Kim Clavel arrived on her folding bike for her training in front of the media at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Saturday, a little before noon.
A small committee was waiting for him in front of the entrance to BoxeMontréal’s modest temporary gymnasium. com, moved to the second floor, overlooking the athletics track, due to major renovation work in the basement of the august building.
Due to a noisy cheerleading competition in the middle of the track, it was deemed appropriate to move the start of the session to the entrance, just to get along.
Obviously in great shape, Clavel demonstrated all of her speed, precision and power by kicking the mitts of her trainer Danielle Bouchard.
Satisfied, Yvon Michel observed the scene alongside Bernard Barré and Alexandra Croft, his partners in the Gym Group. The promoter is betting heavily on Clavel, who has become the “locomotive” of his organization.
“She has this kind of leadership, this kind of influence,” said Yvon Michel, who will live his 72e world championship fight since her debut in 1996. “Three dates are already reserved for her next year, two at Place Bell and another at the Bell Center at the end of the year, as we did at the time with Jean Pascal and Adonis Stevenson »
Clavel will first have to defeat Mexico’s Yesica Nery Plata to add the WBA light flyweight world champion belt to the WBC belt she already holds Thursday night at Place Bell in Laval.
The 32-year-old boxer will be the first local athlete to try to unify world titles at a gala presented in Quebec.
“I really think Kim is the most elite, pound for pound, of the division,” Michel said.
Undefeated in 16 matches, the native of Joliette wants to live up to that confidence, even in training on Saturday.
” [Yvon] maybe came to see me once during camp and he’s there at the end, Clavel noted. He’s the one who pays me, he’s my boss in a way. I was like: “I’m going to show him what I can do, you do well to invest in me, I’m ready and look: we’re going to give a good show. » »
She does not hide it: she feels “butterflies, nervousness” as her second world championship fight approaches.
Sometimes it takes you longer to fall asleep because you’re thinking about all this. You need to breathe a little. It’s feverish.
Kim Clavel
The little ambient agitation on Saturday did not bother her, on the contrary. “Honestly, I felt really good. I found it easy to concentrate. It’s like I’m just with Danielle. Looks like I forgot what was around. We were in our bubble. It’s not that I am show off, but I like it when it’s crowded. It stimulates me. »
Beside her, Danielle Bouchard agreed: “Kim loves it, she works on challenges. Whenever there are a few spectators, that’s his motivation. For a sprint, for example, it will look for a second or two. It’s like pride. »
Accompanied by her coach father and younger brother Oscar, Nery Plata arrived at the gym at the end of her future opponent’s interview. Fluent in Spanish, Clavel introduced herself to welcome him and express her gratitude. The two champions posed together. No animosity transpired.
RDS colleague Jean-Luc Legendre pulled out his best Spanish to ask the WBA champion, who will be defending her belt for the first time, some questions.
“I am very happy and very grateful for this opportunity, began Nery Plata. We came for a big fight and we know Kim, a very strong rival. So it will be good. »
The athlete from Mexico City (28-2, 3 KOs) agreed to fight for only the second time outside his country in the hope of “realizing a dream”. “I had a good preparation and I hope God will allow me to come out of the fight with my hands up…”
After a bit of shadow-boxing and bungee ball, Yesica Nery Plata climbed up to hit her dad’s mitts.
At first glance, her style is different from Clavel’s, but she hits hard. Strong and dry. His uppercut from the right fits like a ton of brick for a pugilist of this stature. No wonder she’s ranked #1 at 108 lbs by benchmark site boxrec.com.
“It will be hard, but I think Kim will win,” concluded Yvon Michel just before the boxer left on her bike. Next meeting: the official press conference, Monday morning, at the Casino de Montréal.
Expected income
Michel does not know if he will reach the milestone of 4,000 spectators that he always wanted to meet two weeks ago, but he is delighted to have found takers for 35 of the 38 VIP tables at the edge of the ring. “If we don’t reach 4,000 tickets, I think we will generate the revenue we expected,” said the promoter. The “Irresistible II” gala will be available on pay-per-view for $59.99. For the first time, Groupe Gym will offer it on its own over-the-top service on the Internet, gymboxe.tv.