Mission accomplished for Kim Clavel. Seeking only to find her rhythm after an injury and before a world championship fight, she made short work of Mariela Valverde, Friday evening, at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal.
Updated yesterday at 11:08 p.m.
The Bolivian gave up after the fourth round. She had taken the many strikes of a hungry Kim Clavel until then, without offering too much opposition.
The Casino could accommodate a full house for this gala organized by GYM. With about twenty seats, the public had answered the call.
Servers in shirts came and went with their trays of beer. The rhythmic music between rounds made the crowd sway more and more. Perhaps she was inspired by the spectacle of a certain anachronism offered by the ladies who danced on the podiums at the corners of the ring, to entertain her. A show that was perhaps more reminiscent of the 1990s than the 2020s.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Mariela Valverde and Kim Clavel
Thus, around 10 p.m. and in front of a crowd that warmly supported him, Kim Clavel retained his WBC Silver belt and remained undefeated, with a record of 15-0 and 3 KOs.
I stayed calm, I didn’t try to overdo it and overflow. I shouldn’t take too many punches for nothing.
Kim Clavel
His opponent came into this fight strong with seven straight victories. But she had only faced athletes who were making their professional debuts or who had lost their rare encounters.
Needless to say, Clavel was confident going into this duel.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Kim Clavel
“I was telling Danielle [Bouchard, son entraîneuse] this week: “It’s rare that I want to give a boxing lesson.” I had never said that before. I felt like everything I had done in the gym, I had already done in my sparring, it came naturally, I no longer needed to think. »
Above all, this victory allows her to keep her strength in view of her highly anticipated fight against Yesenia Gómez for the title of WBC light flyweight world champion, postponed twice. Two dates have been put forward by Yvon Michel this week: April 21 or May 5. In view of the little energy expended, will it be organized as soon as possible?
“April 21 is cool, but May 5 is Cinco de Mayo,” Clavel said with a smile. Probably a lot of Mexicans would be listening. »
“We pursue our dreams, I touch them with my fingertips! “, she launched, making a sign that she touched the constellations at the end of her arms.
Fight for Ukraine
We announced a quality fight in the semi-finals, and that’s what we got. The Ukrainian established in Los Angeles Taras Shelestyuk (19-0-1, 11 K.-O.) faced the Venezuelan Gabriel Maestre (4-0-1, 3 K.-O.), in a clash among the mi -means.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Gabriel Maestra and Taras Shelestyuk
History was writing itself. A Ukrainian in Montreal to defend his people, with his family in mind still in his country currently invaded by Russia.
But Maestre had other plans. He dominated the engagements. The Venezuelan, ranked sixth in the world despite a record of just four fights, was fiery. Energetic. Full of will. His two feet were always well planted in the center of the ring… except when he allowed himself an “Ali Shuffle” in the seventh round. We would like to say that Maestre is destined for a bright future, but he is already 35 years old.
Shelestyuk, bronze medalist at the London Games in 2012, still managed to place his shots. Obviously, that will have been enough to put doubt in the heads of the judges.
The two pugilists finally delivered a draw, with cards of 97-93 for Shelestyuk, 96-94 for Maestre, then shared 95-95.
“I tried to do the best I could, commented Shelestyuk afterwards, in the kitchens of the Casino which served as a press room. My coach and my family know it…”
Tears well up in his eyes. After a short while, he comes to his senses.
The last week, it was difficult to prepare myself. But I could only fight.
Taras Shelestyuk
He recalls that his family is still in Ukraine. In particular, she must go underground to protect herself from aerial bombs “a few times a day”.
“They have to wait a few hours and then come to the surface. It happens at night too. »
After all the rounds, I was pushing myself to keep going. I can’t complain, because people in my country are in a war. They can die. I couldn’t resist. I wanted to fight. They give me strength, power.
Taras Shelestyuk
But hunt the naturalness of a boxer and he comes back at a gallop.
“I think I won that fight,” Shelestyuk said, almost in the same breath. He won a few rounds, the last was equal. To me, that’s crap. I won the fight. »
“I didn’t even get hot! »
The most hotly contested fight on the undercard was certainly the one between Mascouchois Mathieu Germain (20-2-1, 9 K.-O.) against Mexican Erick Inzunza Angulo (8-3, 8 K.-O. ).
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Mathieu Germain
The Quebecer finally won by K.-O. technique in the eighth round, by stoppage of the referee. It was a first fight for Germain at GYM, and with his trainer Stéphan Larouche.
I put more pressure on myself than I thought. New coach, new team. I put pressure on my shoulders. Seems like I wanted to do too much, I was a little rusty.
Mathieu Germain
Fourteen seconds. That’s all Montrealer Derek Pomerleau needed to defeat Nova Scotian Daniel Beaupré (1-1, 1 KO). The Quebecer was making his professional debut, a confrontation among the means. His victory offered the first moment of emotion to the crowd gathered at the Cabaret du Casino on Friday.
” I have no words, man, he said, smiling, to the ring announcer. I didn’t even get hot! »
The first fight of the evening pitted Quebecer Alexis Barrière (5-0, 3 KOs) against Mexican Israel Nava López (2-1, 2 KOs). The boxer from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu won after the Mexican retired after two rounds.