Victory by shutout: apart from a knockout, Kim Clavel could not do more against the Mexican Mayela Perez, whom she dominated from start to finish to obtain a unanimous decision of 100-90, Thursday evening, at Cabaret at the Montreal Casino.
Updated yesterday at 11:30 p.m.
Jabs, hooks, uppercuts, combinations, footwork: Clavel accomplished everything she wanted in this 10-round duel which will lead her, she hopes, to a fourth world championship fight next year.
“I’m happy, I managed to practice everything I wanted,” smiled the winner as she left the ring. In the gym, we always train to return to the world championship, but doing it under stress, in front of an audience, is not the same thing. To be able to do what I do in the gym in combat is a victory. This is what I am most proud of today. »
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Kim Clavel and Mayela Perez
Clavel (20-2, 3 KOs) controlled the situation from the first to the last bell, displaying a confidence that seemed to elude him since his defeats against Yesica Nery Plata and Evelin Bermudez in 2023.
“I felt a bit like when I won my fight against [Yesenia] Gomez,” commented Clavel, referring to the summer 2022 clash where she won the WBC light flyweight title.
I saw everything, I moved my head well, I had good defense. Sure, it wasn’t Gomez in front of me, but it was perfect for practicing my punching and defense. I took out all my tools in this fight: the hammer, the screwdriver, the saw, the round saw…
Kim Clavel
Despite her negative record of 20-28-4, Perez, 39, appeared in her place between the cables, not flinching in the face of the assaults of her younger, faster and simply better rival. There was no suspense, but yes, Cobrita knew how to box, as promoter Yvon Michel assured the day before.
In the sixth, Perez even allowed himself to taunt Clavel by rolling his shoulders and offering his head as a target. The Mexican then sent a series of body blows that the Quebecer blocked well.
“She has 51 fights, she has seen them, she has been to all kinds of countries, she has boxed against world champions,” listed Clavel, who felt he had hurt her in the ninth. “She’s not intimidated. She’s doing her best, she’s always in the gym, she’s working hard. »
The local favorite preferred to ignore the commentators who were ranting about the quality of her rival on social networks.
“People are strict. It happens in all kinds of countries that boxers face all kinds of opponents. Here, it seems like all eyes are on us. They are rough. I know that people will still criticize: you win, that’s normal, she wasn’t good, I didn’t manage to knock her out. If I had lost a round: Kim is finished. Regardless of the decision, I was not a winner. I did it for me, my team, our personal goals. It’s mission accomplished, and the people who have things to say, they will continue to eat popcorn. »
After three 10-round fights in 2024, the 34-year-old boxer will catch her breath for a few weeks before trying to get her hands back on a world belt at 105 or 108 lb, in a fight or two.
Marie-Pier Houle s’impose
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Anissa Anyoub et Marie-Pier Houle
The semi-final of this gala entitled “Impitoyable” was more hotly contested, even if the victory of Marie-Pier Houle was never in doubt.
The 34-year-old boxer put last June’s draw behind her by defeating Frenchwoman Anissa Anyoub (7-5) by unanimous decision. The judges handed out cards of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92. The duel was closer than the score suggests.
Marie-Pier Houle (11-1-2, 3 KOs) distributed the most blows and hit with the most power, but the Toulouse native, a mother of two children, fulfilled her promises by selling dearly his skin. With a wave of her hand, the 32-year-old Frenchwoman made it clear that she did not agree with the judges.
Nevertheless, Marie-Pier Houle took advantage of her physical strength and her movements during this clash of 10 assaults in the super-lightweight category.
I am satisfied with my fight. I wanted to work a little more on rushing my attacks less, throwing punches less just offensively and not working on anything else. I think it’s mission accomplished.
Marie-Pier Houle
Cut on the left eyebrow, the 34-year-old Quebecer spilled a little blood on Anyoub’s white tank top. She clarified that this injury was the result of a head-to-head with her rival. The referee warned Houle a few times to raise his own. “He was pissed because I dodged a little too low, but as long as he didn’t take away any points…”
In front of his agent, Yves Lévesque, who enlightened him with his phone, MPH barely hid his enthusiasm for what awaits him next winter, potentially another world championship fight in the 140 lb or 147 lb category. “I can’t speak, but the future is good for me in 2025.”
Perrine entertains
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Drew Stuve and Facson “the Brave” Perrine
The evening opened with an entertaining duel: Facson “the Brave” Perrine (1-0), from Yamachiche, did not miss his professional debut, beating Alberta’s Drew Stuve (1-1) by knockout . technical at 2:16 of the fourth round. After a so-so start – he bent his knees on a body blow – the pugilist from Rodrigues, an island in the Indian Ocean which is part of the Republic of Mauritius, manhandled his opponent in the next three rounds , sending him to the canvas with a right strike to the head in the fourth. The referee did not hesitate to end the hostilities immediately. Perrine, 31, who has already competed against Jean Pascal in an exhibition at the Trois-Rivières Expo (!) in the summer of 2023, will also be able to say “mission accomplished” to his two children when he returns home. House.
Sensitive hearts refrain
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Alex Gagnon and Kirill Bazhenov
In his professional debut, Ukrainian-born Kirill Bazhenov (1-0) dominated Alex Gagnon (0-2-1), from Jonquière, who was immediately stopped by the referee after vomiting in the ring at the end of the second assault. Arriving in Quebec last year, the young Bazhenov is a protégé of Russ Anber, who was also in his corner Thursday evening. The famous cutman’s evening at work was quiet.
Freshly arrived from the amateur ranks, Loïck Lahaie (1-0), who was very conspicuous in his white and blue pants in the GYM colors, had the upper hand over Ruslan Barma (0-1) in a middleweight duel. The Sherbrooke athlete, who benefits from a three-fight trial with the GYM Group, obtained a unanimous verdict of 40-36, even if Barma, a native of Kyiv who resides in Edmonton, defended himself well.
It wasn’t the “Rumble in the Jungle”, but the public was treated to a “good, honest little gala”, as Yvon Michel announced earlier this week.
