When Kim Clavel heard the first score of 95-95, her stomach tightened. The other two cards, 96-94 and 98-92, probably relieved her. No, last fall’s nightmare would not repeat itself.
Without having totally dominated, the former world champion had a clear advantage over her opponent, the Spaniard Fara El Bousairi, Thursday evening, in a white-hot Cabaret at the Montreal Casino.
Enough, at the very least, to secure a majority victory for her comeback match after her controversial defeat against Evelin Nazarena Bermudez on October 7 in Laval. Like her promoter Yvon Michel, suspended six months later, she criticized the decision.
“I no longer talk about the judges,” warned Clavel (18-2, 3 KOs) from the outset after having his right arm raised by referee Martin Forest.
I’m happy with my performance, really. I followed our strategy, our game plan. I was in very good physical condition against a heavy, physically imposing opponent. I knew how to adapt with my style, my speed. I came out a winner and that’s what we wanted.
Kim Clavel
Cautious coach Danielle Bouchard was convinced that her long-time protégé had won the clash.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Fara El Bousairi and Kim Clavel
“We are not in the head of a judge,” recalled the technician. For our part, we tell ourselves that we must touch as clearly as possible and be touched as little as possible. That’s exactly what we did. Kim had the boxing skills. […] We may have lost two rounds, maximum three. This is really what we saw by being severe in the analysis. As Kim said so well, you don’t have control over the results, but Kim had control over her performance. She clearly did more than enough to win this fight. »
A quality fight
It was not the total war announced by El Bousairi (8-4, 3 KOs). The original Moroccan, stronger, delivered a more “organized” and less disheveled duel than one could anticipate. Clavel did not get angry, competing with her speed, her footwork, and surprising her rival with several combinations from the left that hit the target.
“She still arrived here determined,” agreed Clavel, accompanied by her father, Pierre, during the press scrum. “It was a good quality fight against a warrior. I tip my hat to him. »
She didn’t come here for a paycheck. She came here to fight. I delivered the goods, I’m happy to return to victory. It feels good. After a defeat, it’s always difficult to come back. I came back with my head held high, proud. I will sleep well.
Kim Clavel, about her opponent
Encouraged by the powerful cries of her coachEl Bousairi, to whom The Press gave two rounds (98-92), distributed his energy well. In the fifth, very tight, she deployed her best strikes, reaching the Quebecer with a few combinations. “Heavy sledgehammer blows” rather than the “whipping” of Bermudez, illustrated the one who was the target.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Fara El Bousairi
Aware of her delay, El Bousairi concluded on the 10e attack in a frenzied manner – just like Clavel –, but it was too late. Rightly so, the approximately 600 spectators gave the Spaniard a standing ovation when she greeted them after the decision.
“I want to hurt him”
Clavel found motivation in what she perceived as arrogance on El Bousairi’s part, but she never stuck her tongue out at her like she sometimes does.
“She was pretty clean, [elle donnait] beautiful quality shots, recognized the native of Joliette. A fighter, certainly. She wanted to play a little bit of intimidation, but I didn’t buy into her game. I used my legs, I used the whole ring. I am very proud of my performance. »
Bouchard noted that her student relied more on her power shots, which pinched the Spaniard consistently. “The choice of his blows was to say: I want to hurt him. »
She still had good defense in the clinch, but when I managed to keep my distance and play with my feet, that’s when it turned to my advantage.
Kim Clavel
The message is clear for the main interested party, who is awaiting another call-up for a world belt, shared by the Argentine Bermudez and the Mexican Yesica Nery Plata, the pugilists who inflicted her only two setbacks.
Kim is still there, Kim wants victories, Kim still wants to become world champion. Now it’s the promoter’s job to get me back there and I have confidence in Yvon.
Kim Clavel
The date of his next duel has already been agreed: May 16, again at the Casino. In the absence of an injury or cut, the appointment still stands.
“I’m going to take four, five days off and we’re going to start again in the gym. It’s going to be continuity because we agree that we’re going to be in good shape from the start of camp. »
Yvon Michel, who followed his gala remotely, can take a breath and get back on the phone.