If we had to sum up in a single word the state of mind in which the boxing gala at the Montreal Casino will be presented on November 14, it is undoubtedly “relaunch” which would be the most accurate.
Organized by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), the event will feature Kim Clavel, while Marie-Pier Houle will play the semi-final. Both for these two boxers and for the promoter, it will be an opportunity to put their recent respective setbacks behind them and to look forward to the future with renewed optimism.
Let’s start with Clavel (19-2, 3 KOs). For a long time, she ruminated on her controversial defeat last year against Evelin Nazarena Bermúdez. Even winning his next two fights, the pill did not work.
The 34-year-old boxer even questioned her love for this sport to which she devoted all her attention, to the detriment of everything else. Until she decided to “allow herself to have a lot of fun outside of boxing”.
Along the way, she found love – real love, that is. She continues to work as an auxiliary nurse in CHSLDs. In short, Clavel has finally achieved “balance”.
“It’s as if I had focused so much on boxing, on the sport, that I had a little forgotten who it was, Kim Clavel. I reclaimed myself as a woman, and there, I think I am coming back to boxing with all my heart and the joy of living that we knew,” she said at a press conference on Tuesday.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Organized by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), the November 14 gala will feature Kim Clavel.
The former WBC light flyweight champion says she is more motivated than ever to win back a belt.
It remains to be seen whether this quest will be carried out in the 105 or 108 lbs. His fight on November 14 will be contested at 107 lbs.
“I want to go and reap everything I have sown,” she said. To have opportunities that will make me realize my dreams. At least, try to achieve them. I need to go hold on to something big. »
Stay focused
Houle (10-1-2, 3 KOs), for her part, wishes to demonstrate that she has learned the hard-learned lesson during her draw against Karla Ramos Zamora on June 20. Namely, the one which says that the concentration of a boxer must be at its peak from the start of hostilities in the ring.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Boxer Marie-Pier Houle
“It was my first final. It was a certain pressure that I didn’t necessarily feel before the fight. But when I got in the ring, I felt all the energy from everyone. Normally, that gives me a big boost and really motivates me a lot. But it seems like my head stayed on the edge of the ring enjoying all this energy,” Houle described.
I want from the first round [le 14 novembre]when the bell rings, I bite my mouthpiece and go to war.
Marie-Pier Houle
The pugilist from Terrebonne, who will fight at 145 lbs for the gala, is working hand in hand with her mental trainer to ensure that such a misstep does not happen again. Especially if, as she hopes, the opportunity to fight for a world title presents itself in 2025. Houle is currently ranked second WBO and WBA contender and seventh in the IBF at 147 lbs.
The end of a “transition”
Finally, for Yvon Michel, this gala will mark the end of a long period of “transition”.
Last year, the veteran promoter announced that GYM, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in May, was beginning an era of reconstruction. And by its own admission, the year 2024 was the quietest in its history, with only five events on the calendar.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Yvon Michel
With this evening in November, Michel wants to turn the page and assures that he will then be ready to restart the machine for good in 2025. “We are preparing well to start again strong. I still have the same determination and I am still as passionate. […] As long as I have this passion, I will continue,” he warned.
Michel also says he is delighted with the renewed popularity of boxing in Quebec, as demonstrated, according to him, by the fact that four different promoters – GYM, Eye of The Tiger Management, New Era and Canada Fighting – presented galas this year. .
I think the industry is healthy. What we are missing in Quebec is a big star. We do not yet have [Lucian] Bute, of [Jean] Pascal, from [Stéphane] Ouellet and company, but I think it’s coming.
Yvon Michel
Clavel and Houle’s opponents for November 14 will be revealed next week. The young Ayoub Maanni, Victor Tremblay, Loïck Lahaie, Facson Perrine and Kirill Bazhanov will also be on the card.
The latter, a 19-year-old Ukrainian refugee, also showed up late for the press conference. However, it was not his fault: his temporary identity documents did not display his photo, the Casino security agents refused him entry. He was finally able to join his colleagues after the intervention of two managers of the establishment and the GYM communications manager.
Hoping for him that he will have received all his papers by November 14th.