In tears, Kim Clavel spoke to the media late Friday night about how she fought in the ring: with her heart.
• Also read: Courage wasn’t enough for Kim Clavel
“I’m facing my first defeat and to come and talk to you will take all my courage. I’m still proud, I put up a great fight,” she said to start the press conference after her setback by the unanimous decision of the judges against the Mexican Yesica Nery Plata.
“I have such a warrior heart that I want to do too much, I want to give too much,” she also said, blaming herself for neglecting her defense at times. What I want in life is to please, and I would like to please everyone.
While Clavel accepted the judges’ decision, she paid tribute to her opponent, who is now a WBC and WBA champion.
“Congratulations to Nery Plata! She’s a tough opponent, she said. I think we put on a good show but in the end it was Friday the 13th for me. I think I learned a lot in this fight. Honestly, before the verdict, I felt like I might have lost a lap or two.
“Life isn’t always perfect. Really not. I have known adversity, Clavel added. It hurts my heart, that’s for sure. I fought with my heart and with my stomach. Maybe a bit too much because sometimes I forgot to bring my hands back and I know I can do better. We can always improve. I’ll take a break and we’ll come back.”
ice on the face
Clavel was particularly emotional as she spoke about her team, including manager Danielle Bouchard and agent Stephan Larouche.
“Kim has a heart bigger than the earth, that’s what she proved,” the coach rightly underlined the course of the duel. It was a close fight. Kim lost more than honorably. I’m very proud of her.”
“I would have loved to go out for a beer to celebrate, but I end up going home and putting an ice cream on my face,” said Clavel, who kept his sense of humor despite the circumstances. Of course I would have liked to have had a big smile on my face and become the unified champion, but I just have to settle for that. I will watch my fight to correct these small imperfections so that one day I will be a united champion. I believe in it no less. (…) There are great champions who have already suffered defeat. We’ll get through. Trust me!”