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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

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 12^th 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 [email protected]. 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. 7^th 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.