(Montreal) The headliner of Groupe Yvon Michel is now Kim Clavel.
The 32-year-old boxer is now the only world title holder in the Montreal promoter’s stable, which is rarely short of champions. However, this is what could happen if Clavel (16-0, 3 K.-O.), champion of the light flyweights of the World Boxing Council (WBC) does not triumph over Yesica Nery Plata (28-2, 3 K .-O.), who holds the belt of the World Boxing Association, Friday, at Place Bell.
“I think the period between (Joachim) Alcine and Pascal is the last time we didn’t have a world champion in our ranks,” said Yvon Michel, referring to the period between July 2008, when Alcine lost his WBA super welterweight title, and June 2009, when Pascal won the WBC light heavyweight title.
“We have always renewed ourselves, continues Michel. If Kim loses, her next fight will be a comeback fight. We have confidence in her and we will continue to support her. It doesn’t mean when you lose a fight that it’s over. But it will delay (our plans), because there, we need her to develop our young people who are growing behind. »
This is how GYM works, and possibly many promoters around the world: one or a few spearheads provide the working capital necessary for the development of young boxers.
“Our first leader was Otis Grant, then we had Joachim Alcine, while the Pascals and the (Adonis) Stevensons developed. When Alcine lost, we had no one who was ready. We took our time. When Pascal lost, it was Adonis who arrived. Through that, we had Eleider (Alvarez) and Artur Beterbiev. When Eleider left, Oscar Rivas and Marie-Ève Dicaire arrived. I don’t know what Marie-Ève and Oscar are going to do, but Kim has arrived. We have always succeeded in renewing ourselves and we will do it again.
“Having said that, I’m really confident that Kim is going to give us many years of top boxing. For her, tomorrow is a big door opening onto international boxing and she will take us with her. »
Clavel doesn’t feel she should serve as a pillar of the organization and assures that it doesn’t put any extra pressure on her shoulders. She also approaches this first female unification fight disputed in Quebec – and the first, all genders combined, of 2023 on the international scene – with confidence.
“I know I did everything I had to do,” said the woman who swung the scale to 107.8 pounds (compared to 104.2 for the Mexican) during the official weigh-in on Thursday. at the Casino de Montreal. I’ve had good fights over the past two years. I had good opponents. I feel well built to go face a girl of the caliber of Nery Plata. Everything rests on my shoulders: it’s up to me to deliver the goods (Friday). I feel good, I’m happy and that’s the most important thing. »
This does not prevent him from measuring the extent of the feat that is within his reach.
“It’s a big step. Becoming world champion is one thing, but succeeding in unifying titles is another. »
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Kim Clavel and Yesica Nery Plata
Clavel will defend her title, acquired in August 2021, for the third time, while Nery Plata will attempt a first defense of the belt she won from Argentina’s Yesica Yolanda Bopp by split decision last March.
Michel believes that his protege has all the assets to succeed, but he cannot guarantee the result.
“I would like to say that Kim is going to win easily, but I can’t! We will sit on the end of our seats and “shake” throughout the fight, like during Pascal against Chad Dawson or Adrian Diaconu. We are confident, but we will be on edge! »
Other fights
The semi-final will be the affair of Mazlum Akdeniz (17-0, 8 K.-O.). The Longueuil super-lightweight will defend his WBC Americas continental title for the first time against Mexican Cristian Bielma (19-4-2, 7 KOs).
Two other female fights will also be on the program. Welterweight Marie-Pier Houle (7-0-1, 2 KOs) will face Marisol Moreno (6-3) in an eight-round first fight for the two boxers. 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist Caroline Veyre (1-0) will face Estefania Gonzalez Franco (4-5) at featherweight.
Finally, middleweight Derek Pomerleau (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Gustavo Magana Rodriguez (3-1-1, 1 KOs), while British Columbian Erik Basran (2 -0, 1 K.-O.) will be opposed to the Mexican lightweight Juan Carlos Ramirez Garcia (4-2).
The first bell will ring at 7 p.m. The gala will be broadcast on streaming site ESPN+ in the United States, while it will be available on pay-per-view and on GYMboxe.tv in Canada.