There is no doubt that Caleb Plant will have the most challenging match of his boxing career this year, and that is facing Canelo Álvarez.
The IBF super middleweight champion of the world returned to the squared circle after 11 months against Caleb Truax in January, and won the fight via unanimous decision which marked his third title defense in a row.
On the other hand, Canelo Álvarez defended his WBC and WBA (Super) belts against Avni Yıldırım in a one sided affair last weekend at the Hard Rock Stadium.
The Mexican maestro has also been scheduled to face WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders for a unification bout in May, which will be followed by a faceoff against Plant somewhere in September, marking the undisputed title fight at 168.
Caleb Plant wants to have two fights in a year
The ladder to becoming the undisputed champion is Canelo’s aim and he needs to have two more victories to achieve his goal. But interestingly, Caleb Plant himself can rise to the throne if he can trounce the number one pound for pound boxer in the ring.
The fight will be his toughest, and the American is ready to take a temporary leave from the sport to prepare himself for Canelo. While most fighters aren’t comfortable with the idea of being inactive, Plant revealed in an interview with Fighthype that he is ready to have a break of seven months before his second fight of 2021.
“I’m letting it rest. That’s the reason. Letting it rest and making sure it’s properly rested and fully healed,” Plant said, “at this level, I fight twice a year. Fighting in January and fighting in September, that would be twice.”
“That’s exactly what I’m used to, and what most fighters are used to at this level, fighting twice a year. It’s not like it’s an issue or out of character,” the 28-year-old added.
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Caleb Plant hits back at Canelo over ‘falling asleep’ comments
Regarding Caleb Plant’s bout against Caleb Truax, Canelo Álvarez said in an interview in February that he fell asleep while watching the fight.
Weeks after his comment, “Sweethands” provides his response and says Canelo himself should not fall asleep when September comes.
“I feel like I’m a well-rounded fighter, and I can do a lot of different things,” the pugilist asserted, “in September when that bell rings, I feel I can show you more than I can tell you.“
“He better not fall asleep come September, I know that,” added Plant.
