David Benavidez-Caleb Plant Confirmed For March

In November, David Benavidez and Caleb Plant announced via social media that they had signed for a high-stakes super middleweight showdown. On Wednesday, the fight was officially announced.

Benavidez will defend the WBC interim 168-pound belt against former IBF titleholder Plant in the main event of a PBC card on Showtime PPV on March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Super Middleweight stars @Benavidez300 & @SweetHandsPlant clash March 25th on @Showtime PPV. #BenavidezPlant 🎟️ presale tomorrow at 10AM PT: https://t.co/U7kh4mAWXe pic.twitter.com/kZcqcIr3VR

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 25, 2023

The winner will be one of the mandatory challengers for undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, who knocked out Plant in the 11th round to unify all four belts in November 2021. It also will settle the feud between Benavidez and Plant, who profess to dislike each other and have gone at each other verbally and on social media for the past few years.

“Sometimes in this business, to sell a fight, people say it’s bad blood,” said Sampson Lewkowicz, Benavidez’s promoter. “For this one, I give my personal guarantee it is real bad blood, and it will be an unbelievable fight.”

Potential For Fireworks

The fight also figures to be a mesh of styles between the aggressive, stalking, big-hitting Benavidez and the boxer-puncher Plant.

“David Benavidez versus Caleb Plant will see two fighters in the prime of their careers take on the biggest challenge they can as they look to leave no doubt about their legacy in the ring,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions, the promoter of the event. “While Benavidez is known for his power, and Plant for his supreme boxing acumen, both have shown their abilities as well-rounded fighters in recent action.”

Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs), 26, of Phoenix, a two-time WBC titleholder, won the vacant interim belt by one-sided third-round knockout of former middleweight titlist David Lemieux last May but has not fought since.

“I can’t wait until they put me in the ring with (Plant) so I can beat his ass,” Benavidez said. “This is going to be a great night for boxing fans. I can’t wait to step in there and give everyone the beatdown they’re coming to see.”

Plant (22-1, 13 KOs), 30, of Las Vegas, defended the IBF title three times before the loss to Alvarez. Plant returned from the loss 11 months later and scored a spectacular ninth-round knockout of former titlist Anthony Dirrell, drilling him with a clean left hook on the chin in October in Brooklyn, New York, in the Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius co-feature.

“After I knocked out Dirrell, I made it clear I wanted to go after the biggest fight that could be made in the division,” Plant said. “This is one of the most anticipated matchups and I’m here again, showing the world why I’m one of the biggest attractions in boxing. I feel sharp and on point. I’m looking forward to March 25, not only to give the fans what they’ve been waiting for, but to show who the better man is.”