By Jeff Aronow: Caleb Plant spoke his first words on Sunday after losing his IBF super middleweight title to Canelo Alvarez by an eleventh round knockout last Saturday night, and he’s vowing to come back from the loss to become a world champion again.
Plant fought well for four rounds, and then gassed out, and was dropped twice in the 11th round in the process of getting knocked out by Canelo at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
After gassing early, Plant fought well sporadically but was outgunned by Canelo’s heavier shots. Plant was punching like a welterweight against a powerful super middleweight, and it was never going to work for him.
Plant says: ‘I’ll be champion again”
The 28-year-old Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) says his performance against Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) showed he belongs at the top level.
Plant isn’t saying how soon he expects to become champion again or what weight class, as it’s improbable that he’ll because Canelo in a rematch or get an opportunity to fight him anytime soon.
Canelo holds all four belts at 168, so it’s reasonable to assume that Plant will need to wait until he vacates the straps before he can go after one of the vacated belts.
I’ve bent most the world to my will and done it with nothing but passion and skill. I’ll be back 💪🏻 I showed I belong on the top level and I’ll be champion of the world again. I’ve never been scared to go big or go out on my shield. Thank you to all the fans and all my supporters pic.twitter.com/bga3PaCnkI
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) November 8, 2021
As long Plant isn’t forced to fight a talented 168-pounder like David Benavidez, David Morrell Jr, or Carlos Gongora to get in position for a world title shot, he’ll eventually get another crack at one of the straps.
Caleb won’t be a champion soon
Again, it probably won’t be soon for Plant to fight for a title, and he might have to wait until 2024 if Canelo chooses to hold onto all four belts.
Predictably, Plant’s management will skillfully match him to avoid any risky fights for him to get a title shot in a year or two. As a result, you can expect Plant to face non-risky contenders to back his way into a title shot, which he’ll probably lose if it’s Canelo or Benavidez.
The boxing public won’t be interested in seeing a rematch between Canelo and Plant unless Caleb does something impressive to catch their eye by earning a second fight.
For Plant to do that, he would need to beat talented contenders like Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs), which would be unbelievable.
Plant’s management didn’t put him in with quality fighters to get him into a position to fight for the IBF 168-lb title in 2019.
They matched Plant carefully against sub-level opposition to get into a spot to fight for a world title, and it’s predictable how they’ll match him to get another title shot.
Chris Byrd: Plant didn’t stay focused
“I thought Caleb Plant was doing good. He was maintaining his jab and using his feet, but you got to stay focused for 12 rounds,” said Chris Byrd to Boxing Social on Plant’s loss to Canelo Alvarez. “I fought at heavyweight and was undersized.
“Stay focused for 12 rounds. Once you lose focus, you’re fighting a great champion in Alvarez, and look what happened. He [Plant] was doing the job, and the thing about it, he was kind of frustrating Canelo.
“It wasn’t as easy as he thought. When he won, everyone was so excited. I know he made history, but it was a great match-up. Canelo finished the show with his power and his smarts. He started coming forward, and he knew what he was doing.
“He [Plant] came to fight, and he did much better than I thought. It’s a 12 round fight, and he’s NOT a knockout artist. So stay focused and don’t lay in there, and thinking this stuff is easy now. No, you never do that, especially against Canelo Alvarez, and that’s crazy.
“Great match-ups,” said Byrd when asked about what happens when Canelo fights Jermall Charlo and David Benavidez. “You got Benavidez; he’s the naturally bigger guy.
“You got to remember, Canelo is really a 154-pounder. So now you’re going against a 168-pounder. I know he [Canelo] beat guys that were bigger, but Benavidez is coming straight at you, and he’s throwing punches at you for 12 rounds.
“I don’t think so,” said Byrd when asked if Benavidez is too inexperienced to fight Canelo. “If you’re a world champion, you’re never green.”