Kim Clavel lost by unanimous decision to Yesica Nery Plata on Friday at Place Bell, failing in her bid to become unified light flyweight champion.
Nery Plata (29-2, 3 KOs), defending his World Boxing Association (WBA) title for the first time, won the judges’ favor with a score of 97-93 (twice) and from 96-94.
Clavel (16-1, 3 KOs) suffered a first defeat and at the same time escaped her World Boxing Council (WBC) belt, which she was also trying to defend for the first time.
The 32-year-old Quebecer, accompanied by ex-champion Lucian Bute during her walk to the ring, had started the fight in a good way, controlling the ring and placing the best blows in the first two rounds. The story, however, shifted to the third.
Nery Plata, four years her junior, then had a very big round, hitting the target with several power shots to the head. Clavel even looked shaken at one point.
The Mexican then installed her jab, which Clavel had all the misery in the world to dodge. Despite everything, Danielle Bouchard’s protege was not downgraded, far from it.
She came back in force especially in the fifth, placing good combinations on the target, but the Mexican again took the lead in the following round.
Beginning in the sixth, every punch Clavel landed resulted in two from Nery Plata. With a bloody nose, Clavel tried to open the machine to finish strong, but the Mexican had response to all her attacks.
In the 10th minute, knowing he might be in trouble with the score, Clavel dominated the first minute. But once this salvo passed, Nery Plata ended the clash in force, confirming a fully deserved victory.
Clavel will now have to return to the drawing board. Just like Groupe Yvon Michel, who was banking on this victory to set in motion its ambitious plan for the rest of 2023.