ShoBox: The New Generation Quick Pick

Dmitry Bivol vs. Samuel Clarkson: Tonight Showtime will air another edition of their prospect heavy ShoBox: The New Generation series.  That card will be headlined by a 12-round bout in the light heavyweight division between Dmitry Bivol (9-0, 7 KO) and Samuel Clarkson (19-3, 12 KO).  On the line will be Bivol's WBA interim light heavyweight title, which is really meaningless except for the two men in the ring.  The light heavyweight division is filled with talented fighters, especially near the top, and the Eastern European Bivol will look to add his name to the mix of other exciting punchers who hail from that part of the world.  Bivol may not have many notable opponents on his resume but he does have a perfect record and a high knockout percentage.  Bivol fights out of the orthodox stance and will throw two different jabs, one he looks to score with and one that is just used as a measuring stick for his straight right hand.  The straight right of Bivol is a very heavy punch and he is accurate with it as well.  Although Bivol will mix in left hooks to his attack the punch his opponents need to worry about is that straight right because it does the much damage and is the punch he favors.  Bivol is still inexperienced as a professional and he will need to make some adjustments going forward but against lesser opponents he has looked good.  Clarkson has more professional experience than Bivol and has faced some notable, although lower level opponents.  His best win came over Cedric Agnew but he also has a few bad losses.  His loss to Jesse Hart is understandable but he also has losses against fighters with records of 2-0 and 11-4-1.  Since his last loss, in 2014, Clarkson has gone 9-0 with six knockouts.  Clarkson could have trouble against the heavy hitting Bivol though because he has been knocked out once and dropped multiple times.  Clarkson is a southpaw with decent power but he isn't very refined in his skills.  On defense he often puts on the earmuffs and lets his opponent get off a number of punches before moving.  Clarkson doesn't use his right hook much and instead relies on his left hand to do most of his damage, especially on the inside.  He isn't a very busy puncher though and that combined with his lack of defensive skills will add up to a ninth round stoppage win for Bivol.