By Ryan Burton

Being an underdog isn't anything new for Samuel Clarkson (19-3).

The tough as nails Texan is slated to face Dmitry Bivol (9-0) on April 14th for the interim WBA light heavyweight title. The fight will air live on Showtime's ShoBox series. Unbeaten welterweights Malik Hawkins (10-0) and Taras Shelestyuk (15-0) will also square off on the televised portion of the card.

He will also have a full training camp for the fight. That hasn't always been the case for Clarkson who said that everything has clicked so far in camp.

"We have already been in prep waiting for the fight, going on three weeks now. I feel wth this great type of training camp I can't be stopped," Clarkson explained.

The 26-year-old gave Cedric Agnew his first loss and also gave noted prospects Jerry Odom and Lavern Harvell their second career losses.

Clarkson feels that the key for him is preparation. If he is on top of his game he believes that no one can beat him.

"I feel like it is all on the fighter's mentality. I fell short three times but like I have said in previous interviews it was all because I didn't know how to separate my boxing life from my personal life," Clarkson told BoxingScene.com.

"I am older now and I go to a spiritual place when I get ready for a fight and I am getting there now. We pray and meditate before a fight and I feel like it doesn't matter who is being brought in to win and who is being brought in to lose - with the right preparation and coming in hungry -  anything can happen. I am going into the fight confident. I am not taking him lightly but I know my strengths as a fighter and I am hungry for the win."

Winning an interim title would be by far the biggest achievement of Clarkson's young career. He believed that the timing is perfect for him to become a world champion and he isn't intimidated by his opponent's unbeaten record or glossy amateur background.

"I fell short before but now for it to come back around, it is all on me. I'm either going to press on the gas or slam on the brakes. I don't even think my brakes work right now. I'm going full throttle. I am excited about the fight and I'm prepared for the battle. I'm ready to bleed  I'm ready for war. I'm ready to die on the 14th of April," Clarkson stated.

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