IBF and WBO titles elude Kim Clavel

By Vincent Morin

Kim Clavel (17-2, 3 KOs) came close to becoming unified world champion of the IBF and WBO light flyweight titles (108 lbs) on Saturday at Place Bell in Laval. Unfortunately, the former WBC holder escaped a controversial split decision against champion Evelin Nazarena Bermudez (19-1-1, 6KO).

At the end of 10 rounds of action, the judges handed out cards of 98-92 Clavel (Bill Lerch), 96-94 Bermudez (Benoit Roussel) and 96-94 Bermudez (Frank Lombardi).

According to the specialist site Boxrec , the fans accumulated a score of 97-93 in favor of Clavel. The decision in favor of the Argentine boxer was also not unanimous on social networks.

In the semi-final of the evening, Longueuillois Mazlum Akdeniz (19-0, 8 KO) won by unanimous decision in 10 rounds over Sébastien Bouchard (20-3-1, 9KO) of Baie-Saint-Paul in order to get your hands on the WBC International welterweight title (147 lbs).

At the end of an emotional local fight during which the two boxers multiplied blows to the limit of legality, including headbutts and strikes below the belt, the judges handed out cards of 98-90, 98-90 and 97-91 in favor of Akdeniz. Note that the two gladiators saw the referee deduct a point from them (Akdeniz in the ^4th round, Bouchard in the ^9th round) during this hostile face-to-face.

Marie-Pier Houle (9-1-1, 2 KO) was in her first outing since her setback in the WBO welterweight world championship (147 lbs) played on April 22, in Wales, against the 'English Sandy Ryan.

At the same time, it was also her first duel in a new weight category, at 140 lbs, against the tough Mexican Cindy Reyes Espinoza (4-2, 0 KO). The fighter from Terrebonne had to roll up her sleeves to overcome her rival by majority decision (76-76, 77-75 and 77-75) in eight attacks.

Tokyo Games Olympian Caroline Veyre (6-0, 0 KO) maintained her perfect record thanks to a unanimous decision victory (80-72, 79-73 and 79-73) in eight engagements against the tenacious Italian Jessica “Bulldozer” Bellusci (4-1, 2 KO). Danielle Larouche's protégé was much more precise and efficient, but had to deal with the pugnacious and physical style of a rival in impeccable physical condition.

To raise the curtain, Derek Pomerleau (6-0, 4 KO) from Mercier amazed the gallery with a stunning knockout in the third round over the Czech Michal Chludil (3-2-2, 2 KO). The latter had, however, drawn with the Canadian amateur champion Jan Michael Poulin during his last performance at the Montreal Casino, on April 20. However, he was never in the fight against the left-hander nicknamed “Slick”, who delivered the final punch with a perfect uppercut on the counter-attack.

In the amateur section presented before the professional card, note the victories by decision of Arturo Gatti Jr from Montreal over Terry Digaletos from Granby and Alessia Mansueto from Montreal over Melina Laplante from Rivière-du-Loup.