By Allan Fox: IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant is looking in fighting shape training and waiting for his opportunity to fight again. Working out on the heavy bag, the unbeaten Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) is showing off the form that has made him one of the top fighters in the 168-lb division today.
If Plant, 27, can stay in shape like this all throughout the shutdown in boxing, he’ll be ready to go when the action starts up again in the future. The fighters that will get the immediate fights when action restarts in the sport are guys that are in top shape like Plant.
Plant coming off win over Feigenbutz
Fresh off his 10th round knockout victory over Vincent Feigenbutz on February 15 in Nashville, Tennesse, Plant was criticized by some boxing fans for him not volunteering to jump straight back into training camp to prepare for a fight against Canelo Alvarez on May 2. Canelo isn’t even fighting on that date, and yet Plant has taken heat from people.
Plant took some heavy shots from the German fighter Feigenbutz, but he was able to wear him down and beat him in a war.
IBF World Champion pic.twitter.com/j21I98atOj
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) March 28, 2020
Plant wants to take on WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez. The champions have been talking back and forth on social media for months now, and it’s time that they fight. Fans want to see it, and it’ll help the sport by reducing the amount of champions at 168.
These are the current world champions at super middleweight:
- Caleb Plant – IBF
- Canelo Alvarez – WBA ‘regular’
- Callum Smith – WBA Super World
- David Benavidez – WBC
- Billy Joe Saunders – WBO
Canelo’s decision to fight Rocky Fielding for his WBA title rather than the other champions like Plant has been criticized. Fans view Canelo’s decision to fight the weakest link among the 168-lb champions in Fields as a calculated move. Plant would have been a great choice for Canelo if he were willing to test himself against one of the best in the division.
Plant not getting help
Caleb isn’t going to get any help from fighters like Canelo or Gennadiy Golovkin to help him increase his popularity. For Plant to become a big name in boxing, he’s going to need to blaze his own trail by beating the best possible opponents each time out. Although Plant was criticized for his last fight against Feigenbutz, he had no choice in the matter. Feigenbutz was Plant’s mandatory challenger, and he couldn’t avoid the fight even if he wanted to.
For Plant’s next fight, he needs to take on one of these guys:
- Caleb Truax
- Daniel Jacobs
- Jurgen Brahmer
- Zack Parker
Ideally, a unification match between Plant, Callum, Benavidez or Saunders would be perfect. Getting those fights could prove easier said than done, however. The promoters for some of those fighters would be reluctant to match their fighters against a crafty champion like Plant, and they’re going to resist making that fight. It doesn’t matter that Plant is a world champion. His style is too difficult.
