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Yet another title unification bout lands on the boxing calendar.
Kim Clavel and Jessica Nery are set to collide in a WBC/WBA junior flyweight unification bout set for December 1 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada. The bout comes on the heels both winning their belts earlier this year, eager to make an immediate impact rather than milk their respective title reigns.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a local pugilist arouse so many passions,” GYM president Yvon Michel said of Clavel, whom he has promoted for her entire career. “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.”
Clavel (16-0, 3KOs) enjoys a quick turnaround, having just won her first major title earlier this summer. The 31-year-old Montreal native dethroned long-reigning WBC titlist Yesenia Gomez in a lopsided unanimous decision win on July 31 at Montreal Casino, after which he went the traditional post-fight route of wanting to unify the division.
The difference is that she actually put something behind those words, with the fighting taking place at the very venue where she turned pro nearly five years ago.
“Since my conquest of the WBC world title, I have received thousands of extraordinary testimonies that touch me enormously,” noted Clavel, a 2020 ESPY winner for courage exhibited on the frontline as a nurse during the height of Covid. “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!”
Of course, all unification bouts come with peer cooperation.
Nery (28-2, 3KOs) hits the road for her second straight title fight. The 28-year-old Mexico City native came up big in a ten-round split decision win over Argentina’s Yesica Bopp to claim the WBA junior flyweight title on a March 11 all-female card in Panama City, Panama. The fight marked the first outside of Mexico for Nery, who embraces the role of road warrior.
“I won my WBA title by dethroning champion Yesica Bopp in Panama so I’m not afraid to go to Canada for this major fight in my career,” said Nery, who has won her last seven starts. “This unification is what I have wanted 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.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox