Despite her status as a world champion, it would be wrong to think that Quebec boxer Kim Clavel has already realized her full potential on the international stage. His name is slowly but surely making the rounds. However, his notoriety has not yet reached that of the Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor and Seniesa Estrada.
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“It’s the fight that could open doors for me,” she agrees, ten days before her unification duel on January 13 at the Place Bell against Mexico’s Yesica Nery Plata.
The meeting was postponed after a nasty virus hit Clavel and was initially scheduled to take place in early December. Since then, in the series of reports traditionally published in annual reviews, an updated list of the top 30 women boxers in the world published by American broadcaster ESPN caught Clavel’s attention. The exercise remains random, but no less reflects the Quebecers’ breakthrough.
“When I saw the list, I thought it was cool that my name was under these boxers,” Clavel admitted in a phone interview on Sunday. I’m happy to see that my name is out there, it makes me proud. I’m okay with the fact that I’m 18th at the moment, in the sense that I’ve only competed against one world champion so far. »
After Clavel won her World Boxing Council (WBC) title from Yesenia Gomez last July, she has an opportunity to significantly increase her value against Yesica Nery Plata. Especially since the unification struggle among the fellow pilots is presented on the American platform ESPN +.
Categories respected
In the famous list, Nery Plata, WBA champion, is ranked 19th, just behind Clavel.
“I found it interesting that there are several female boxers in the lighter categories, including mine,” Clavel noted, counting down Seniesa Estrada (4th), Yokasta Valle (11th), Evelin Bermudez (24th) and Yesica Yolanda Bopp (25th). ) on.
Light flyweights and strawweights are becoming increasingly popular. An important fact for Clavel. His position on a chart like ESPN’s will now be trending higher with a win on January 13th. Britain’s Katie Taylor is the one at the top, ahead of Shields.
“We want to prove that we can be in the top 10 best boxers in the world,” agreed the Quebecer. The reality is you need to break into the United States and internationally. This is how the scholarships go up. »
Impatient
Also on Monday Clavel had 45 minutes of jogging on the program, then a session with trainer Stéphan Larouche to repeat some specific combinations.
“The closer the fight gets, the more I can hardly wait,” launched the Quebec champion. Currently I find it well before January 13th. I’m done. »
A scenario for dreaming about Clavel and… Estrada
Quebec flyweight Kim Clavel and American strawweight Seniesa Estrada both have a plan that may well one day find them in the ring. Maybe 2024?
“I’d like to get the other three belts for £108,” dreams Clavel, knowing full well that this great quest must begin with a win over Mexico’s Yesica Nery Plata on January 13 at the Place Bell in Laval. .
two belts
The Quebecer, who already holds the WBC title, would get her hands on the WBA belt.
Costa Rican Yokasta Valle is the current WBO and IBF light flyweight champion.
Regarding Estrada, her goal would be to become the unified champion of straws (105 pounds) in parallel.
“Imagine the possible fight,” Clavel says of a possible matchup between her and Estrada.
Dating in England
If it is far from being realized, the plan in question is not absurd. Also, you should know that Clavel and Estrada, without having spoken directly about it, had the opportunity to meet in London last September.
“We took a picture together,” says the Joliette boxer.
The Groupe’s protégé, Yvon Michel, had then traveled to England, like Estrada, to attend the 100% Feminine Gala, notably with Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall.
If the evening had to be postponed to the following month due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Clavel did not only do tourism during his stay on British soil. She was able to connect.
While the Quebecois has a date with Nery Plata for now, in March it was announced in the US between Estrada (23-0, 9 KOs) and another unification bout for the WBA and WBC strawweight titles, Germany’s Tina Rupprecht (12-0-1, 3 KOs).
▸ Aiming to determine the fight of the year in women’s boxing, the WBC placed Kim Clavel’s match against Yesenia Gomez among the six short-listed fights. Voting continues on social media.
▸ Clavel’s loyal accomplice, Danielle Bouchard, is nominated by the WBC for Coach of the Year. She mostly finds herself racing alongside Marc Ramsay.