(Montreal) It all clicked on August 18, following her victory by unanimous decision over Maria Soledad Vargas, at Stade IGA. It was that night that Kim Clavel really knew she was ready to become world champion.
Posted at 3:52 p.m.
“I’ve had a lot of adversity in my career, amateur or professional. The majority of my opponents had more wins than losses. My victory against Vargas proved to me that I have my place among the world elite, ”explained the 31-year-old pugilist by videoconference on Wednesday.
She is a girl who had fought in the world championship, who had fought a draw with the world champion Fabiana Bytyqi, in the Czech Republic, who hits hard. I took that pressure and that’s when it really clicked that I was ready for a world championship, because she was a great opponent.
Kim Clavel
The win over Vargas made Clavel (15-0, 3 KOs) the No. 1 contender and mandatory opponent to World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion Mexico’s Yesenia Gomez (19 -5-3, 6 K. -O.), which she will face at the Casino de Montréal, on April 21st.
After seeing the fight postponed twice, once due to an injury to Clavel and once due to the COVID-19 which came to disrupt the champion’s camp in Mexico, Clavel now feels that she is on her way. its goal.
In order to refine her preparation, Clavel put her title on the line against Mariela Ribera Valverde, whom she forced to retire after the fourth round of their clash last Friday.
“I’m going to surf on my side (for the clash against Valverde). What we have already done is an achievement, it is not lost and it can be useful for my fight against Yesenia”, noted Clavel, who will be back in the gym on Monday.
“Danièle (Bouchard, her trainer) is a professional in the organization: it was important for her that I take a few days off, that I go to see my friends, that I eat, that I rest. Then we’ll get back to work. I can’t wait to get back to the gym. I’m hungry, I can’t wait! April 21 is all that keeps me going. I felt that my last fight had been a good preparation, a good general of all that I had done during the last months. It’s up to me to deliver the goods. »
Clavel and his team have worked on several aspects since the clash against Vargas. Elements that she believes she put into practice against Valverde.
Against Vargas, it was a big fight, difficult. I may have received more unnecessary blows. Maybe that’s what will change: to move your upper body more so as not to receive unnecessary blows against Gomez, who hits hard. I don’t want to give away my whole game plan in front of her, but it will be Kim 2.0 in the ring.
Kim Clavel
First
Gomez, 26, has been a world champion since her victory over Esmeralda Moreno on September 22, 2018. She has successfully defended her belt four times since. But she will experience a great first against Clavel: a fight outside of Mexico.
“I’m confident, I’m ready,” she said through a translator. It is true that when I box in Cancún, I have the public on my side. But that showed me on which aspects I will have to concentrate for this fight even if it is difficult to foresee the feelings that that will get to me (to fight abroad). »
She knows that in addition to a crowd that will be hostile to her, the opposition will be strong in the Casino ring.
“Kim Clavel is a very technical boxer, that’s what I love,” said the Mexican. I have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C: I can adapt to whatever Kim throws at me in the ring. »
“She is seasoned, she is at the top of her career physically and mentally,” Clavel said. She has a pure Mexican style: she likes to advance on her opponent, works on the body, is very aggressive and does not fear receiving a punch. I also know what weapons I have to watch out for, but I don’t want to talk about it: I don’t want her to know what I know about her. »
Revenge assured
Both the Gomez clan and the Clavel clan are assured of a rematch if this duel does not have the desired outcome. The promoter Yvon Michel was not obliged to grant such a clause to the champion, but he had to give in.
“We didn’t have to grant this clause, because Kim is the mandatory opponent. But as we wanted Gomez to come here, it was a condition on their side, explained the president of GYM. We agreed that there would be a rematch on both sides. If ever Kim should lose this fight, she will have the chance to have a rematch too. »
The promoter would also gain from it, since this confrontation would again take place in Quebec. Gomez’s promoter, Jose Alberto Gomez, even raised the possibility of a trilogy between the two boxers.
However, boxing being what it is, let’s wait to see how this first confrontation will unfold before dreaming of a second, or even a third.