Caleb Plant-David Benavidez Agree To Fight Each Other Next
After a time period of prominent fights not being able to be made, former super middleweight world champs Caleb Plant and David Benavidez both confirmed Thursday afternoon that they have agreed to meet in the first part of 2023.
Benavidez, the former WBC 168 lb. champ, posted on Instagram that the two were in agreement to meet in a compelling non-title showdown,
“It’s official benavidez vs plant ! You Can’t hide from me anymore Ill see u soon 😈. @calebplant,” the post read and even had a sleek computerized artwork logo of the two throwing punches at each other to accompany his words.
Benavidez, 26-0, 23 KOs, was last in the ring in May when he fought in front of his home area fans in Glendale, AZ and scored an emphatic third round TKO win over veteran David Lemieux.
Benavidez has derailed himself before
The win gave the 25 year old Benavidez the WBC interim super middleweight title back. Benavidez has held the interim and world title twice before, having lost it out side of the ring twice, as well. He previously tested positive for cocaine, while training to fight Anthony Dirrell, which cancelled their bout. And, Benavidez was then stripped by the WBC in 2018.
Next, coming off the shutdown of the sport due to Covid 19 in 2020, Benavidez came in significantly overweight for his title defense against Roamer Angulo in August of that year. Again, the WBC took the belt away, even though he later won by KO over Angulo.
Undisputed 168 lb. champ Canelo Alvarez collected the vacant belt by beating Avni Yildirim in February of 2021.
Plant Rebounded From First Loss In Big Way
As for Plant, 22-1, 13 KOs, he comes off a one punch KO in the ninth round of Dirrell last month at the Barclays Center on the undercard of Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius. While the fight was far from artistic, the ending left hook left Dirrell semi-conscious on his side for over 30 seconds, as the referee didn’t bother to count.
Plant held the IBF super middleweight title for over two years until Canelo beat him in an undisputed battle by TKO in November of 2021.
Plant also confirmed on social media that the upcoming Benavidez bout had been signed,
I went and MADE it happen. Contract signed. See you next year 😤 #RevengeTour pic.twitter.com/JAOkd9Kh9k
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) November 3, 2022
“I went and MADE it happen. Contract signed. See you next year 😤 #RevengeTour,” Plant said in the post.
It is believed that the Plant-Benavidez bout would headline a PBC/Showtime PPV that could happen in March or April.
A veteran broadcaster of over 25 years, T.J. has been a fight fan longer than that! He’s the host of the “Big Fight Weekend” podcast and will go “toe to toe” with anyone who thinks that Marvin Hagler beat Sugar Ray Leonard or that Tyson, Lennox Lewis or Deontay Wilder could have beaten Ali!
