Dmitry Bivol to headline April 14th ShoBox show against Samuel Clarkson

Interim WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol is staying busy.

After smashing New Zealand’s Robert Berridge in February, Bivol is set to return to the ring on April 14th in the main event of an Oxon Hill, Maryland ShoBox card. In his way stands Samuel Clarkson, ranked #33 in the division by BoxRec, who has Bivol at #25.

Bivol (9-0, 7 KO) snapped a two-fight decision streak by smashing Berridge in four rounds. Though he still has some defensive lapses, he’s one of the division’s best young prospects at the age of 26.

Clarkson (19-3, 12 KO) is 12-1 since dropping a split decision in 2013, losing only to Jesse Hart in that span while picking up a 2015 win over Cedric Agnew. Also 26, he figures to be a decent if not terribly dangerous foe for Bivol, who at this pace should be challenging the top 10 by the middle of next year.

The only other set fight on the card pits Juan Ruiz (18-0, 11 KO) against Malik Hawkins (10-0, 7 KO) at welterweight. Ruiz, who at 30 has probably overstayed the “El Niño” nickname, will have a considerable experience edge over the 21-year-old Hawkins, who has faced just two men with winning records.