Friday, April 14 Ndụ na showtime
From The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland
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 Ọgbọ na Friday, April 14 na-na OGE IHE NKIRI(10 p.m. NA/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 pound, who is now determined to make his mark in one of boxing’s toughest weight classes. Clarkson (19-3, 12 Kos), nke Cedar Hill, Texas, has won his last nine fights in a row and will make his third appearance onShoBox.
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.
Ajụjụ: N'ozuzu, 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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. Ihe ọ bụla nwere ike ime. 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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. Oge nke a, probably a little bit more so, but the most important thing is to get the win.”
Ajụjụ: 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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.”
Ajụjụ: 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.”
Tiketi maka ihe omume, nke a na-akwalite Greg nchụàjà n'ọkwá na Pụrụ Iche n'ọkwá na mkpakọrịta na Ụwa nke Boxing na Uprising Promotions, na-ọnụ na $103, $73 na $48 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com ma ọ bụ site na ekwentị na 800-745-3000.
Barry Tompkins ga na-akpọ ShoBox edinam si ringside na Steve Farhood na mbụ n'ụwa onye mmeri Raul Marquezeje ozi dị ka ọkachamara nnyocha. Executive emeputa bụ Gordon Ụlọ Nzukọ na Ọgaranya Gaughan amị na Rick PhillipsIduzi.
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Banyere ShoBox: The New Ọgbọ
Ebe ọ bụ na ya Uru na July 2001, na oké acclaimed showtime ọkpọ usoro, ShoBox: The New Ọgbọ ka na-apụta na-eto eto talent adịkwa siri ike. The ShoBox nkà ihe ọmụma bụ televise na-akpali akpali, ìgwè mmadụ-atọ na mpi ọkụ mgbe inye a na-egosi ala njikere atụmanya kpebisiri ike na-alụ ọgụ maka ụwa aha. Ụfọdụ na-eto eto ndepụta nke 68 alụso ndị pụtara na ShoBox na elu na-garner ụwa utu aha na-agụnye: 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 na ndị ọzọ.