After pausing her boxing career to work as a nurse in a Montreal care home from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising light-flyweight Kim Clavel will return to the ring on July 21 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
An opponent will be confirmed shortly in this latest Top Rank promotion at ‘The Bubble’.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Clavel (11-0, 2 KOs) had established herself as one of female boxing’s emerging stars. She won the NABF light-flyweight title last December and was scheduled to headline her first show March 21 against former world champion Esmeralda Moreno.
Yet Clavel put her boxing career on hold and returned to work as a nurse on March 21. She worked nightshifts and treated Montreal’s most vulnerable citizens. Clavel stayed in shape with a modified routine of jumping rope, running, and shadowboxing, preparing for her ring comeback while dealing with the mental and emotional toll of her day (and night) job.
“When Kim Clavel’s boxing career was paused due to the pandemic, she didn’t hesitate to go head-to-head against this new opponent,” said Yvon Michel, Clavel’s promoter. “It is with the same courage and enthusiasm that she will step into the ring on July 21 to pursue her goal of becoming world champion and continuing to inspire people. Thank you to Top Rank and ESPN for offering Kim this unique opportunity to showcase her world-class talent.”
Clavel added: “I am grateful to Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), Top Rank, and ESPN for this opportunity, which allows me to make my United States debut on a major ESPN-televised card in Las Vegas. This is significant for my boxing career, and my training team and I are already counting down the days.”
The bout will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (8 p.m. ET) in the US.