Interim WBA Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (10-0, 8 KOs) blasted challenger Samuel Clarkson (19-4, 12 KOs) in the fourth round to retain his title in the main event of the ShoBox: The New Generation’s broadcast in front of 2,159 people at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Bivol’s power proved too much for Clarkson from the onset, as Clarkson collapsed to the canvas from a body shot within the first 30 seconds of the bout.
Clarkson rose to his feet but was dropped again, after another blistering combination from Bivol. After some skillful clenching, Clarkson survived the round.
The second round saw Clarkson start aggressive, fending off the hard-punching interim champ, though his face was red from the exchanges.
Clarkson began taunting Bivol after landing some clean punches, but it was obvious that Bivol’s punches were still troubling him. Bivol was the aggressor in the third, landing hard punches to the head and body of a game, but wounded Clarkson.
40 seconds into the fourth round, Bivol hit Clarkson with a hard combination that caused him to crash into the ropes.
Clarkson once again got up from the canvas, but referee Harvey Dock decided that he’d had enough.
After a stunning display of power, Bivol successfully retained his Interim WBA Light Heavyweight strap by technical knockout.
“I’m very happy that I won by knockout,” said Bivol (through his translator and manager, Vadim Kornilov).
“It seems everybody is happy and satisfied so I’m hoping everyone got what they wanted to see.”
All photos by Amanda Westcott/Showtime
