandanch. Toussaint found that bus driving, his job for the past six years, was ideal for the other gig. 4 Wendy Toussaint has a 17-3 record as a boxer. Heather Khalifa for New York Post 'After morning drop off, I can go train, pick the kids up in the afternoon, and then go train more,' he said. None of it feels like grunt work, but rather a blessing to the 154-pounder. 'I would do all these things because sometimes you make dreams about something, but it doesn't happen,' he said. 'You get that feeling when you start to succeed, you feel a little light, you say, 'Wow, I like it, I want to keep looking at that light' and keep pushing.' 4 Wendy Toussaint (left) trains with Kevin Zaharios at Heavy Hitters Boxing in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Heather Khalifa for New York Post He's also become an icon in his Caribbean home nation as tons of fans tune in to watch him on the canvas, brawl after brawl. 'They are like, 'Oh my God, this is impressive!' They think I'm rich, but I say, 'No chance,' ' he joked. Full throttle When Toussaint switches gears into his ambitious boxing mode, the sweet and safe driver swerves into something much more mighty. 'Every time I get in the ring, it's like you did something to my mother. We're really gonna fight,' he said. 'It's like an apocalypse.' 4 Wendy Toussaint is nicknamed 'The Haitian Fire.' Heather Khalifa for New York Post Toussaint said this time is now the most important for his career, as the next two fighters he squares off against may determine the trajectory of his boxing career — and a shot at trading the bus for a sweet sports car. He is ready to move full speed ahead with the same confidence he radiated ahead of the Hicks fight. 'I knew I was gonna beat him up,' Toussaint boasted. 'Now, I feel like I am on top of the mountain. I'm so excited.' No matter what adversity lies ahead, Toussaint knows he can steer the course after everything that's brought him to this point. 'Even coming here to America, it's not easy,' he said. 'I don't have the money yet, but I'm living in the American dream.'
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