LAVAL, QC – The staging was perfect. Accompanied by Lucian Bute, Kim Clavel walked to the ring to the sound of “Where The Streets Have No Name”, the U2 classic that rang out before each of the former IBF super-middleweight champion’s fights. .
As if the transfer of power between generations was officially endorsed by the last great popular star that this sport had known here. A passage from the witness to the one who had succeeded in rekindling a flame that had been dying out little by little for a few years already.
As proof, they were 4,126 fans from all walks of life who crowded into Place Bell in Laval on Friday evening to see the WBC light flyweight belt holder attempt to make history by becoming the first unified champion of Quebec boxing.
But reality has brutally caught up with a bit of everyone, as Clavel will wake up Saturday morning without a title after losing by unanimous decision of the judges against the Mexican Jessica Nery Plata in the final of the event “Irresistible II” of Group Yvon Michel (GYM). The 10 rounds may have been very hotly contested, but the verdict was implacable.
The judges favored the WBA champion 97-93, 97-93 and 96-94 and although only 2 of the 10 bouts – the 3rd and 6th – were won unanimously, the general feeling was that the decision rendered was the correct one. “I felt it was really close and I was hoping for a draw, but I knew I had lost by a round or two,” admitted Clavel between sobs.
“It was a complicated fight and going to the eighth, we were not in a situation of despair. With big ninth and tenth, we believed in it, continued her trainer Danielle Bouchard. Kim lost honorably. Everyone will have to ask questions. »
The 32-year-old young woman dreamed of celebrating her eventual triumph with her team, which has accompanied her on a daily basis for almost 4 months already due to the postponement of the fight which was originally supposed to take place on December 1, but which had been postponed to December 13. January after Clavel contracted the flu just 2 days before coming to blows with Nery Plata.
“I wanted to be victorious and go have a beer, but I’m going to go home and put myself on ice instead,” lamented a Clavel, whose swollen face alone testified to the kind of difficult evening she had just had because of the effectiveness of her rival’s jab. I fought with my heart and my guts, but maybe a little too much. I know I am capable of better. »
That said, Clavel had some great moments early in the fight, especially in the first two rounds when she managed to win the exchanges she had with Nery Plata. Except that the Mexican never panicked and managed to turn the tide in the third round by continuing to boost her jab which she doubled with a left hook. A weapon left unanswered.
“It was different from what I had seen with [Yesenia] Gomez (his last opponent, editor’s note) but I expected it. I could have been more alert in defense, but I didn’t deliver the goods. It must be said that she had a very, very special boxing position: she never bent her knees. »
“I felt that she had no solution for my jab, had previously explained Nery Plata, whose face displayed the radiant smile of victory. I knew from the start that I would eventually have no choice but to press to achieve my goal of unifying the titles. »
Clavel was certainly not unworthy by applying constant pressure on Nery Plata, but the latter often pulled out of the game by being devilishly precise on the counter-attack.
“Nery Plata delivered the best performance of her career, as Kim had delivered her best performance against Gomez to become champion, analyzed promoter Yvon Michel. It may have been largely overlooked by bookmakers, except I’ve seen over the past few months how organized Nery Plata is. She who is in control of everything in her team. »
Even if Michel finds himself today without a champion when his organization had three – Clavel, Marie-Ève Dicaire and Oscar Rivas – as recently as last November, he has faith in the future. “Kim has shown that she’s a girl in the finals,” said the promoter. When I started my career, I never imagined attracting more than 4000 people with 108 pound girls.
“I haven’t lost my trust in Kim. She just has to realize that losing tonight isn’t the end. I feel exactly how I felt after the duel between Jean Pascal and Carl Froch. Jean had proven that by regrouping, he had the resources to become champion. With Kim, we go to plan B. I’m sure she is still able to attract people. »
“I just have to take a break, take a step back and I’ll come back,” Clavel promised. I have known adversity, it hurts my heart, but I have a team behind me. I still believe in it… I need to decant. Savannah Marshall, Mikaela Mayer and Marlen Esparza all returned after losses. I am a girl of that caliber. I will pass through. »
In the semis, Mazlum Akdeniz (18-0) had absolutely no trouble defending his WBC Americas continental welterweight belt by knocking out Mexico’s Cristian Bielma (19-5-2) three times before to win by unanimous decision (100-87, 100-87 and 100-87).
The southpaw had fun at the expense of his opponent by making him visit the floor hard in the third, fifth and seventh rounds. The Mexican has also painfully regained his corner after his third and final fall that many imagined he would throw in the towel.
Bielma surprisingly finished the fight on his feet, but didn’t offer much opposition, however, as Akdeniz looked desperate to register a knockout victory. “I really tried everything, but I didn’t succeed,” said the Montrealer after his victory. That said, everything went well. My opponent never managed to hurt me tonight. »