THE CANADIAN PRESS – Kim Clavel may not have had a world champion in front of her, Thursday at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal, but she offered a flawless performance to defeat Mexican Mayela Perez.
Clavel (20-2, 3 KOs) did not lose a round against Perez (20-28-4, 10 KOs). The mid-fly was favored by the three judges 100-90.
The former world champion demonstrated that she was by far the best boxer in this ring. The one who is at the top level of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and who is No. 2 in the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) served a boxing lesson to her opponent.
From the first rounds, Clavel’s combinations hit the target repeatedly. The Quebecer’s left seemed to trouble the Mexican from the beginning to the end of the fight, as did her jab.
Starting in the fifth, Clavel also landed several uppercuts. In fact, it would take less time to list the shots that didn’t hit the target.
In the sixth, Perez tried to open up the machine, throwing several combinations. However, they were all absorbed into Clavel’s custody.
Danielle Bouchard’s protégé immediately regained control of hostilities. She hit Perez powerfully in the head and body. Promoter Yvon Michel had indicated the day before that Perez knew how to box. It’s true, but we mostly saw her take it.
One thing is certain, in order to prove his place at 105 and 108 pounds, Clavel had to dominate his opponent. On this point, it is a success.
Mission accomplished for Houle
Back in the super-lightweight class – at least for this fight – Marie-Pier Houle (11-1-2, 3 KOs) had to work hard against the Frenchwoman Anyssa Benyoub (7-5), who she defeated in 10 hotly contested rounds.
Houle obtained the favor of the three judges 99-91 and twice 98-92 to sign a victory by unanimous decision.
True to form, Houle, No. 6 in the IBF at 140 pounds, started the fight strong, hitting Benyoub with several power combinations.
Towards the middle of the fight, particularly in the fifth, what may have seemed like a drop in speed was rather intentional, with Houle’s corner asking him to slow down the pace a notch.
Houle then gradually regained the upper hand, offering his best round of the evening in the seventh. She was then incisive, aggressive and her power blows hit the target more often than not.
Benyoub tried to come back into this fight in the later rounds. She hit the target solidly on a few occasions, notably cutting Houle on the left brow bone, but Houle’s footwork allowed her to escape when her opponent had more bite.
Houle, who is also ranked second in the WBO, third in the World Boxing Association (WBA), as well as 14th in the WBC at 147 pounds, is now waiting for a call for a world championship fight, possibly at this weight. She and her promoter Yvon Michel were cryptic during the weigh-in, but news should come from the Houle clan in the coming weeks.
Perrine and Stuve host the evening
As a curtain raiser, the light heavyweight from Mauritius established in Yamachiche Facson Perrine (1-0, 1 KO) made his professional debut against Alberta in Drew Stuve (1-1, 1 K. -O.). The two men delivered the performance of the evening and exchanged blows for blows, the defense of the two pugilists having to be perfected, to remain polite.
But it was Perrine who made the best shots, starting with the second. He finally sent his opponent to the canvas in the fourth round after a powerful right hook. Referee Érick Philippeaux signaled the end of hostilities at exactly 2:16.
Middleweight Loïck Lahaie (1-0), testing for three fights with GYM, passed his first test. In a rather close fight, Lahaie won his first professional fight by unanimous decision against Ruslan Barma (0-1). The three judges handed out cards of 40-36 in favor of the 22-year-old boxer from Sherbrooke.
Finally, the Ukrainian established in Montreal Kirill Bazhenov (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Alex Gagnon (0-2-1) at the end of the second round. Extremely rare, after having wiped a combination, Gagnon vomited in the ring, leading to the immediate stoppage of referee Philippeaux.
