Kim Clavel takes IBF minimumweight title from Sol Cudos

The Theatre St-Denis in Montreal carried a charged energy on September 27, 2025, as Canada’s Kim Clavel fought in front of her home supporters in pursuit of a second divisional crown. Across the ring stood Argentina’s Sol Cudos, making the first defence of the IBF minimumweight belt she had captured earlier in the year. The matchup paired Clavel’s experience as a former WBC light flyweight champion against the undefeated but less proven Cudos, who was stepping onto one of the sport’s larger stages.

Clavel began fast, using her superior hand speed and jab to dictate the early rounds. Her quick one-twos and combinations forced Cudos onto the defensive, with the Argentinian trying to counter when opportunities arose. Cudos had brief success with a counter uppercut in the second, but she struggled to consistently disrupt Clavel’s rhythm. The Canadian pressed forward with volume punching, mixing straight rights and hooks that gave her control of both the pace and positioning. While Cudos landed the occasional reply, the cleaner and more frequent scoring blows came from Clavel.

The middle rounds showed the pattern becoming entrenched. Clavel outworked her opponent in round five with sharp jabs and combinations that snapped Cudos’ head back. Cudos looked to slow things with body shots and lateral movement, but she could not sustain enough offence to bank rounds. Round seven offered a glimpse of her potential when she pushed forward with a short rally, but Clavel’s counter rights and disciplined distance management soon reasserted control. A brief clash of heads in the eighth momentarily interrupted the action, yet once they resumed, it was Clavel who again took command, piling up punches while Cudos’ counters became less frequent.

As the fight moved into the final two rounds, Clavel’s lead appeared unassailable. She stayed busy behind the jab, refusing to let Cudos settle into any rhythm. Cudos attempted to press inside and force exchanges, but Clavel’s accuracy and sharper timing blunted those efforts. In the tenth round, they traded in close quarters, but Clavel’s cleaner and more effective punches ensured she closed the fight strongly. By the final bell, the sense inside the arena was that the local fighter had done more than enough to seize the title.

The scorecards confirmed that impression, coming in wide at 99-91, 99-91, and 98-92, all for Clavel. With the unanimous decision, she became the new IBF minimumweight champion, improving her professional record to 22 wins against 2 defeats, with 3 knockouts. For Cudos, the loss marked the first of her career, dropping her record to 10-1-2 with 3 stoppage victories. The result not only crowned Clavel as a two-division world champion but also highlighted the gulf in experience and ring craft between the pair.

The victory carries weight for both the immediate and longer-term picture. Clavel reaffirmed her standing among the sport’s leading figures in the lighter divisions, showing the blend of speed, activity, and composure that had brought her success previously. Aiming now at unification, she has options against the other titleholders at 105 pounds. For Cudos, the night offered a harsh lesson on the step up in class at the world level. Despite her determination, she found the veteran’s accuracy and output too much to handle. Her path will likely involve rebuilding with regional contests before earning another shot at championship honours.