Within a few months, the Yvon Michel group lost its three champions: Marie-Ève Dicaire, Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. Despite everything, the famous promoter will say that “it’s not the end of the world”.
• Also read: Retirement for Marie-Ève Dicaire?
While Dicaire is on the verge of retirement and Rivas is on a forced hiatus with a perpetual eye injury, it’s Clavel’s latest spectacle that keeps Yvon Michel optimistic. A dinner between the Clavel clan and the promoter is also planned for this evening to agree on how to proceed.
“Kim put on quite a show and at the end of the day that’s what people watch,” said the promoter. You don’t have to be a world champion and have a world title defense to attract people. A crowd pleaser, Kim is a girl with the personality to last a long time. »
All in all, let’s not bury our heads in the sand. For Clavel (16-1, 3 KOs) as well as the newly promoted, the Quebecers’ loss in a unification match against Mexico’s Yesica Nery Plata last Friday means their dream of one day winning a very lucrative fight is fulfilled will be postponed. But as long as an athlete attracts crowds, it’s possible to stay afloat.
“Kim showed in the final that she is a girl, Michel consoles himself. World champion or not, I’m convinced that we can inspire many more people with her. There are also world champions who have never attracted anyone…”
Unimaginable scenario
They were 4126 people in Laval last Friday to encourage Clavel. A fight in which the Quebecer boxed with her heart.
“It exceeded our expectations, we wanted to reach 4,000 people and we exceeded the goal,” the organizer agreed. I never could have imagined that when I started with a women’s fight at 108 pounds. »
Even little Kim could not have dreamed of such a scenario when her first trainer Michel Morin fell in love with Joliette boxing a dozen years ago by showing her how to do a jab.
“It was still a wickedly beautiful evening,” agreed Clavel, despite the great disappointment after the loss. I was so surprised to see that every person who bought a ticket saw me fight. I felt there was great energy in the crowd. I heard my name being called, people are behind me. »
An intense fight
Yvon Michel went back to his old memories and rediscovered certain emotions that Jean Pascal made him experience almost 15 years ago in December 2008.
“Kim’s fight seemed unreal at times, it was so intense,” said Michel. It reminded me of the duel between Jean Pascal and Carl Froch in England. Every round you wonder how they manage to give so much.
“She’ll be able to come back and do some good shows,” the promoter said of Clavel. I’ve said from the start that if we lose, we have to find a way to bring them back and we will do that. After the course of the battle and especially the reaction of the population, why should this be the end? It’s not the case at all. »