By Dan Ambrose: David Benavidez says he’s going to break Caleb Plant down on Saturday night just like Canelo Alvarez did in their clash in 2021. Benavidez feels that Plant showed weakness against Canelo when he asked him during the fight, ‘What do you think of my skills?’
Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) has been training for months for this fight, and he appears to have taken off muscle as well as fat by being a little excessive in his preparation for his long-awaited match against former IBF 168-lb champion Plant (22-1, 13 KOs).
We’ll find out on Saturday night if Benavidez’s extra hard work will pay off or work against him when he battles Plant in their headliner on Showtime PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Benavidez will defend his interim WBC super middleweight title against Plant. The winner of the Benavidez-Plant fight could potentially face undisputed 168-lb champion Canelo Alvarez, but this writer has serious doubts that Benavidez will get the opportunity if his hand is raised.
Canelo has been swerving Benavidez for years, which will not likely stop if he’s victorious over Plant. If anything, a win for Benavidez over Plant will work against him, making it even less likely Canelo will fight him.
With a net worth estimated at $200 million, Canelo has no incentive to want to fight Benavidez and risk losing his perch at the top of the super middleweight division against the younger, stronger, larger, and faster fighter.
Plant warns Benavidez
“I’m feeling good, energy is great, and I’m ready to rock & roll,” said Caleb Plant to Fighthype. “I don’t pay any attention to that. I’m focused on what I need to do on Saturday. I just can’t wait for the bell to ring,” Plant said when told that Benavidez said that he’s to be there to be hit on Saturday, given that he’s sitting down on his punches more.
“Breadman has come in and brought a lot of new things and reiterated things my dad has wanted for a long time. I’m settling in with myself as well with all the experience that I’ve gained with these big fights that I’ve been in, and I’m just coming into my own. He’s going to have to be on his p’s & q’s,” Plant said about Benavidez.
“I’m highly motivated for this fight, and this fight means a lot to me. This fight has been brewing for quite some team. Our team has agreed to disagree on who is better, but on Saturday night, we can figure it out.
“It’s great to be a part of a big event. This isn’t my first time being a part of a big fight. I’m just excited to be back in front of you guys and doing what I love,” said Plant
“I’m hoping we get a face-off. It’s not like I’m going to throw all my hard work away and do something stupid,'” said Benavidez to Fighthype. “I’m not going to do nothing stupid to jeopardize this fight. I worked too hard, and we’re here at the finish line.
“The hard work is done. Like I say, the training camp is the hard part, and we’re going to have fun on Saturday night.
Benavidez: “I’m going to break him down”
“That’s a sign of weakness. Just like he broke down in that fight, I’m going to break him down too,” said Benavidez when asked about his thoughts on Plant asking Canelo during their fight, ‘How do you like my skills?'”
“I just worked hard, as you can see. I didn’t leave any stone unturned. I worked extremely hard. I got my miles in, and I got my conditioning. I got my abs in and my sparking rounds in. I worked extremely hard for this fight. Now it’s time to show out on Saturday.
“As long as I stop him, that’s what satisfies me. He’s a tough fighter and moves around a lot. It’s my job to face whatever adversity he throws my way, but I’m still going to go for the knockout. I know I’m going to be able to hurt him.
“I know that once I get going and I put my hands on the dude, I know he’s not going to be able to take my power. It makes me feel good. I give my life and everything for these fight fans. That’s why I have such a high KO percentage.
“The fans like to see knockouts and stoppages. I’m not going to stop here. I’ve worked the hardest I have in my life, and this is the most important I’ve ever had in my life. So it’s time to give the fans what they want to see.
“Like I’ve said, I’ve hurt everyone I’ve been in the ring with. Caleb Plant is no different. I’m going to break his a** down. It’s me congratulating myself for keeping my word to myself.
“I knew that when this moment came, I was going to work my a** off for pay-per-view to get to be here, and I deserve to be here more than anybody. I wasn’t given no handouts. I started off as a chubby kid, and I’ve had to work harder to get to where I am today.
“Nobody expected me to be here, just like lot of people doubted me, saying I’m not going to win this fight. I’m here to prove everybody wrong.
“I just want to keep being the fighter that fans want to see, and keep giving them the performances that they want to see. Keep being a role model for the kids. The kids are like me. There’s a lot of kids around the world that a lot of people call fat, and say they’re never going to do nothing.
“Like I say, I want to be a role model for them and show that you can do whatever you set your mind to. I’m very excited and very happy. Like I say, we’ve worked my a** off to get to this moment.
“Now, it’s about keeping my world to myself. This is definitely a dream come true, seeing all of you guys with the cameras here, being at the MGM. Now that I know I can get here, the sky’s the limit. I’m going to keep working hard.
“The moment of respect is when you go in the ring and touch glove for the first time. If you don’t want to touch gloves, I really don’t care, but that’s the most respect I’ll give him.
“The respect is me preparing for him. I worked extremely hard,” said Benavidez about Plant.
