BoxRec

NEW YORK (April 11, 2017) - Undefeated former Russian amateur standout Dmitry Bivol will defend his Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Title against Samuel Clarkson in the 12-round main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, April 14 live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

Known for his aggressive style, the 26-year-old Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs, 2-0 WSB) was a decorated amateur and former Russian National Champion at 178 pounds, who is now determined to make his mark in one of boxing's toughest weight classes. Clarkson (19-3, 12 KOs), of Cedar Hill, Texas, has won his last nine fights in a row and will make his third appearance on ShoBox.

Bivol is managed by Los Angeles-based Vadim Konilov and trained by Gennady Mashianov. He has recently ended his sparring sessions at both Wild Card Gym and Wild Card West in Southern California where he has been training in the same camp with fellow countryman and 2010 European super heavyweight amateur gold medalist Sergey Kuzmin.

Here's a quick question and answer session through an interpreter after visiting with Bivol at the apartment where he has been residing for the past five weeks in the heart of Hollywood.

Question: Overall, how would you assess how your training camp went?

Bivol: "I think that training camp went very good. One of the reasons I decided to come to Southern California to train was that there are so many different sparring partners here. We had a very spirited camp and I consider myself ready for the fight."

Question: What kind of fight do you expect from such a strong opponent as Samuel Clarkson?

Bivol: "I'm expecting for him to get in the ring and push himself and come forward. I know he'll come out aggressive and try to put the pressure on me. We'll see."

Question: You are young and have only nine pro fights, but are already fighting to defend an interim world title. Are you happy with the way your pro career has started?

Bivol: "To be honest, I don't really ever think about the belt and the interim title. For me the main WBA belt is the most important one and I want to stay at the top of the rankings to get it. As far as my career going too fast, I don't believe so. I think I have more than enough experience in the amateurs and that I've aligned myself with the best trainer and sparring partners out there. So I'm happy where my career is at right now. I don't think it's progressing too fast."

Question: There are some that are picking this fight as 50/50? Why do you think they are predicting this fight can go either way?"

Bivol: "This is boxing and I think there are a lot of fights that are 50/50. Anything can happen. You never know; upsets can happen at any time. For me this is step-up fight. Not only because of how good my opponent is, but also because of what it means to me. Winning this fight will open the door to many opportunities."

Question: How important is it to put on a good show and put on an exciting performance fighting in your first main event on SHOWTIME?

Bivol: "Sure everything is amped up a little bit more because it's on SHOWTIME. But every time I step into the ring I want to put on a good show for the fans. This time, probably a little bit more so, but the most important thing is to get the win."

Question: Is there one weaknesses you have worked on during this training camp?

Bivol: "I don't think there are any weaknesses, so it's been like any other training camp. I can't talk about what I've been preparing for from my opponent. You will have to wait and see it in the ring."

Question: What do you think about training in Southern California?

Bivol: "I love everything about it. The best thing though is the weather. In my hometown city in Russia, St. Petersburg, we don't have weather like this. I like the atmosphere here and the people and where we train. I just like it all."

Question: You have a large collection of amateur medals. Where are they displayed?

Bivol: "I keep them all in one place in my parents' home. We don't think we deserve them all. It is something they are very proud of."

Question: What do you think about the other top Russian boxers like Ruslan Provodnikov and Sergey Kovalev?

Bivol: "I respect them all. There are some that are very famous in Russia, but also very famous here. And I see that. They are really good fighters and I'm ready to be at that same level, if not even at a higher level. I'm not in this sport just to stay in shape, I'm here to show and prove that I can be the best in the world."

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Banner Promotions in association with World of Boxing and Uprising Promotions, are priced at $103, $73 and $48 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, and @GCPBoxing or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing/ and www.facebook.com/BannerPromotions/.

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 68 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

All aboard

Boy was he ever ready for Clarkson. He kicked his ass thoroughly.

Light heavyweight is the best division in boxing right now, with Bivol, Beterbiev, Barrera, Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Stevenson, Alvarez, Smith Jr, Cleverly, Fonfara, Salamov, etc.

There are many excellent matchups that could be made.

Freedom2013 wrote:Light heavyweight is the best division in boxing right now, with Bivol, Beterbiev, Barrera, Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Stevenson, Alvarez, Smith Jr, Cleverly, Fonfara, Salamov, etc.

There are many excellent matchups that could be made.

I think it is too early to put Bivol in the same list as Kovalev, Beterbiev, Stevenson, Ward and Gvozdyk. The same happened with Mekhontsev, and then there was a disappointment.

boxing_rocks wrote:I think it is too early to put Bivol in the same list as Kovalev, Beterbiev, Stevenson, Ward and Gvozdyk. The same happened with Mekhontsev, and then there was a disappointment.

Mekhontsev's career has been ruined by his despicable promoter, who kept him from getting meaningful fights and making enough money to live on.

Mekhonstsev never looked as good to me as Bivol does, and there were already warning signs for him at a low level.

I agree that Bivol shouldnt be included among the top tier yet though

Freedom2013 wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:I think it is too early to put Bivol in the same list as Kovalev, Beterbiev, Stevenson, Ward and Gvozdyk. The same happened with Mekhontsev, and then there was a disappointment.

Mekhontsev's career has been ruined by his despicable promoter, who kept him from getting meaningful fights and making enough money to live on.

... and if he got those fights, he would likely have been beaten.

Freedom2013 wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:I think it is too early to put Bivol in the same list as Kovalev, Beterbiev, Stevenson, Ward and Gvozdyk. The same happened with Mekhontsev, and then there was a disappointment.

Mekhontsev's career has been ruined by his despicable promoter, who kept him from getting meaningful fights and making enough money to live on.

What's happening with Mekhonstev currently?

mattienelsen12 wrote:What's happening with Mekhonstev currently?

Nothing. Top Rank is ruining him with inactivity, as they have done to so many others.

Freedom2013 wrote:

mattienelsen12 wrote:What's happening with Mekhonstev currently?

Nothing. Top Rank is ruining him with inactivity, as they have done to so many others.

Like Lomachenko ?

Man Clarkson was supposed to be a step up but Bivol walked straight through him.

Maybe Bivol vs. Chilemba next? He needs someone durable and defensively sound to give him rounds.

boxing_rocks wrote:

Freedom2013 wrote:

mattienelsen12 wrote:What's happening with Mekhonstev currently?

Nothing. Top Rank is ruining him with inactivity, as they have done to so many others.

Like Lomachenko ?

Loma wants to fight at least 3 times a year, but Arum only lets him fight twice. He's getting into better fights during the past year, but he was fighting twice a year against meaningless opponents between Russell and Martinez.

jujigatame wrote:Man Clarkson was supposed to be a step up but Bivol walked straight through him.

Maybe Bivol vs. Chilemba next? He needs someone durable and defensively sound to give him rounds.

Chilemba would be okay, but I'd like to see him tested against somebody who isn't on a losing streak, like Boesel or Browne. Cleverly would be the perfect opponent, Bivol's his mandatory anyway.

Freedom2013 wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:

Freedom2013 wrote:Nothing. Top Rank is ruining him with inactivity, as they have done to so many others.

Like Lomachenko ?

Loma wants to fight at least 3 times a year, but Arum only lets him fight twice. He's getting into better fights during the past year, but he was fighting twice a year against meaningless opponents between Russell and Martinez.

So, meaningful opponents were dying to fight Lomachenko, and Arum was the obstacle? Get real.

boxing_rocks wrote:So, meaningful opponents were dying to fight Lomachenko, and Arum was the obstacle? Get real.

Arum's stinginess has been an obstacle. Most boxers are willing to fight anybody, providing they are well-paid. Ask Walters why he didn't fight Loma sooner.

And most of Arum's up-and-comers have to get a regular job, they don't make enough to live on, even when they become ranked contenders. Then they go into a decline (Zewski, Mekhontsev, Korobov). Ponomarev hasn't fought this year, and when he fought last year he was very poorly paid.

Even Mayweather never made really good money until he broke away from the old miser.

Haymon takes care of his boxers, Arum does not.

Freedom2013 wrote:Light heavyweight is the best division in boxing right now, with Bivol, Beterbiev, Barrera, Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Stevenson, Alvarez, Smith Jr, Cleverly, Fonfara, Salamov, etc.

There are many excellent matchups that could be made.

I thought it was too, but then I looked at the lineup. I don't think it is. Really, only outstanding fighters are Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Beterbiev, Ward, Bivol, and Jack. The rest aren't upper-tier fighters.

Superflyweight: Gonzalez, Estrada, Cuadras, Carmona, Inoue, Rungvisai, Yafai, Casimiero, and Anacajas

All these guys are top talent too.