Mission accomplished for Kim Clavel. Seeking only to find her rhythm after an injury and before a world championship fight, she made short work of Mariela Valverde, Friday evening, at the Casino de Montreal cabaret.
Posted at 10:09 p.m.
The Bolivian gave up at the end of the 4and round. She had taken the many strikes of a hungry Kim Clavel until then, without offering too much opposition.
The Quebec boxer thus retains her WBC Silver belt and remains undefeated, with a record of 15-0 and 3 K. -O.
But above all, she is keeping her strength in view of her highly anticipated fight against Yesenia Gomez for the title of WBC light flyweight world champion, awarded twice. In view of the little energy spent, we can expect that the date of April 21 will be preferred to May 5.
The casino could accommodate a full house for this gala organized by GYM. With about twenty seats, the public had answered the call.
Servers in shirts came and went with their trays of beer. The rhythmic music between rounds made the crowd sway more and more. Perhaps she was inspired by the spectacle of a certain anachronism offered by the ladies who danced on the podiums at the corners of the ring, to entertain her. A show that was perhaps more reminiscent of the 90s than the 2020s.
Fight for Ukraine
We announced a quality fight in the semi-finals, and that’s what we got. Los Angeles-based Ukrainian Taras Shelestyuck (19-0, 11 KOs) faced Venezuelan Gabriel Maestre (4-0, 3 KOs), in a clash at welterweight.
History was writing itself. A Ukrainian in Montreal to defend his people, with his family in mind still in his country currently invaded by Russia.
But Maestre had other plans. He dominated the engagements. The Venezuelan, ranked 6and in the world despite a record of only 4 fights, was fiery. Energetic. Full of will. His two feet were always well planted in the center of the ring… except when he allowed himself an “Ali Shuffle” at 7and round. We would like to say that Maestre is destined for a bright future, but he is already 35 years old.
Shelestyuk, bronze medalist at the London Games in 2012, still managed to place his shots. Obviously, that will have been enough to put doubt in the heads of the judges.
The two pugilists finally delivered a draw, with cards of 97-93 for Shelestyuk, 96-94 for Maestre, then shared 95-95.
“I didn’t even get hot! »
The most hotly contested brawl on the undercard was certainly the one that pitted Mascouchois Mathieu Germain (20-2-1, 9 K. -O.) against Mexican Erick Inzunza Angulo (8-3, 8 K. – O.).
The Quebecer finally won by K. -O. technique at 8and round, by judgment of the referee. It was a first fight for Germain at GYM, and with his trainer Stéphan Larouche.
“I put more pressure on myself than I thought,” said Germain in the kitchen of the cabaret which served as the press room. New coach, new team. I put pressure on my shoulders. Seems like I wanted to do too much, I was a little rusty. »
Fourteen seconds. That’s all Montrealer Derek Pomerleau needed to defeat Nova Scotian Daniel Beaupré (1-1, 1 KO). The Quebecer was making his professional debut, a confrontation among the means. His victory offered the first moment of emotion to the crowd gathered at the Cabaret du Casino on Friday.
” I have no words man, he said, smiling, to the ring announcer. I didn’t even get hot! »
The first fight of the evening pitted Quebecer Alexis Barrière (5-0, 3 K. -O.) against Mexican Isarel Nava Lopez (2-1, 2 K. -O.). The boxer from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu won after the Mexican retired after two rounds.