The recovery is well and truly underway. Four months after losing her world championship belt, Kim Clavel took a step forward to recover it by defeating Naomi Arrelano Reyes by unanimous decision on Friday night at Place Bell.
A few weeks ago, Clavel said he wanted to “set the record straight” and prove that his unification fight was only a “small error in the course”. She did.
From the sound of the bell, around 9:30 p.m., the Quebecer seemed more alert defensively than during her last fight. She attacked at the right moments, offering, as usual, an intense and fierce fight.
In the first five rounds, Clavel had to take several good shots from his opponents, but always to shoot better in turn. In her bubble, she didn’t seem the least bit affected by Reyes’ attacks, until a headbutt cut her on the left eyelid and below the eye in round eight.
The pace of the Quebecer slowed somewhat in the next round, before picking up the pace in the final round. Despite the blood coming out of his nose and his eyelid, Clavel continued to attack, under the “Clavel, Clavel, Clavel” that resounded in the amphitheater.
The judges gave unanimous cards of 96-94, 98-92 and 98-92. In front of more than 2,000 spectators, Clavel won the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental belts.
Beyond that, the pugilist of the Yvon Michel Group becomes a compulsory contender for the titles of these two organizations. She could therefore fight in the world championship soon; that’s the plan.
More details to come.