The day after his return from vacation, on February 28, Kim Clavel went to train in “hidden” from his coachDanielle Bouchard.
“It felt good to get out of the gym, but I can tell you that in the last week, my hands were tickling me. I couldn’t wait to kick a bag, get back to the gym. That’s what I wanted to feel, to miss the most beautiful sport in the world, which is boxing. »
Two months after the first loss of his career, Kim Clavel can’t wait to get back in the ring.
Two weeks after the official start of her preparation, the mid-fly from Joliette (16-1, 3 K.-O.) now knows the identity of her next opponent, the Mexican Naomi Arellano Reyez (9-2, 5 K .-O.), whom she will face on April 28 as part of a gala presented at Place Bell. Three intercontinental belts will be at stake: those of the WBC, the IBF and the WBO.
“I got pushed down the mountain, now I’m going to climb it,” she promised at a press conference on Thursday evening, ahead of the Pascal-Eifert face-to-face in the evening at Place Bell.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Kim Clavel, the evening of his first career defeat, on January 13
The 32-year-old boxer was meeting the media at the same location where she expressed her disappointment, even shame, at letting her supporters down on January 13. She lost by decision against Mexican Yesica Nery Plata in a frenzied unification fight for the WBA and WBC world belts.
“Sometimes in defeats, that’s where you learn the most,” said the one who had been stripped of her WBC title.
It makes us ask ourselves questions that we don’t necessarily ask ourselves when we are victorious. I am very zen with my defeat today. Two months ago, I had a bad time… It was very, very difficult. Today, I’m fine with it. See the ”1” next to my file, it does not matter.
Kim Clavel
She pointed out that her idol Amanda Serrano, undisputed featherweight champion, suffered a first setback in her 16e exit (44-2 today).
“I had a defeat in my 17e fight. Look at her today: she fills Madison Square Garden and is one of the highest paid in the world. A loss means nothing. It just means you compete against the best, you take risks and people remember your performances. »
Become essential again
Confirmed only Thursday, the belts at stake on April 28 ensure Clavel a 10-round duel, a blessing in the eyes of her trainer.
If she wins, she will position herself well for a next world championship fight, which promoter Yvon Michel is planning for September 22, still at Place Bell. She is currently ranked No. 1 contender in the WBC, fourth in the IBF and third in the WBO.
“We want Kim to become a must again,” explained the CEO of Groupe Gym, who has also reserved the Bell Center and Place Bell for a date in December. “Nobody is going to give him a world title fight on purpose. So we want to position Kim. We follow the same plan planned before the fight against Plata. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Yvon Michel, CEO of Groupe Gym, and Kim Clavel
We are going to organize ourselves so that a champion, somewhere, is obliged to fight with her. That’s why we invested in all these belts.
Yvon Michel
So it could be Plata… or another one. “Things are changing so quickly,” said Michel. That’s why we fired all over the place to make sure we hit a target somewhere. »
One thing is certain, Clavel wants to see his faller from January again. “A revenge like that, it is built, it is prepared, she warned. This fight will prepare me to come back victorious against Plata in this duel that all of Quebec is waiting for, I’m sure. It will come, be patient, but we will build it all together. »
This scenario must obviously go through a win against Arellano Reyez, recalled Danielle Bouchard. “We have already made small changes in terms of training, she revealed. We are motivated and I can guarantee you that once again you will have a glowing Kim in the ring. »
Like the Quebecer, the 28-year-old Mexican is coming back from a unanimous decision loss suffered in October against Gabriele Fundora, in a Californian gala presented on Showtime. Two years earlier, she defeated ex-multiple world champion Carina Moreno (25-6 at the time), her greatest feat.
She’s a girl who hits with a lot of authority, a girl of quality. There is a lot of talent at 108 pounds in international boxing. So we were spoiled for choice.
Yvon Michel, on Kim Clavel’s next opponent
Clavel, who has yet to watch the replay of her defeat, studied some videos of her next rival, who is at 15e rank of the division according to the specialized site BoxRec.
“I’m expecting a very aggressive girl, who’s going to give a really good show, but I’m going to fight differently,” promised the ex-champion.
The two boxers were originally scheduled to face each other in the summer of 2021 at the IGA Stadium, but the health rules in place had prevented Arellano Reyez from traveling to Canada. She lives and trains in Los Angeles.
She spoke of the “defensive aspect which was perhaps a bit more problematic” against Nery Plata. “Usually that’s one of my strengths. And I fought a lot with my emotions. It’s going to be to stay focused and follow the game plan. »
More prosaically, Clavel expressed his desire to be “more bum” in the ring…
Ticket sales for the card, which will also mark the return of Sébastien Bouchard (19-2-1, 8 KOs), from Baie-Saint-Paul, begin Thursday at 9 p.m.