“THE RECONQUEST” EVELIN BERMUDEZ vs. KIM CLAVEL

MONTREAL (October 5, 2023) — Former World Champion Kim Clavel (17-1, 3 KOs) challenges unified world light flyweight champion Evelin “The Little Princess” Bermudez (18-1-1, 6 KOs) for her International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light Flyweight crowns on this Saturday’s “The Reconquest” Pro-Am card, promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with O.R. Promotions, and presented by Mise-O-Jeu in collaboration with Bell Media, at Place Bell in Laval, Canada.

The 32-year-old Clavel, the reigning WBC and WBO International title holder, is the No. 1 contender by both the WBO and IBF. Fighting at home in Montreal, the beloved Clavel was the 2020 recipient of an ESPY Award for returning to nursing to aid people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“This fight is the most important of my life, of my career,” Clavel said at a recent press conference. “I have the clear impression that this fight can change my life. I’m boarding the ring for myself and no one else, I want to prove to myself that I can become a world champion again.

“Writing the story is on the list of reasons why I’m boxing. I think it would be great, not just in women’s boxing, but in Quebec boxing. “I want to realize my dream of becoming a unified champion. I’ve been working in boxing for 17 years. When I was 17, I had no money to put gas in my car and I called Danielle to pick me up.”

In the 10-round main event, Clavel is arguably facing the toughest test of her pro career in Bermudez, the gifted Argentinian who won her first world title fight in 2018, adding the WBO crown in 2022. After one WBO and seven successive IBF title defenses, she lost by majority decision to Costa Rican Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9KO), who was also IBF / WBO world champion of the minimum division (105 pounds), in Carson, California. The latter immediately abandoned her two new world junior flyweight titles (108 pounds), allowing Bermudez to win them back, this past March in Buenos Aires against previously undefeated Mexican Tania Enriquez (20-0, 9 KOs).

“I am very happy to defend my belt against my No. 1 challenger,” Bermudez commented. “She is a great fighter, and this is the kind of fight that motivates me. I am very well prepared. I have a lot of world title fight experience and despite fighting her in her hometown, I am bringing back my belts with me to Argentina.”

A potentially explosive co-featured event pits Montreal favorite Sebastian Bouchard (20-2-1, 9 KOs) against undefeated Canadian welterweight Mazlum “Maz” Akdeniz (18-0, 8 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round match for the vacant WBC International title.

“I like the role of underdog and I definitely am,” Bouchard admitted. “I’m very comfortable with that. For everyone who always thought I wasn’t going anywhere, I’m still fighting. I would like that on the 8th, in the (Sunday) morning, my belt will be hung in the living room for all these beautiful people.”

“I think it will be an explosive fight,” Akdeniz countered. “There will be a lot of punches thrown. We are two aggressive boxers and the one with the most heart will win.”

Highly ranked Canadian super lightweight Marie-Pier Houle (8-1-1, 2 KOs) faces Cindy Reyes Espinoza (4-1, 0 KOs), of Mexico, in an eight-round bout. Houle is world ranked by all four major sanctioning bodies: the WBO (#3), IBF and WBA (#6), and WBC #11).

Also fighting on the undercard, 2020 Canada Olympian Caroline Veyre (5-0, 0 KOs) takes on Italy’s Jessica “Bulldozer” Bellusci (4-0, 2 KOs) in a battle of undefeated prospects, also in eight-rounds.

Opening the pro card is Derek “Slick” Pomerleau (5-0, 3 KOs), the 2016 Canadian National amateur champion, against Czech Republic middleweight Michal Chludil (3-1-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round fight.

The amateur segment of “The Reconquest” will provide added interest as Arturo Gatti, Jr., the son of the late, legendary boxer, Hall of Famer Arturo “Thunder” Gatti. The 105-pound Gatti, Jr. is matched against Terry Digaletos. Alessi Mansueto and Melina LaPlante will box at 138 pounds in the other amateur match.

Tickets are on sale and available to purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ca  and directly at GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

ABOUT YVON MICHEL GROUP (GYM):  Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its foundation GYM has set up 167 galas in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international galas outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. 19 boxers from the organization have delivered 56 world championship fights maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 24 losses and 2 draws. During this period, the major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization.




THE RECONQUEST KIM CLAVEL V. EVELIN BERMUDEZ IBF/WBO UNIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, October 7 at Place Bell in Laval

Montreal, Quebec, Canada – July 20, 2023 — Groupe Yvon Michel in collaboration with O.R.  Promotions are pleased to confirm that Montreal’s Kim Clavel (17-1-0, 3 KOs) is finally back in the World Championship! The current WBC International and WBO International champion will try to dethrone the IBF and WBO light flyweight champion Argentina Evelin “La Princesita” Nazarena Bermudez (18-1-1, 6 KOs) on Saturday, October 7 at Place Bell in Laval. Clavel, 32, will fight his 3rd world championship fight, (1-1) and for Bermudez, 26, the 10th (7-1-1).

This will be Clavel’s 3rd fight in 2023, she returned to victory on May 12 against Naomi Arellano Reyes (9-3, 5 KOs) in another breathtaking performance. We remember the incredible clash on January 13 against WBA champion Yesica Nery Plata (29-2-0, 3 KOs) when the Quebecer had to lose by decision of the judges and give up her title of WBC world champion.

On October 7, it is the real RECONQUEST for Clavel who gets a 2nd chance to be crowned with two major titles, she is ranked number 1 contender in both the WBO and the IBF.

Aspiring Clavel and champion Bermudez met with the media in a virtual conference this morning:

“I saw how hungry Bermudez was, with the knife between her teeth, when she faced the undefeated Tania Enriquez (20-1, 9KO) to regain her titles after her loss to Valle 4 months earlier,” said former WBC champion Clavel. It is with exactly this state of mind that I approach this fight with Bermudez, with fire in my eyes. I know that Evelin is a great champion and that our fight has all the ingredients to be the fight of the year, but it is me who will come out victorious.”

Bermudez replied: “While I agree with Kim on my attitude against Enriquez and the big world championship fight, we’re about to fight, I differ on the result. Unlike Kim I have already succeeded in my reconquest and I am even more equipped, more seasoned than ever and there is no question of taking away these titles so important in my life and my career. I will come back home to Argentina with my 2 belts I assure you.”

Evelin Bermudez, originally from Santa Fe, Argentina, began his career in 2016 at the age of 19. Thus, she won her first world championship fight in 2018 at just 21 years old by dethroning Mexico’s Maria Guadalupe Bautista (21-11-2, 4 KOs) at home in Argentina for the IBF light flyweight title. In 2022, she added the WBO title with a brutal knockout over Debora  Rengifo  (19- 11-1, 11 KOs) of Caracas, Venezuela. After seven successive IBF defenses and a WBO, she lost by majority decision to Costa Rican Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9 KOs), who is also IBF and WBO champion in the minimum division (105 pounds), in Carson, California. The latter immediately gave up her two new light flyweight titles (108 pounds) which allowed Bermudez to regain them, in Buenos Aires against the undefeated Mexican Tania Enriquez (20-0, 9 KOs), last March.

Tickets will be on sale and available starting this Friday, July 21 at noon on www.ticketmaster.ca and  directly at GYM in info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

LA RECONQUEST is a presentation of Mise-O-Jeu in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel won her WBC crown on July 29, 2022, in Montreal, defeating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by unanimous decision in 10 rounds at the Casino de Montréal, in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec.

We remember that at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help seniors in Montreal. On the international stage, his courage and generosity have been recognized. She received the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award at that year‘s ESPY ceremony on ESPN, Time Magazine recognized her as the “Next Generation Leader,” and the WBC presented her with the “Humanitarian Award.”

Sébastien Bouchard, Marie-Pier Houle, Caroline Veyre, Derek Pomerleau will also be featured, and 2 other fights will also be added:

Quebec’s Sébastien Bouchard (20-2-1, 9KO) will be back in the ring after his inspiring and dazzling performance on May 12 at Place Bell when he knocked out Fernando Marquez (11-2, 9KO) in the 6th round. Bouchard had to adjust to a lively and incisive Marquez early in the fight. This is a 2nd fight in less than 4 months for the friendly welterweight. A victory in this 10-round clash could open the doors to a return to Quebec City in late 2023 or early 2024.

The sparkling Marie-Pier Houle (8-1-1, 2KO)  of Terrebonne may have lost by decision in the WBO welterweight world championship in Cardiff last April against the excellent Sandy Ryan (6-1, 2KO) but the experience acquired and the new international influence that earned her solid performance will be important assets she who decided to attack of the super lightweight division. Houle is now recognized as a legitimate global aspirant according to the 4 major associations; #3 WBO, #6 IBF, #6 WBA and #11 WBC. On October 7, it will be his debut in his new division in a fight of 10 assaults.

The talented Caroline Veyre (4-0, 0KO) does not want to waste her time and she accumulates significant victories since the beginning of her career. This is why the independent Boxrec ranking already ranks it 5th among the best feathers in the world. Veyre will be in the ring at the Casino de Montréal on September 7 against Karina Chavez (5-1, 0KO) and if all goes well 4 weeks later she will be in action at Place Bell. This Olympian has her destiny all mapped out; she will be world champion!

Young middleweight Derek Pomerleau (5-0, 3KO) of Châteauguay will also be in action in a 6-round fight.

There will also be 2 other fights that will be added to the program. Participants will be chosen based on their performance on September 7 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal. During this gala the prodigy and world kickboxing champion Jonathan Di Bella (2-0, 1KO) faces the tough Mexican Lamberto Macias (16-8-1, 12KO) in an 8-round bantamweight while the charismatic Terry Osias (12-0, 6KO) of Longueuil will meet Abraham Mejia (9-5-2, 4KO) of Monterrey.

Provincial Tour:

As announced a few weeks ago, Groupe Yvon Michel in collaboration with Les Cages Brasseries sportives, Radio Énergie and RDS Kim Clavel’s team with the president of GYM and other boxers to be confirmed in a few days, will go on a one-week provincial tour from August 8 to 12,

The formula is a 5 à 7 where the team will meet the many fans of Quebec in La Cage – Brasserie sportive, where there will be speeches by Kim and participants recounting their journeys and experiences then photo sessions and autographs.

Here are the dates and locations:

·       Monday, August 7: La Cage Quebec City Lebourgneuf

·       Tuesday, August 8: La Cage de Rimouski.

·       Wednesday, August 9: La Cage de Saguenay

·       Thursday, August 10: La Cage de Trois-Rivières.

·       Friday, August 11: La Cage Bell Center in Montreal.

The last tour of this kind was carried out by Lucian Bute’s team in 2011 and was a resounding success. We suggest that all those interested contact La Cage – Brasserie sportive in your area and reserve your seats.

#GroupeYM #LARECONQUÊTE #ClavelBermudez

About Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM)

Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in  Canada. Since its founding, GYM has organized 167 galas in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international galas outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (2 times), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. Nineteen boxers from the organization have fought 56 world championship fights, maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 24 losses and two draws. During this period, the major American television networks were more active than ever coming to Quebec to broadcast the organization’s most important events.




“THE RECONQUEST” EVELIN BERMUDEZ vs. KIM CLAVEL UNIFIED IBF/WBO JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP October 7 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada

MONTREAL (June 21, 2023) — Groupe Yvon Michel, in association with O.R. Promotions, is happy to confirm that Montreal junior flyweight Kim Clavel (17-0-1, 3 KOs) is finally returning to fight in another world championship.

The former World Boxing Council (WBC) world middleweight champion will try to conquer Argentinian Evelin “The Little Princess” Nazarena Bermudez (18-1-1, 6 KOs), the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light Flyweight on October 7 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada. This will be the third world title fight for the 32-year-old Clavel (1-1), and the 10th (7-1-1) for Bermudez, 26.

Clavel’s third fight in 2023, coming off her May 12th victory over Naomi Arellano Reyes (9-3, 5 KOs) in another breathtaking performance. Fans remember the incredible confrontation this past January 13th with World Boxing Association (WBA) world junior flyweight champion Yesica Nery Plata (29-2-0, 3 KOs), when Clavel lost a decision as well as her WBC crown.

October 7 is the real RECONQUEST for Clavel, who gets a second chance to be crowned as a world champion by two different sanctioning bodies. She is ranked as the No. 1 contender by both the WBO and the IBF.

“My journey has not been easy, I have never taken detours, but I have shaped myself and now nothing can stop me,” Clavel said. “I want to thank champion Evelin Bermudez for giving me this opportunity to win her titles. I know that she is a great champion and that she is confident in her abilities. I’m going to need all of Quebec behind me, I trust that with my team, my perseverance and all of you, that on October 7th I will be world champion again. Thank you for your eternal support.”

“I am extremely motivated with my team to guide Kim towards the conquest of two world titles,” said Kim’s coach, Danielle Bouchard. “The task will be difficult since Bermudez is an excellent boxer. Kim, however, has the determination, perseverance, and doggedness to win those belts. Her greatest desire: to become world champion again. Together and with everyone’s support, we will succeed! »

Bermudez, fighting out of Santa Fe, Argentina, started her career in 2016 as a 19-year-old. She won her first world title fight in 2018 by dethroning Mexican Maria Guadalupe Bautista (21-11-2, 4 KOs) at her home in Argentina for the IBF light flyweight title. She added the WBO crown in 2022 with a brutal knockout of Debora Rengifo (19-11-1, 11 KOs), of Caracas, Venezuela. After seven successive IBF and one WBO title defenses, she lost by majority decision to Costa Rican Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9KO), who is also IBF / WBO world champion of the minimum division (105 pounds), in Carson, California. The latter immediately abandoned her two new junior flyweight titles (108 pounds) which allows Bermudez to win them back, this past March in Buenos Aires against previously undefeated Mexican Tania Enriquez (20-0, 9 KOs).

Now world champion once again, Bermudez is confident of retaining her crowns: “I have always said that champions must face the best and Kim Clavel is part of this group,” she commented. “She may have the advantage of fighting at home, but I am a proud and racy Argentina. I’ll give you a good show and return home with my belts.”

“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” added O.R. Promotions CEO Georgina Rivero. “Evelin is ripe for proving her eminence and a win over Clavel is the best way to prove it.”

“It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that we offer this challenge to Kim and this gift to her many supporters,” GYM President Yvon Michel remarked. “We remember the great intense and passionate fight between the two champions last January. Moreover, this one is still in the running for the 2023 Fight of the Year. The 4,000 spectators at Place Bell are still shaking. Next October 7th, the task promises to be difficult but, supported by a passionate and noisy crowd, we will have a new champion in Quebec!”

Tickets go on sale in July and will be available to purchase on line at www.ticketmaster.ca  and directly at GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. Details will be published shortly.

“LA RECONQUÊTE” is presented by Mise-O-Jeu, in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel won her WBC crown on July 29, 2022, in Montreal, beating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by 10-round unanimous decision at the Montreal Casino, in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec.

At the height of the COVID19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help the elderly of Montreal. On the international scene, his courage and generosity have been recognized. She received the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award at that year’s ESPY ceremony on ESPN, Time Magazine recognized her as a “Next Generation Leader” and the WBC presented her with the “Humanitarian Award.”

Other Oct. 7th fights will be announced in the coming days.

Quebec promotional tour: Kim Clavel has expressed an interest in meeting Quebec boxing fans at home during the summer. Groupe Yvon Michel has reserved August 8, 9 and 10 to set up a caravan and travel to Chicoutimi, Quebec, Rimouski, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Saint-Hyacinthe, and Gatineau. Kim Clavel will be accompanied by her coaches Danielle Bouchard and Stéphane Larouche. The president of GYM, Yvon Michel, will be on the tour as well as several boxers concerned in the gala on October 7th. More details will be communicated after the GYM boxing gala on July 27 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal.

#GroupeYM #LARECONQUÊTE #ClavelBermudez

ABOUT YVON MICHEL GROUP (GYM):  Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its foundation GYM has set up 167 galas in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international galas outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. 19 boxers from the organization have delivered 56 world championship fights maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 24 losses and 2 draws. During this period, the major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization.




“THE RECONQUEST” KIM CLAVEL VS. NAOMI REYES April 28 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada TICKETS GO ON SALE TONIGHT

LAVAL, Quebec, Canada (March 16, 2023) — Montreal’s Kim Clavel (16-0-1, 3KO) will step back into the ring to take on Naomi “La Chapita” Arellano Reyes (9-2-0, 5KO), of Los Angeles, for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International Flyweight Championship on April 28, at Place Bell in Laval. The vacant WBC international flyweight title will be on the line as confirmed by the WBC. We have also requested sanctions for the division’s IBF Inter-Continental and WBO Inter-Continental titles as well. Verbal confirmation has been obtained and we expect to receive the required sanctions confirmation within the next few hours.

This will be the first fight for Clavel, 32, since the incredible clash this past of January 13 against World Boxing Association (WBA) world champion Yesica Nery Plata (29-2-0, 3KO), which the popular Canadian lost by decision in her first WBC title defense.

April 28th will mark the start of Clavel’s “RECONQUEST”, who intends to prove herself again by positioning her for a rematch with Plata as quickly as possible. She is presently ranked as the WBC #1, WBO #3 and IBF #4 contender.

Clavel is more motivated than ever, saying: “I want to regain my world title, but I will take it one  fight at a time. We will reposition ourselves in the rankings. I’m going to need all of Quebec behind me. I’m confident with my team, my perseverance and all of you that, by the end of the year, we’ll get more than just a world champion belt! Thank you for your eternal support.”

Originally from Nayarit, Mexico, Reyes now lives and trains in Los Angeles, California. The 28-year-old Reyes is renowned for her power as evidenced by her 5 knockout victories to date. Her most notable win was versus former multiple time world champion Carina Moreno (25-7-0, 6KO) in 2020. In her last outing last October,  Reyes lost by decision against Gabriela Fundura (8-0-0, 4KO) for the WBC Latino flyweight title in a PBC event broadcast on Showtime.

Clavel and Reyes were supposed to face each other in August 2021 at the IGA Stadium, but the latter had to withdraw due to health restrictions to enter Canada, and she was replaced by Maria Vargas (14-4-1, 1KO).

“It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that we are relaunching Kim with the ultimate goal of allowing her to avenge her defeat and regain her world title,” said GYM President Yvon Michel. “We remember the great intense and passionate fight between the two champions last January. Besides, the latter is still in the running for the 2023 Fight of the Year! The 4,000 spectators at Place Bell are still excited. To return to the world championship, Kim must prove herself again and these international titles will allow her to become a must challenger for the champion.”

Tickets will go on sale this evening (Thursday, March 16) at 9:00 p.m. ET on www.evenko.ca and directly at GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

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ABOUT YVON MICHEL GROUP (GYM):  

Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its foundation, GYM has promoted 165 events in Quebec, all televised in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, as well as participated in 38 international events outside Quebec. Eight GYM boxers have become world champions: Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. Nineteen boxers from the organization have delivered 54 world championship fights, maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 22 losses and 2 draws. During this period, major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization.




Friday: Kim Clavel-Jessica Nery Plata Light Flyweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on ESPN+

(Jan. 10, 2023) — WBC light flyweight world champion Kim Clavel will battle WBA queen Jessica Nery Plata this Friday, Jan. 13, at Place Bell in Laval, Canada. Clavel hopes to become the sport’s only Canadian-born unified world champion.

Clavel-Plata and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) won the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2020 ESPY Awards after putting her boxing career on hold to return to nursing during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. She came back in July 2020, shutting out Natalie Gonzalez over eight rounds inside the MGM Grand Bubble. Clavel dominated long-reigning champion Yesenia Gomez last July to win the WBC title, seizing her first world title opportunity. Clavel and Plata were scheduled to fight in December, but Clavel had to withdraw with the flu. Plata (28-2, 3 KOs), from Mexico City, won her world title last March with a split decision over Argentina’s Yesica Bopp.

In other streaming action:

  • Mazlum Akdeniz (17-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBC Continental Americas 140-pound belt against Mexican veteran Cristian Bielma (19-4-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
     
  • Welterweight prospect Marie Pier Houle (7-0-1, 2 KOs) looks to extend her winning streak to six against Marisol Moreno (6-3) in an eight-rounder.
     
  • Former Canadian amateur standout Eric Basran (2-0, 1 KO) will take on Juan Carlos Ramirez Garcia (4-2) in a six-round lightweight tilt.
     
  • Featherweight prospect Caroline Veyre (1-0), who represented Canada at the Tokyo Olympics, makes her second professional appearance against Estefania Gonzalez Franco in a six-rounder. 

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  




KIM CLAVEL FULLY RECOVERED CLAVEL/PLATA UNIFICATION BELL PLACE, JANUARY 13, 2023

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (December 14, 2022) — The “IRRESISTIBLEII” event featuring the World light flyweight unification championship between WBC champion Kim Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) and WBA champion Yesica Nery Plata (28-2 , 3 KOs ), is confirmed and will take place on Friday, January 13, 2023, at Place Bell in Laval.

 

Clavel, fighting out of Montreal, is fully recovered from the flu and fever that knocked her down a few days before her originally scheduled fight December 1. She resumed training last week.

 

“We are now focusing on making this date of Friday January 13, a memorable evening when for the first time in the history of Quebec boxing,” Clavel noted, “someone from home will try to unify 2 major world titles!

 

“By January 13, I will have only one thing in mind, to produce the performance of my life to offer a unique gift to Quebecers who give me phenomenal support; only one champion with 2 belts.”

 

Coach Danielle Bouchard is confident, saying: “The storm has passed; the sky is turning blue again. Kim is gradually regaining her vivacity and the return to training is going well.”

 

Plata remains impassive and confident: “This unification fight is what I have dreamed of all my life,” she commented. “We continue our training with the same objective. Kim did well to think of

 

her health as the most precious thing to us. I wish Kim a full recovering and that she will have no excuses when I return home with her belt and mine”

 

Clavel, 32, will defend her WBC Light Flyweight World crown for the first time since her furious and frenzied fight that she and Yesenia Gomez (19-6-3, 6KO) fought at the Casino de Montreal last summer, when Clavel won by united decision to take the belt from Gomez.

 

The 28-year-old Plata was extremely impressive against the great Argentine champion and women's boxing legend, Yesica Bopp (37-3, 17KO), last March in Panama. She won by way of a split decision, dethroning the defending champion who held an impressive record of 28-0 in world championship fights. January 13 will also mark her first defense of her WBA title.

 

"Everything comes at the right time to whoever knows how to wait (Clément Marot), and the thousands of fans who carefully kept their tickets will be rewarded with a memorable evening, an exciting final and a sublime Kim," a confidant GYM President Yvon Michael remarked.

.

Tickets will be available on www.evenko.ca and for groups info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. An easy-to-make Christmas gift that will make everyone happy!
Tickets start at a modest $40, taxes included, or limited VIP tables on the floor for six people including a gourmet meal and wine, for $3,500 and $4,500 plus taxes, The event is accessible to all.

 

There are couple fight changes since the original card was announced with 5 of the finest Canadian boxers still slated to be in action. Undefeated 25-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (17-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBC Continental Americas super lightweight belt against tough 29-year-old Mexican Cristian Bielma (19-4-2, 7 KOs) in the co-featured event.

 

Popular welterweight Marie-Pier Houle (6-0-1, 2 K.O.), 32, is ranked No. 7 by the WBA. She will be in her first scheduled 8-round bout of her pro career against 28-year-old Marisol Moreno (6-3). of Mazatlan, Mexico. Talented southpaw prospect Derek Pomerleau (3-0, 2 KO's.) will fight in his first scheduled 6-rounder versus Gustavo Rodriguez (3-1-1, 1 KOs), of Guadalajara, Mexico. Gifted Canadian Olympian Caroline Veyre (1-0) will step into a pro ring for the second time as a professional after her extensive amateur career. Another important member of the Canadian National Team during the past few years, 24-year-old lightweight Eric Basran (2-0, 1 KO), will also be in a 6-round bout against 19-year-old Juan Carlos Garcia ( 4-2), of Mexico City.

 

#GroupeYM

#IRRESISTIBLEII

#ClavelPlata



ALL OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED FIGHTS MAZLUM AKDENIZ, MARIE-PIER HOULE CAROLINE VEYRE, DEREK POMERLEAU AND ERIC BASRAN

LAVAL, Quebec, Canada – November 1, 2022 — We are exactly one month away from the great IRRESISTIBLE II boxing evening which will be presented at Place Bell in Laval on December 1. We know that the main fight will feature two world champions who will try to unify their belts while Quebecer and WBC world champion Kim Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) will face the WBA champion of Mexico City Yesica Nery Plata (28-2, 3 KOs).

It has already been announced that WBC Continental Americas champion Mazlum Akdeniz (17-0, 8 KOs) will face Philadelphia American Samuel “Tsunami” Teah (18-4-1, 8 KOs). .) in a semi-final that promises a lot.

A fight that is likely to steal the show is that of Marie-Pier Houle (7-0-1, 2 K.-O.) from Terrebonne against Olivia “The Predator” Gerula (19-19-3, 3 K.- O.) of Winnipeg. It’s a first 8 career rounds for the Quebecer against the former WBC world champion. Indeed, Gerula was world champion from 2009 to 2010 and she has experience of 10 world championship fights (3-7). Among her opponents, we find the great champions Jelena Mrdjenovich and Amanda Serrano. In her last fight, last October, she upset world contender Logan Holler (9-2-1, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision. Marie-Pier is very excited by this confrontation: “This fight comes at the right time in my career. I just cracked the world rankings and a win could get me a lot closer to a possible world championship fight at welterweight. You can be sure that I will be motivated and ready when the bell rings! »

The three other fights on the program will allow three future great stars of professional boxing from home to fight their first career 6-round fight. Brilliant Olympian Caroline Veyre (1-0) will meet Puerto Vallarta’s Estefania Gonzalez Franco (3-5) in featherweight. This will be Franco’s second fight in Quebec.

Montreal’s skillful Derek Pomerleau (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Guadalajara’s Gustavo Magana Rodriguez (3-1-1, 1 KOs) in middleweight and the talented and former member of Canada’s national team Eric Basran (2-0, 1 KO) of Vancouver will face Juan Carlos Ramirez Garcia (4-2) of Mexico City.

Tickets will be available on www.evenko.ca and for groups info@groupeyvonmichel.ca

You can get a ticket for the modest sum of $40, taxes included or VIP tables on the floor for six people including a gourmet meal and wine for $3,500 and $4,500 plus taxes, the number is limited. The event is therefore accessible to all!




Team USA roster set for next week’s USA Boxing International Invitational

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (September 2, 2022) — Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) has announced IRRESISTIBLE II as undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Kim Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) and World Boxing Association (WBA) title-holder Jessica Nery Plata (28-2, 3 KOs) will square-off on December 1st in a World Light Flyweight Unification showdown at Place Bell Laval in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

IRRESISTIBLE II is a Mise-O-Jeu presentation in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel, 31, won her WBC crown on July 29 in Montreal, defeating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by 10-round unanimous decision at the Casino de Montreal in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec. The native of Joliette became the 2nd woman and the eighth GYM world champion. She became the 4th active champion in Montreal by joining champions Marie-Eve Dicaire (IBF), Oscar Rivas (WBC) and Artur Beterbiev (WBC/WBA/IBF).

For Kim Clavel, it is a challenge worthy of her ambitions: “Since my conquest of the WBC world title, I have received thousands of extraordinary testimonies that touch me enormously. On December 1, I want to thank all my supporters for their support by launching me into this unique challenge to become unified champion. I promise not to disappoint you!”

Yesica Nery Plata is equally excited about the opportunity: “I won my WBA title by dethroning champion Yesica Bobb in Panama so I’m not afraid to go to Canada for this major fight in my career,” said the Mexican. “This unification is what I have been longing for a long time and it comes at the right time when I am at the peak of my career. My goal has always been to face the best, Kim Clavel is part of this category, and I am grateful to her for having accepted this duel.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a local pugilist arouse so many passions,” said GYM president Yvon Michel. “It was without hesitation that we took the gamble of reserving Place Bell for this first unification world championship in the history of boxing in Quebec, by a boxer from our region. We will be able to welcome the many fans of our new champion and allow them to attend this historic event IRRESISTIBLE II.”

During the height of the COVID19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help elderly in Montreal, for which she was awarded the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award for Service at that year’s ESPYs ceremony on ESPN.

Plata, 28, from Mexico City, won her WBA belt in her last outing on March 11 in Panama in a 10-round decision victory over the great champion and former amateur star Yesica Bopp (37- 2, 17KO) from Argentina.

Plata will ride a 7-fight win streak into Laval, winning 13 of her last 14 fights, dating back to 2016. A former WBC Youth light flyweight champion, Plata won the WBA Interim Light Flyweight Championship in 2018, taking a 10-round split decision from Silvia Torres (18-0-1). She successfully retained the WBA Interim title once with a 10-round unanimous decision versus Alondra Garcia (20-3-1) the following year.

Plata is currently ranked at the top of the light flyweight division by independent organization Boxrec.com as well as No. 6 in the world pound-for-pound. Clavel is ranked No. 3 at 108 pounds and No. 21 in all divisions.

This will be the second time that Kim Clavel will be in the main event in an event presented in a major Quebec amphitheater. The first time was against Maria Vargas at Stade IGA in August 2021.

Tickets will be on sale starting Friday, September 23 on Ticketmaster.ca, at the counters at Place Bell or for tables or groups, contact GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. More details on this will be communicated in the coming days.

#GroupeYM #IRRESISTIBLEII #ClavelPlata

Source: Groupe Yvon Michel

About Yvon Michel Group (GYM)

Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific organization in Canadian professional boxing. Since its foundation, GYM promoted 162 events in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada; and participated in 37 international events outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions: Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. Eighteen GYM boxers have fought in 53 world championship fights. compiling a solid 29-22-2 record. Major American television networks were more active than ever during this period in terms of coming to Quebec to broadcast the GYM’s most important events.




KIM CLAVEL VS. JESSICA NERY PLATA WORLD LIGHT FLYWEIGHT UNIFICATION SHOWDOWN

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada (September 2, 2022) — Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) has announced IRRESISTIBLE II as undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Kim Clavel (16-0, 3 KOs) and World Boxing Association (WBA) title-holder Jessica Nery Plata (28-2, 3 KOs) will square-off on December 1st in a World Light Flyweight Unification showdown at Place Bell Laval in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

IRRESISTIBLE II is a Mise-O-Jeu presentation in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel, 31, won her WBC crown on July 29 in Montreal, defeating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by 10-round unanimous decision at the Casino de Montreal in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec. The native of Joliette became the 2nd woman and the eighth GYM world champion. She became the 4th active champion in Montreal by joining champions Marie-Eve Dicaire (IBF), Oscar Rivas (WBC) and Artur Beterbiev (WBC/WBA/IBF).

For Kim Clavel, it is a challenge worthy of her ambitions: “Since my conquest of the WBC world title, I have received thousands of extraordinary testimonies that touch me enormously. On December 1, I want to thank all my supporters for their support by launching me into this unique challenge to become unified champion. I promise not to disappoint you!”

Yesica Nery Plata is equally excited about the opportunity: “I won my WBA title by dethroning champion Yesica Bobb in Panama so I’m not afraid to go to Canada for this major fight in my career,” said the Mexican. “This unification is what I have been longing for a long time and it comes at the right time when I am at the peak of my career. My goal has always been to face the best, Kim Clavel is part of this category, and I am grateful to her for having accepted this duel.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a local pugilist arouse so many passions,” said GYM president Yvon Michel. “It was without hesitation that we took the gamble of reserving Place Bell for this first unification world championship in the history of boxing in Quebec, by a boxer from our region. We will be able to welcome the many fans of our new champion and allow them to attend this historic event IRRESISTIBLE II.”

During the height of the COVID19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help elderly in Montreal, for which she was awarded the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award for Service at that year’s ESPYs ceremony on ESPN.

Plata, 28, from Mexico City, won her WBA belt in her last outing on March 11 in Panama in a 10-round decision victory over the great champion and former amateur star Yesica Bopp (37- 2, 17KO) from Argentina.

Plata will ride a 7-fight win streak into Laval, winning 13 of her last 14 fights, dating back to 2016. A former WBC Youth light flyweight champion, Plata won the WBA Interim Light Flyweight Championship in 2018, taking a 10-round split decision from Silvia Torres (18-0-1). She successfully retained the WBA Interim title once with a 10-round unanimous decision versus Alondra Garcia (20-3-1) the following year.

Plata is currently ranked at the top of the light flyweight division by independent organization Boxrec.com as well as No. 6 in the world pound-for-pound. Clavel is ranked No. 3 at 108 pounds and No. 21 in all divisions.

This will be the second time that Kim Clavel will be in the main event in an event presented in a major Quebec amphitheater. The first time was against Maria Vargas at Stade IGA in August 2021.

Tickets will be on sale starting Friday, September 23 on Ticketmaster.ca, at the counters at Place Bell or for tables or groups, contact GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. More details on this will be communicated in the coming days.

#GroupeYM #IRRESISTIBLEII #ClavelPlata

Source: Groupe Yvon Michel

About Yvon Michel Group (GYM)

Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific organization in Canadian professional boxing. Since its foundation, GYM promoted 162 events in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada; and participated in 37 international events outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions: Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. Eighteen GYM boxers have fought in 53 world championship fights. compiling a solid 29-22-2 record. Major American television networks were more active than ever during this period in terms of coming to Quebec to broadcast the GYM’s most important events.




“IRRESISTIBLES” WBC FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP YESENIA GOMEZ vs. KIM CLAVEL ARTUR BIYARSLANOV TO BE SHOWCASED IN THE CO-FEATURE

MONTREAL (June 27, 2022) – World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1 contender Kim Clavel (15-0, 3 KOs) will finally face WBC Flyweight World Champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3, 6 KOs), who will defend her world title belt for the fifth time, on Friday, July 29, at the Cabaret of Montreal Casino, headlining “IRRESISTIBLES,” co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michelle (GYM)/ Probellum, presented by Mise-O-Jeu.

Gomez vs. Clavel has been postponed three times, which has naturally increased tensions between the two fighters, based on their social media posts. The fight was always considered potentially spectacular and intense, but now their emotions are peaking with both accusing the  other for having delayed the confrontation.

Brilliantly talented Probellum representative, Artur “The Chechen Wolf” Biyarslanov (10-0, 8 KOs), will be showcased in the co-featured event on this prestigious evening. A 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist in Toronto, as well as a Canadian representative at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Biyarslanov plans to add a third consecutive knockout to his record against Burkina Faso-native Issouf Kinda (18-5, 7KO), fighting out of the Bronx (NY).

Montreal favorite Caroline Veyre will make her long anticipated professional debut after her remarkable amateur career. A pillar of the Canadian boxing team since 2013, Caroline captured gold at the 2015 Pan American Games, and she represented Canada at the 2020 Tokyo 2020. Veyre has everything to become a big star of international pro boxing.

“IRRESISTIBLES” will also be an opportunity to appreciate several young and talented boxers who represent the future of Canadian boxing. Kickboxing superstar Jonathan Di Bella (1-0, 0 KOs) will be in his second pro boxing match against Mexican Jesus Velazquez (3-2, 2 KOs). Gifted  Eric Basran, of Vancouver (2-0, 1 KO), will meet Mexican challenger Juan Carlos Garcia (4-2, 0 KOs), and young Montrealer Derek Pomerleau (2-0, 2 KOs) will be fighting for his third straight  KO versus his Mexican opponent, Marcos Luna (1-1, 0 KOs).

Clavel competed in her last international competition in 2017 as a member of Canada’s National Team in Honduras. In her first world championship fight on July 29th, she will be surrounded by three boxers who were her teammates at that same time. Biyarslanov, Basran and Veyre also wore Canadian colors at this tournament, additional evidence of the exceptional talent in the GYM.

Limited tickets are on sale via the GYM website at https://linktr.ee/groupeyvonmichel, or on Ticketsmaster.ca. For group sales go to info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

-30-

About Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM): Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, each still active in the company, the most prolific organization in the history of Canadian professional boxing. Since its foundation, GYM has organized 164 events in Quebec, all televised in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international events outside Quebec. Seven boxers became world champions: Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice) and Oscar Rivas. Seventeen boxers from GYM have fought 51 world championship fights, maintaining an excellent record of 27 wins, 22 setbacks and 2 draws. Major American television networks during this period were more active than ever in terms of broadcasting GYM’s most important events in Quebec.  On different 36 occasions, major American networks aired GYM events, an exceptional showcase of Quebec on HBO (8), Showtime (7), ESPN2 (10), Wealth TV (4), Spike TV (2), ESPN (3), CBS (1) and NBC Sports (1).

#GroupeYM #GomezClavel




“IRRESISTIBLES” YESENIA GOMEZ vs. KIM CLAVEL WBC LIGHT FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MONTREAL CASINO APRIL 21, 2022

MONTREAL (March 12, 2022) – It is now official, WBC #1 contender Kim Clavel (15-0, 3 KOs) will face WBC world champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3, 6 KOs), who will defend her light flyweight belt for the 5th time, on Thursday, April 21, at the Cabaret of Montréal Casino, in an event entitled, “IRRESISTIBLES”, co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel and Probellum, presented by Mise-O-Jeu.

Tickets are now on sale on the GYM website: https://linktr.ee/groupeyvonmichel or on Ticketmaster.ca. For groups: info@groupeyvonmichel.ca

Clavel, the WBC Silver champion, has been dreaming about this WBC world championship fight for a while. The day after his victorious fight, at the Montreal Casino, Clavel had her patience and waiting rewarded.

A press conference will be held in the coming days to announce all the details.

GroupeYM

ABOUT THE YVON MICHEL GROUP (GYM): Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, all still active within the company, which is the most prolific organization in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its founding GYM has organized 160 events in Quebec, participated in 37 international galas outside of Quebec. Seven boxers became world champions: Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire and Oscar Rivas. Seventeen of the organization’s boxers have fought in 49 world championship bouts with an excellent record of 25 wins, 22 losses and 2 draws. During this period major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast GYM’s most important events. On 35 occasions major American networks presented a GYM event, an exceptional showcase of Quebec knowledge including HBO (8), Showtime (7), ESPN2 (10), Wealth TV (4), Spike TV (2), ESPN (2), CBS (1) and NBC Sports (1).




Marie-Eve Dicaire & Kim Clavel Fighting for World titles

MONTREAL (November 11, 2021) – Canadian female boxing power will be on full display December 17 on the electrifying card, “The Triple Crown of Boxing,” featuring Marie-Eve Decaire and Kim Clavel in separate World title fights, at the famed Bell Center in Montreal

Co-promoted by Top Rank and Groupe Yvon Michel, presented by Mise-O-Jeu, will showcase a total of three World title fights vying for four belts. The action will be available to watch on ESPN + in the United States, as well as distributed on pay-per-view in Canada, by Bell TV, Canal Indigo, Shaw TV and FITE.TV, as well as certain authorized commercial establishments.

IBF and WBC unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (16-0-0, 16 KOs) will take on WBC # 1 contender Marcus Browne (24-1-0, 16 KOs) in the 12-round main event.

This will mark GYM’s 50th, 51st and 52nd world championship fights in its history, dating back to 2004.

Former IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Dicaire (17-1) challenges IBF # 5 rated Cynthia Lozano (9-0-0, 7 KOs), fighting out of Mexico, in the 10-round co-featured event for the vacant IBF Female World Super Middleweight Championship. Her GYM stablemate, Clavel (14-0, 2 KOs), challenges reigning WBC Female Light Flyweight Champion Yesenia “La Nina” Gomez (18-5-3, 6 KOs), also from Mexico, in a 10-round title bout.

“This is incredible,” Dicaire said. “I remember a few years ago, when I told my coach that I wanted to turn pro, him telling me that he couldn’t say not but that it was going to be very difficult. Now that my name is mentioned with the some of the best female fighters in boxing history, I know that we’ve achieved something special for generations of girls who can now dream of a career in boxing.

“Fighting with Kim for World titles on the same card is, once again, incredible. Yvon (their promoter Yvon Michel) is a strong supporter of women’s boxing, and he is not scared to invest in us. This is such a sign of confidence for me and for sure, Kim, and we will be thanking him by giving our best performances. To be able to how an event with two World title fights for women is also a sign that slowly stereotypes are changing in boxing, but in society as well.”

“I am very proud to be fighting with Marie-Eve for GYM,” Clavel commented. “Very recently, women’s boxing has gradually taken its place in a sport that was once reserved only for men. Marie-Eve has a lot of experience in World Championships, so I am happy to join her on this major event.

“Female boxing in Canada sends a message that is simple: If you work really hard and believe in yourself there is no limit. In addition, you must be supported by a leading promoter who knows the way and has developed good relationships all over the World, and this is the case with GYM’s Yvon Michel.”

Dicaire posed.jpg
Dicaire, who is 4-1 in World title fights, will attempt to become only the fourth Quebec fighters to regain her World title belt, joining Lou Brouillard (1933), Arturo Gatti (2004), and Jean Pascal (2019).

Ranked No. 1 by the WBC and No. 8 by the Ring magazine’s independent ratings, DiCaire will be fighting for her old belt, and she find herself in an unusual position, coming off a loss for the first time, having dropped a 10-round decision this past March to Claressa Shields.

“It may be strange to say,” Dicaire explained, “but, yes, I definitely feel like I’m fighting for my title belt. “I owned this belt for a while and defended it against serious challengers, so I am really happy to have the chance to fight again for the IBF belt. I’ve never taken things for granted, but when you are on a win streak, little details that may not seem as important as when you lose. Despite the fact that I was disappointed to lose, the loss taught me a lot of things. I grew up, experience-wise, and came back to the gym with so much will, The will to become a better fighter, a stronger fighter, but above all, to prove to everyone that it’s okay to fall as long as you get back up on your feet and continue to fight for what matters to you.

“She (Lozano) is a tough fighter that will never back down. In her previous bouts, she showed a lot of conditioning and a really active way of fighting. Although she hasn’t fought a lot of experienced fighters, I know I need to take her seriously.”

WBC Silver light flyweight champion Clavel will attempt to dethrone Gomez (18-5-3, 6 KOs), who will be making her fifth title defense. Clavel hopes to become the 20th Quebec fighter to capture a World title, dating back to Jack Delaney in 1925 up to the more recent World titleholder, GYM’s Joachim Alcine in 2007.

Clavel.jpg
Clavel gained international notoriety by putting her boxing career on hold to battle COVID-19 as a nurse, which resulted in her being named the Pat Tillman Award for Service winner at the 2020 ESPYS

“She (Gomez) has a lot of experience,” Clavel remarked. “She is very good, aggressive, and boxes with a lot of determination. This opportunity is a reward for my last 15 years in boxing. All nurses and health care personnel deserve a lot of recognition.

I was due to box in in March of 2020, but my fight was called off two weeks before due to the pandemic. I decided to go to work in the hospital system. I faced new things during this time. It was very difficult mentally and physically, I came out stronger and subsequently, due to my GYM promoter, things accelerated and finally I’m realizing my dream of fighting for a World title.

Tickets are on sale and available for purchase at evenko.ca. Group reservations can also be made by contacting GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca

-30-

About Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM): Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are all still active within the company, the most prolific organization in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its founding, GYM has promoted 159 events in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international events outside of Quebec. Six boxers became world champions: Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez and Marie-Ève ??Dicaire. Sixteen of the organization’s boxers have fought in 49 world championship bouts with an excellent record of 24 wins, 22 losses and 2 draws. During this period, major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization. On 36 occasions, major American networks presented a GYM event, an exceptional showcase of Quebec boxing, including HBO (8), Showtime (7), ESPN2 (10), Wealth TV (4), Spike TV (2), ESPN ( 3), CBS (1) and NBC Sports (1).

GroupeYM #TripleCrown #TripleCrown #BeterbievBrowne #ClavelGomez #DicaireLozano

Source: Yvon Michel Group




King Artur Returns: Beterbiev to Defend Unified Light Heavyweight Crown Against Top Contender Marcus Browne December 17 at Montreal’s Bell Centre and LIVE on ESPN+

MONTREAL (Oct. 12, 2021) — WBC/IBF unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev moved to Montreal nearly a decade ago to embark on his professional journey following a pair of Olympic berths for his native Russia. Sixteen fights into his career, he will return to his adopted hometown for the first time as a world champion.

Beterbiev, boxing’s only world champion with a 100 percent knockout rate, will defend his world titles against WBC No. 1 contender and 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne on Friday Dec. 17 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Beterbiev-Browne will headline a loaded world title tripleheader streaming live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+. Undefeated light flyweight contender Kim Clavel will challenge for the WBC title, while former IBF junior middleweight world champion Marie-Eve Dicaire will attempt to regain her crown. Full details regarding the Clavel and Dicaire fights will be announced shortly.

Promoted by Top Rank and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), tickets go on sale Saturday, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased by visiting ticketmaster.ca, or emailing GYM’s office directly at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca.

“Artur Beterbiev has built a tremendous fanbase in Montreal, and we wanted to give him the opportunity to defend his titles in his adopted hometown,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Marcus Browne is a worthy mandatory challenger, a big southpaw with a high boxing IQ. But I believe Artur is the world’s premier light heavyweight and, as usual, will end the fight before the final bell.”

“I want to thank Bob Arum and Yvon Michel for bringing this event to Montreal. It’s been a dream of mine to defend my titles in front of the fans who have supported me my entire pro career,” Beterbiev said. “I look forward to defending my titles in dominant fashion.”

“This is the moment in my life that I’ve been waiting for and I’m ready to take advantage of it,” Browne said. “I know exactly what I have to do to take the titles from Beterbiev and that’s what I’m going to do.

“Beterbiev is the most avoided champion out there. He’s a great fighter, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and is super strong. But I’m the better fighter and I’m here to show that come December 17. So, to my fans, know that I’m back and I’m here to stay. No controversial losses, no distractions, just straight work.”

“It is with great pride that we are going to offer this wonderful Christmas gift to Quebecers! Artur Beterbiev is probably the best boxer in the history of Canadian boxing, and it is a privilege to have him with us in this defense of his two world titles,” said Yvon Michel, GYM President. “In addition, we are going to make this event a historical one, as we have three world championship fights on the bill. Marie-Eve ??Dicaire is determined to regain her title, and the charismatic Kim Clavel sets out to win the WBC light flyweight crown. December 17 is one of the biggest international boxing events ever presented in Canada, a real bright spot after all these months of the pandemic. I would like to thank Artur Beterbiev, Bob Arum and Top Rank for their trust.”

Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) last fought in Canada in December 2016, a first-round stoppage over Isidro Ranoni Prieto. He won the vacant IBF world title in his next fight, which he defended two times before unifying titles with a devastating 10th-round stoppage over longtime WBC king Oleksandr Gvozdyk. After a nearly 18-month absence, Beterbiev returned in March with a 10th-round TKO over Adam Deines in Moscow. Browne (24-1, 16 KOs), a 30-year-old native of Staten Island, New York, won an interim world title in January 2019 with a unanimous decision win over two-weight world champion Badou Jack. After dropping a technical decision to Jean Pascal in August 2019, Browne returned to his winning ways April 20 with a shutout decision over Denis Grachev.

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WBC SILVER CHAMPIONSHIP KIM CLAVEL VS. MARIA VARGAS

MONTREAL (August 11, 2021) – For her first career main event on August 28, NABF champion and WBC # 1 aspirant Kim Clavel will now face Maria Soledad Vargas, from Morelia, Mexico, at IGA Stadium in Montreal. Vargas has provided proof that she is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and she has already signed her contract and been approved by the WBC as well as the RACJ.

Vargas (15-3-1, 1KO) certainly represents a superior opponent for Clavel in this 10-round duel for the prestigious WBC Silver title and is a concern for Clavel’s coaches, Danielle Bouchard and Stéphane Larouche. Vargas is undefeated in her last 8 fights, since 2017. In 2019, she faced WBC 105-pound champion Fabiana Bytygi (17-0-1, 5KO) on the road in the Czech Republic, and they fought to a draw in their World atomweight championship fight.

The tough Mexican fighter has won her last 3 fights including the most recent this past February. She will arrive in Montreal on Friday, Aug. 19th.

Also featured during this great comeback of international boxing in Montreal, world contender Mikael Zewski (34-2-0, 23KO) against Dilan “El Tremendo” Loza (15-4-1, 9KO) from Mexicali, solid Sébastien Bouchard (18-1-1, 8KO) versus the experienced Cleotis Pendarvis (21-8-2, 9KO) from Los Angeles, powerful Marie-Pier Houle (3-0-1, 1KO) versus Jeanette Zacarias Zapata (2-3-0, 0KO), of Mexico, and talented heavyweight Alexis Barrière (2-0-0, 2KO) vs. Angel Barron (1-1-0, 1KO), as well as Diizon Belfon (2-0-0, 2KO) and pro-debuting Petar Gavrilovic from Granby.

Presented in association with Lee Baxter Promotions, the “Under the Stars” event welcomes another quality boxer as the excellent and undefeated Mazlum Akdeniz (13-0-0, 7KO), of Montreal, will face Ricardo Diaz Nunez (8-5 -1, 1KO) of Baja California, Mexico, in an 8-round super lightweight bout. Akdeniz is known to consistently deliver spectacular fights with his uncompromising aggressive style. It will be his third fight in 2021 having won his last two fights in Colombia at the start of the year.

This will be the sixth time that GYM has presented a boxing event on the center court of the cozy tennis stadium and each time it was a resounding success. Ex-world champions Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, David Lemieux and Bermane Stiverne all left their mark there between 2006 and 2010. On June 8, 2007, in the middle of a IBF welterweight eliminator between Quebecer Hermann Ngoudjo and American Randall Bailey remains memorable, because a deluge flooded the amphitheater. Fuses blew and there was complete darkness for a few minutes during the live ESPN2 broadcast. This event eventually to receive the 2007 ESPN Premier Boxing Event Award.

GYM has obtained authorization to sell 5,000 tickets for the occasion, available on ticketmaster.ca or at GYM (514) 383-0666. The prices are $35, $??50, $90 and $150 in the stands. On the parterre, 38 tables for 6 people are for $ 2,500, and a hearty meal and wine will be served to the guests. Tickets go on sale today Thursday, July 29 at noon.

“Under The Stars” will also be available on pay-per-view on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and on Fite.TV for $ 49.99.

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About Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM): Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are all still active in the most prolific organization in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its founding, GYM has organized 155 events in Quebec, all broadcasted in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international events outside Quebec. Six boxers became world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez and Marie-Eve Dicaire. Sixteen of the organization’s boxers have fought in 48 world championship bouts with an excellent record of 24 wins, 22 losses and 2 draws. During this period major American television networks were more active than ever in going to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization. On 34 occasions, the major American networks presented a GYM gala, an exceptional showcase of Quebec knowledge including HBO (8), Showtime (7), ESPN2 (10), Wealth TV (4), Spike TV (2), ESPN (1), CBS (1) and NBC Sports (1).

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INTERNATIONAL BOXING UNDER THE STARS SATURDAY AUGUST 28 AT MONTREAL IGA STADIUM

MONTREAL (July 29, 2021) – Finally NABF champion and WBC # 1 contender Kim Clavel is back in a ring in Quebec for her first career fight at the IGA Stadium in Montreal on August 28th. The wait was long, the procedures laborious, the requirements numerous, but finally GYM received the approval of its sanitary protocol from both the Montreal Regional Public Health Direction and the Quebec Public Health Direction. GYM would like to thank Mr. Daniel Tierney and his DRSP team for their important collaboration.

Clavel (13-0, 2KO) will face powerful Mexican challenger Noami Arellano Reyes (9-1, 5KO) for the prestigious WBC Silver title in a 10-round showdown. Reyes has won her last five fights including four by knockout. In her last fight in November 2020, she beat former world champion Carina Moreno (25-6-0, 6KO) by decision. Clavel will return to a Quebec ring for the first time since November 2020. In her last outing she took the measure of Barbara Munoz in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

This event will also mark the return of world contender Mikael Zewski (34-2-0, 23KO), who led on points against Egidijus Kavaliauskas in Las Vegas in his last fight in September 2020 before making a mistake in the 8th round. The charismatic Trois-Rivières’ resident has only second defeat in 36 professional fights, and he intends to return to victory and relaunch his international career with an impressive showing in August. For this occasion, Mikael will make the jump to the 154-pound super welterweight division. His opponent will be 23-year-old Dilan “El Tremendo” Loza (15-4-1, 9KO), a tough, young brawler fighting out of Mexicali.

Sébastien Bouchard (19-2, 8KO) has been bothered by injuries in recent years and this will be the first time since 2018 that he will compete in two fights in the same year. In his last outing this past March, he stole the limelight at the Plaza Quebec hotel in Quebec City, fighting Ontario Mario Perez (20-7-5, 12KO) for a spectacular victory by decision. Based on his performance, the Quebecer has shown that he has recovered from his injuries, and he intends to make up for lost time. He will face veteran left-hander, former world contender, American Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (21-8-2, 9KO), fighting out of Los Angeles.

A total of nine fights will be scheduled involving several local hopefuls in action. The spectacular Marie-Pier Houle (3-0-1.1KO) versus. Jeanette Zapata (2-3-0, 0KO) of Mexico, skillful heavyweight Alexis Barrière (2-0, 2KO) against Angel Barron, of Mexico, and the talented Mazlum Akdeniz (13-0-0, 7KO) will have the opportunity to display their talent.

Petar Gavrilovic will make his pro debut. An intriguing matchup of two undefeated opponents, Diizon Belfon (2-0-0, 2KO) and Kevin Menoche (4-0, 4KO) trying to keep their unbeaten records intact. In the opening 4 rounder Samuel Lajoie-Dery will make his debut against MMA specialist Patrick Lafleur (1-3-1, 1KO).

This will be the sixth time that GYM has presented a boxing gala on the center court of the cozy tennis stadium and each time it was a resounding success. Former world champions Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, David Lemieux, and Bermane Stiverne all left their mark there between 2006 and 2010. On the unforgettable evening of June 8, 2007, when in the middle of the IBF super lightweight IBF title Eliminator between Quebecer Hermann Ngoudjo and American Randall Bailey, a deluge flooded the amphitheater, fuses blew and there was darkness for a few minutes, live on the American television channel ESPN2. This event eventually received the 2007 ESPN Boxing Event of the Year.

GYM has obtained authorization to put 5,000 tickets on sale for the occasion, available on ticketmaster.ca or at GYM (514) 383-0666. The prices are $35, $??50, $90 and $150 in the stands. At ringside there are 38 tables of six available for $2,500 which includes a great meal and wine served to guests. Tickets went on sale today at 12 noon / ET.

This event under the stars will also be available on pay-per-view on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and on Fite.TV for $ 49.99.

Kim Clavel, unbeaten in 13 professional fights has had an incredible journey since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. She was to be the main star of a series of events at the Casino de Montreal to bring her to a world title fight at the end of her fifth fight. This Series resulted in her professional boxing career leading to a whole new dimension. A week before her first fight, the COVID-19 pandemic completely upset her plans. Instead of complaining and doing nothing, she decided to take over her nursing career and put herself at the service of CHSLDs to help the elderly confined to their rooms, facing this pandemic that was sweeping all over the planet. It was with great self-sacrifice and courage that she set about the task for endless days due to the shortage of personnel and without much protection. The enemy being, at that time, fairly unknown in terms of the vaccine’s full impact.

Kim took on this fight quite naturally just wishing to make herself useful without realizing that her story would touch the planet and become a huge source of inspiration during these difficult times:

• First. in May 2020 the North American champion (NABF) received the “Hero of Humanity” award from the World Boxing Council at the same time as did the great international stars Manny Pacquiao and Juan-Carlos Ramirez for their social involvement.

• In June 2020, she received the “Pat Tillman Award” during the annual ESPY gala on ESPN, which commenced in 2014, for being a person with a strong connection to sport and who has served the population with the spirit of service, duty, and altruism. It was the first time that this honor had not been bestowed on an American.

• The following July, ESPN and US promoter Top Rank offered Clavel a fight live on US television against American Natalie Gonzalez, which the Quebecer won by unanimous decision.

• In November 2020 it was the prestigious Time Magazine which honored the champion as a “Top Ten Next Generation Leader for 2020”

• In December 2020, in her last fight she faced Barbra Munoz in Cuernavaca in Mexico where she won her 13th professional fight.

• In January 2021 the WBC, during its annual awards ceremony, awarded 2 important prizes to Kim; that of “Hope of the Year” and that of “The most inspiring athlete”

• Thanks to her new notoriety Kim Clavel was invited to participate in “Big Brother Celebrity” of Noovo where she finished in 3rd position after 13 weeks of reclusion.

Kim Clavel doesn’t shy away from flaunting her “Girl Power” beliefs as she has a deep belief in gender equity no matter what. GYM has always been extremely successful when presenting its events at the Jarry Park Stadium. This morning, Canada finds itself in 11th place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo thanks to 10 medals won, all by women, which demonstrates the major contribution of girls to the sporting success of our country on the international scene. We know that the people in Quebec promote and enact gender equity in all areas of our society. Coming to attend the professional boxing gala where the main star is a woman would be a confirmation of this direction.

We are convinced that Kim Clavel’s return to the ring should generate tremendous interest and will spark major popular excitement! on August 28 at the IGA Stadium, Kim Clavel returns with great pomp and circumstance to the ring, her first fight in Quebec since December 2019. It marks the return of international boxing in Canada as well as the relaunch of GYM activities. If she wins the WBC Silver title, she will become the mandatory contender for WBC champion Yasenia Gomez, whom she could face this year with a victory at IGA Stadium. A special event not to be missed!

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2020 ESPY Winner Kim Clavel Returns to the Boxing Ring July 21 LIVE on ESPN

(June 25, 2020) —Undefeated light flyweight boxer Kim Clavel, who won the 2020 Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPYs, is ready for her next fight.
 
Clavel took a hiatus from the ring in March to return to work as a nurse at elder care facilities in Montreal and will make her triumphant return in a scheduled eight-round fight Tuesday, July 21 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against an opponent to be named.
 
Clavel’s comeback bout will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (8 p.m. ET).
 
“I am grateful to Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), Top Rank, and ESPN for this opportunity, which allows me to make my United States debut on a major ESPN-televised card in Las Vegas,” Clavel said. “This is significant for my boxing career, and my training team and I are already counting down the days.”
 
“When Kim Clavel’s boxing career was paused due to the pandemic, she didn’t hesitate to go head-to-head against this new opponent,” said Yvon Michel, Clavel’s promoter. “It is with the same courage and enthusiasm that she will step into the ring on July 21 to pursue her goal of becoming world champion and continuing to inspire people. Thank you to Top Rank and ESPN for offering Kim this unique opportunity to showcase her world-class talent.”
 
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Clavel (11-0, 2 KOs) had established herself as one of female boxing’s rising stars. She won the NABF light flyweight title last December and was scheduled to headline her first show March 21 against former world champion Esmeralda Moreno.
 
Clavel put her boxing career on hold and returned to work on March 21. She worked night shifts and treated Montreal’s most vulnerable citizens. Clavel stayed in shape with a modified routine of jumping rope, running, and shadowboxing, preparing for her ring comeback while dealing with the mental and emotional toll of her day (and night) job.
 
Boxing resumed, opportunity knocked, and Clavel answered. Her world title quest continues July 21.




ESPN Presents the Pat Tillman Award for Service to Healthcare Worker and Boxing Champion Kim Clavel During The 2020 ESPYS on June 21 on ESPN

Beginning her career as a nurse, Kim Clavel left the profession to pursue her dream of boxing, but as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across North America, Clavel returned to nursing to look after the most vulnerable patients. For her dedication to serving others, Clavel will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service sponsored by MassMutual at The 2020 ESPYS presented by Capital One airing June 21, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

“It is an honor to receive the Pat Tillman Award on behalf of all the healthcare workers battling COVID-19 on the frontlines,” said Kim Clavel.  “Just as Pat put his NFL career on hold to serve his country, I felt the same duty to serve my community. Although recently I have pursued my dream of boxing, helping people is my passion and I’m proud to be able to make a difference.” 

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Hailing from Joliette, Quebec, Kim Clavel made her professional boxing debut on December 16, 2017. She took a year-long leave from nursing last August to focus on her emerging boxing career as a light flyweight. Clavel proved her passion for the sport, compiling a record of 11-0 with two knockouts and winning her first professional title via unanimous decision to become the North American Boxing Federation flyweight champion in December 2019 in Montreal. Scheduled to defend her title on March 21, 2020, Clavel’s match was cancelled as COVID-19 began escalating in North America. Instead of lacing up her boxing gloves, Clavel made the choice to return to her scrubs. Since then, Clavel has worked tirelessly as an overnight nurse at retirement and elderly care centers. She’s acutely aware that her patients are vulnerable not only to the virus, but to the isolation and loneliness it imposes. It’s exhausting, challenging work. But she knows she’s making a difference – a fighter-turned-caregiver, serving where she’s needed most. 

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“Choosing to return to the front lines of healthcare amid an unprecedented global pandemic, Kim personifies the spirit of service, duty and selflessness that Pat embodied,” said Marie Tillman, board chair and co-founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation. “In spite of the dangers from COVID and delays to her budding boxing career, Kim chose to focus her energy on those most in need. In Pat’s name, we are honored to present the Tillman Award to Kim for her service and leadership in her healthcare work and throughout this crisis.” 

The Pat Tillman Award for Service was established in 2014 to commemorate the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger’s legacy, and honoring an individual with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes Tillman’s legacy. Kim Clavel will be presented with the award during The 2020 ESPYS in conjunction with the Pat Tillman Foundation, a national leader in providing academic support and scholarships to veterans, active-duty service members and their spouses. Past honorees include U.S. Paralympic gold medal sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient Josh Sweeney (2014), and former Notre Dame basketball player, Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient Danielle Green (2015), U.S. Army Sgt. and Invictus Games gold medalist Elizabeth Marks (2016), and Purple Heart recipient and Invictus Games gold medalist Israel Del Toro (2017), Navy-Marine Commendation Medal recipient, Sergeant and founder of Team Rubicon Jake Wood (2018) and former Marine and founder of the Kristie Ennis Foundation, Kristie Ennis (2019).

The 2020 ESPYS will include the Sports Humanitarian Awards, sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, with several key awards including the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award presented by Anthem Foundation and the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award presented by Dove Men+Care, among others. 

The ESPYS helps to raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the charity founded by ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano at the first ESPYS back in 1993. ESPN has helped raise more than $116 million for the V Foundation over the past 27 years.

ABOUT THE PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION

In 2002, Pat Tillman proudly put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country. Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Pat’s death in April 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Created to honor Pat’s legacy of leadership and service, the Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. For more information on the Pat Tillman Foundation and the impact of the Tillman Scholars, visit www.PatTillmanFoundation.org.




KIM CLAVEL VS. ESMERALDA MORENO

MONTREAL (February 12, 2020) – Dooly’s Boxing Series, presented by Mise-O-Jeu, in association with Videotron, is back at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal in 2020 with five entertaining events on March 21, May 2, June 6, October 24 and December 12.

North American Boxing Federation (NABF) light flyweight champion Kim Clavel (11-0, 2 KOs) will be the main star of this series, and on March 21 she will make her Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) debut. Clavel will defend her title in the 10-round main event against her Mexican challenger, former world champion Esmeralda Moreno (35-12-2, 11 KOs).

Moreno is a two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight World champion, reigning from 2012-2013 and again in 2017. She is 3-4-1 in world championship fights and currently ranked at No. 2 according to the independent website BoxRec.com. The charismatic Clavel will face the toughest test of her pro career in her GYM debut.

“Kim Clavel and her team are tremendously ambitious and confident by accepting this challenge,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. “Moreno is part of the elite fighters in her division, holding WBC champion Yesenia Gomez to a draw and losing to a majority decision in a pair of 2018 clashes. After March 21, we will know where Kim rates among the brightest prospects in her division. “

A very well-known and popular figure at the Casino de Montréal, undefeated light heavyeight Terry Osias (9-0, 4 KOs) of Longueuil, will be in his 10th pro fight, all held at the Casino de Montréal, which is a unique phenomenon in Quebec. His opponent will be former Bolivia National Champion Javier Saucedo (7-3-1, 6 KOs) in an 8-round bout.

Welterweight Marie-Pier Houle (2-0-1, 1 KO) of Terrebonne, will be in her first career 6-round fight, against Mexican Claudia Rangel (2-2, 0 KOs). Marie-Pier fought a furious fight against Linda Dostalkova at the Videotron Centre in her last outing, which ended in a draw.

This Casino event will mark the start of an association with Ontario promoter Lee Baxter. For the entire 2020 series at the Casino de Montréal, GYM and Lee Baxter Promotions will be co-promoters of popular Montreal prospect Mazlum Akdeniz (11-0, 6 KOs). The light welterweight Quebecer will not be in unknown territory since he has already fought six fights on GYM cards. His opponent in the 8-round match is left-hander Lavisas Williams (9-1-1, 3 KOs) of from Rochester NY.

In other bouts, Ontario light heavyweight Kane Heron (16-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Alejandre Meneses (12-4, 6 KOs) in an 8-rounder. Light heavyweight Simon Pierre Adde (7-1, 3KO), a Frenchman who lives in Los Angeles, will meet undefeated Italian Stivven Dredhaj (5-0, 2 KOs) in a 6-round fight. In a pair of 4-round confrontation the Stéphane Larouche protégé, super lightweight Abed El-Safadi (3-0, 0 KOs) will tangle with Jakub Laskowski (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Poland, and a show opener for Diizon Belfon (2-0, 2 KOs) of LaSalle, an associate of the famed Grant brothers, who will try for another knockout against his Greek foe, Alexandros Kirsanidis (1-0, 1 KO).

All this action will take place in the warm and unique atmosphere of the prestigious Cabaret of the Casino de Montréal, where the proximity of the ring and the fighters provides a perspective and sensations that are found nowhere else. The fights will start at noon, so it’s a good opportunity to come have lunch with us, while watching spectacular and emotional fights on the first day of spring.

Tickets are available now on Ticketmaster.ca, 514-790-1245 / 1-855-790-1245 starting at $ 70.50 or directly at the Casino de Montréal box office. Season tickets or tables for the five events are available to a 10-percent discount by directly contacting Groupe Yvon Michel at 514.383.0666, extension 5.

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KIM CLAVEL JOINS THE RANKS OF GYM

MONTREAL (February 3, 2020) — Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) confirmed today the signing of North American Boxing Federation (NABF) light flyweight, Montreal’s own Kim Clavel, (11-0, 2 KOs), to an exclusive, long-term promotional contract, allowing her to soon be positioned as a world title challenge.

After completing an outstanding amateur career highlighted by seven Canadian championships and a gold medal in the Continental Championship, the Canadian National Team member made her pro debut in 2017. In her last fight, Clavel took the measure of her Mexican opponent, Esmeralda Gaona Sagahon, by way of a unanimous decision to capture her first title (NABF).

Clavel will soon return to the ring where she’ll headline the March 21st Dooly’s Boxing Series at Cabaret du Casino de Montréal. Moreover, this 2020 GYM Series will be particularly devoted to Clavel, who is guaranteed to participate in at least four of the five planned events.

“When we learned that Kim Clavel had become a free agent, we expressed our interest as she is among the most talented pugilists in Canada, whatever the genre,” GYM president Yvon Michel (pictured tyo left with Kim) said. “We are convinced that Kim has the talent and team required to reach the highest peaks, and above all to have a major impact on the popularity of boxing in Quebec, thanks to her dynamism, charisma and endearing personality.”

The 29-year-old undefeated boxer is convinced that she made the right choice: “After analyzing my options,” she commented, “I concluded that the promoter who best suited my needs and my values was GYM. I want to thank them for their confidence and for this agreement which will give me the opportunity to fight as a headliner.”

Clavel trains at the Boxe Montréal gymnasium inside the Claude Robillard Centre. Her head trainer is former world super bantamweight contender, the excellent and experienced Danielle Bouchard. Her team of assistant coaches is composed of Sara Kali and Nathalie Forget, while Stéphane Larouche, Pierre Bouchard, and Carl Handy provide support as advisers.

“I am extremely happy to start this new adventure with GYM and people I have known very well for most of my life. As a coach, I love planning and I am happy to see that Kim now has a career plan designed specifically for her in order to become world champion,” Bouchard added.

Clavel is from Joliette and has a diploma in health and nursing assistance, which she obtained in Montreal in 2014. She worked in Joliette until 2019, but took an unpaid leave from work to devote herself full-time to her boxing career. Her sponsors included Christin Chevrolet, Buick and GMC.
The Dooly’s Boxing Series, held at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal, which is a presentation of Mise-O-Jeu, in association with Videotron, is back in 2020 with five events on March 21, May 2, June 6, October 24 and December 12.

Tickets are available now on Ticketmaster.ca, 514-790-1245 / 1-855-790-1245 starting at $ 70.50 or directly at the Casino de Montréal box office. Season tickets or tables for the five events are available to a 10-percent discount by directly contacting Groupe Yvon Michel at 514.383.0666, extension 5.

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: @groupeyvonmichel
: @yvonmichelGYM