Kim Clavel made it look too easy in her first major title fight.

The local hero and 2020 ESPY winner for courage well beyond her chosen sport can now add WBC junior flyweight champion to her growing list of credentials. Clavel offered a boxing clinic in effortlessly dethroning long reigning titlist Yesenia Gomez, claiming a lopsided ten-round, unanimous decision Friday evening at Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.

Judges Marie-Josee Guerin (100-90), Alejandro Rochin (99-91) and Michael A. Ross (99-91) all ruled in favor of Clavel. The undefeated 31-year-old Montreal native was previously best known for her efforts on the medical front line during the pandemic but can now proudly boast the claim as one of the sport’s best rising talents.

Clavel was the better boxer of the two—at least on paper—but elected to stand and trade in the opening round. The risk reaped its rewards, as Cancun’s Gomez—fighting outside of Mexico for the first time in her eleven-year pro career—landed clean right hands and body shots early before Clavel quickly found her groove. The unbeaten challenger was landing in combination, stunning Gomez with a left hook and a right hand during separate exchanges.

The second round was fought at Clavel’s desired pace, making Gomez miss and then making her pay while always remaining directly in punching range. Gomez, 26, had minor success with her straight right but was often short with her jab as Clavel’s infighting skills were on point.

More of the same came in round three. Clavel constantly beat Gomez to the punch while getting caught with little in return. A left hook by Clavel in the final twenty seconds punctuated a dominant two-minute display of clean boxing.

Clavel worked Gomez’s midsection early and often in round four. The challenger was already out of harm’s way by the time Gomez attempted to respond, before quickly working her way back inside behind her jab. Gomez managed a right hand to the body, countered by a double left hook upstairs.  

Gomez was unable to capitalize as Clavel offered a less offensive-minded approach in the fifth round. The defending champion tried to close the gap but couldn’t land anything of conviction. Clavel’s punch output decreased but was able to block virtually every punch attempted by Gomez.

The mid-round tactic to briefly take her foot off the gas proved to be a sound tactic for Clavel, who came out red hot to start the second half of the fight. Clavel continued to punch in combination while Gomez was often reduced to one punch at a time. Gomez let her hands go in the final ten seconds but came up short with nearly every punch.

Clavel offered lateral movement to start the seventh frame. Gomez was flustered, often catching air although managing just enough right hands over the course of the fight to cause bruising around Clavel’s left eye.

Gomez stood directly in front of Clavel at the start of round eight, paying the price as she was clipped by a left hook and right hand along with two body shots. Clavel used her shoulder to position the champ for a follow up right hand, rightly drawing a warning from top-shelf referee Michael Griffin.

The tenth and final round drew a rise out of the crowd, all chanting ‘Let’s go, Kim’ as Clavel didn’t leave anything to chance. The fight was well out of reach by that point but she wanted to make sure that Gomez wasn’t given any chance of miraculously turning things around.

It resulted in an emphatic ending to the near four-year title reign enjoyed by Yesenia Gomez, who falls to 19-6-3 (6KOs). Gomez claimed the belt in September 2018, having lodged four successful defenses.

Clavel improves—in every sense of the word—to 16-0 (3KOs). She managed a knockout win in a time-marking bout this past March after going the distance in eight straight fights prior to that point. Clavel has barely lost rounds over the course of her four-plus year career, claiming hardware as the action continues to heat up in the lower weight divisions.

The bout streamed live on Probellum’s website in select regions (though not the U.S.) and on its YouTube channel.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox