By: Sean Crose
The WBA and WBC junior flyweight titles took place Friday night in Quebec. Kim Clavel 16-0 is betting her WBC title while Jessica Nery Plata 28-2 is betting her WBA title. The match, broadcast live on ESPN+, was scheduled for ten two-minute innings. It didn’t get much attention before, but the match ended up being pretty intense.
Clavel had a strong first round, using an effective jab and getting her opponent tied before the round was over. The second round was close and exciting, with each boxer tagging the opponent. Clavel is fighting in her native Canada, but it’s clear that the fight won’t be a walk in the park for her. Plata excelled in his punches in the third round. Things were still going strong in the fourth round, which was also an extremely close round that saw each boxer throw and land well.
Plata’s nimble hands seemed to tell the story through a good part of season five, but Clavel could have won thanks to some excellent punches. With that in mind, Clavel ended the round with a face covered in blood. Clavel maintained good distance in the sixth round, landing neatly while trying to stay away from Plata’s punches. However, it was Plata’s punches that came out to tell the story in the seventh inning.
Clavel was able to use effective footwork in the eighth round, but Plata’s cleaner punches may have given her the lead. However, the battle was close enough to be difficult to name. Ninth proved to be explosive. Each boxer goes all out, throwing and landing with strength and determination. The tenth and final rounds were also explosive and very close – although Plata hit the Clavel hard after the final ring.
The referees finally gave the match score to Plata.
