It’s the dream I had as a child: Jessica Nery 

On Friday, Jessica Nery defeated the Canadian via unanimous decision to defend the WBA title and win the WBC title. Willing to give Kim Clavel a rematch, the WBC and WBA 108-pound champion wants all four belts in her possession.

“It’s the dream I had as a child,” said the Mexican after dethroning Clavel. “Yes, I would like to have all the belts, to be the best.”

In March, Evelin Bermúdez and Tania Enríquez could face each other for the vacant WBO and IBF titles, and fighting for the undisputed title with the winner would be the objective.

But before that, there could be a rematch, something that she is willing to negotiate, since there was no rematch clause in the contract.

“There was none, it would be negotiation,” she said. “Of course she would (she would give her the rematch), just as she gave us the opportunity.”

Since 2012 the light flyweight title has been in Mexico with champions such as Esmeralda Moreno, Ibeth Zamora and Yesenia Gómez, but Jessica Nery never received the opportunity. And if Clavel gave it to her, she wants to reciprocate.

“I had commented on it, the championship had been in Mexico and they had never given me the opportunity,” she reiterated. “And it’s something that I’m grateful to Kim for .”

From the fight with Clavel, she recognized that it was not difficult to go to his opponent’s house, since practically in all his fights he has had to fight like that.

“It was not difficult at all, I have always gone to everyone’s house,” she said. “I have never been a favourite, in Canada I felt good and very well received.”

From the key to the fight, she assured that the speed of her fists and connecting power shots was something they worked on.

“It was what was worked on,” Nery made clear. “We knew about Kim , the speed of her, but we knew we had to land power shots to nullify her.”

Her father and coach, Óscar Plata , confirmed it, and that is why Jessica arrived at the weigh-in at less than 105 pounds, as it was part of the plan.

“I planned it, I lost a lot of weight so that it would be faster and harder”, concluded the trainer. “She gave up just over 104 pounds, on straw, for her to hit harder and faster and we worked hard.”

The world female junior flyweight title unification bout was scheduled for December 1st, but days before the fight Clavel had the flu and the fight could not be carried out and was postponed to 13th January, which is knocking at the door.

Given the more breathing room ahead of the clash, Nery stated that it doubled her motivation as the WBA champ aims to clinch the WBC belt held by her Canadian adversary this Friday night at the Place Bell in Laval, Quebec.

“As I said, these are things that can happen to me as well as to her,” Nery told local media. “If she was already motivated, now I come twice as much.”

Given the outbreak of Covid in some countries of the world, the only thing that the Mexican asks for before the fight is that they take great care of themselves.

“I want to tell Kim that I hope there are no setbacks,” she went on, “that she takes great care so that on Friday we offer a great fight.”

And she does it all with the sole objective of making her first title defense and adding another title to her career.

“I am happy and grateful for the opportunity,” Nery went on, “I continue with the motivation to 1000, that goal does not change, we come with everything to take the championship to Mexico.”

Accompanied by her father and coach, Óscar Alejandro Plata, the Mexican boxer knows that no one will let go of the title in her first defense, which is why she expects an intense duel from the beginning.

“I expect a super strong fight,” she added. “Both she and I are not going to let the championship go the first time, so it is a fight that cannot be lost.”

Alejandro, meanwhile, said that his daughter’s preparation was to the maximum, as she waits for the best Kim Clavel.

“I want Clavel to be very tough,” commented her father, “To make it a great fight and all Canadians are happy.”

Kim Clavel, who was accompanied by her trainer Danielle Bouchard, also took advantage of the more than five weeks of postponement to improve.

“It gave us even more time to prepare,” Clavel stated, “It’s like if you had a math test on March 2 and the teacher gave it to you again in April: you have even more time to study.”

Bouchard seconded the boxer’s words and said that this allowed them to work on Kim’s strengths, such as power and preparation, and she is ready.

Kim Clavel and Jessica Nery will clash for the unified WBC-WBA championship

The fight, which will crown the new unified WBC and WBA Female Light Flyweight champion, will be heading to Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada on the 1st of December. Both fighters have already racked up a win each this year.

Clavel, who maintains an undefeated professional career, won the green and gold belt back on 29th July courtesy of a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Mexico’s Yesenia Gómez in Montreal.

A 2020 ESPY winner for courage in working as a frontline nurse during the COVID surge, Claven has also held WBC Silver and WBC-NABF titles in the past and has no plans to disappoint her opponents against Nery.

“Since my conquest of the WBC world title, I have received thousands of extraordinary testimonies that touch me enormously,” said Clavel after the announcement of the fight, “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!”

Having won the WBA belt in her last outing against Light Flyweight legend Yesica Bopp via 10-round split decision victory back on 11th March in Panama, the Claven fight marks Nery’s second straight title fight. Currently on a seven fight win streak, the 28-year-old Mexican feels the unification fight has arrived at the peak of her career.

“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,” Nery asserted, “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,” Nery added.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a local pugilist arouse so many passions,” said GYM president Yvon Michel, the promoter of Clavel. “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.” [H/T Boxingscene.com]