When Canelo Alvarez announced his departure from Golden Boy Promotions, it sent a bat signal to the super middleweight division.
Past promoter-to-promoter rivalries melted and suddenly the Canelo brand became Switzerland, boxing‘s most aggressive diplomacy ever.
IBF Champion Caleb Plant takes on former champ Caleb Truax this weekend! WHO YA GOT? 😤⬇️ #PlantTruax
RT for Plant | LIKE for Truax pic.twitter.com/Rmqg3VSAMi
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) January 27, 2021
Now that the sport’s biggest draw is willing to work with everyone, undefeated IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant is in an enviable position.
Plant faces former world champion Caleb “Golden” Truax in a world title showdown headliner for FOX PBC Fight Night on Saturday, January 30 from Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
Scalping season ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/TpYBNdKKBd
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) January 28, 2021
“I’m fully focused on January 30 and when that bell rings so I can do what I do best,” said Plant on the media conference call. “I’m not looking past him, but I am looking through him.
“I’m looking to end this fight early. I don’t see it going 12 rounds, so whether they throw in the white towel, I throw in the white towel for him or the ref steps in to do his job, I’m looking for a stoppage. This ends with me getting my hand raised in spectacular fashion.”
Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) has scored back-to-back stoppage victories on FOX in his two title defenses. The 28 year-old then beat undefeated Mike Lee in July 2019 and Germany’s Vincent Feigenbutz, both via TKO, in a homecoming event last February in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jan30th https://t.co/SbuTEPm3ZZ
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) January 25, 2021
Now living and training in Las Vegas, Plant captured the title in a 2019 victory over Jose Uzcategui. Plant was the underdog coming into the Uzcategui fight, but two early knockdowns earned him the unanimous decision.
Plant dedicated his championship victory to the memory of his late daughter Alia, who suffered from a rare disorder that caused seizures.
OUTTA POSITION!?🤨 #jan30th pic.twitter.com/ljoaxVNEh9
— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) January 24, 2021
“Me against Jose Uzcategui, they had me the underdog and they had it wrong. So I don’t pay attention to numbers, betting odds—that’s not how I became a world champion and how I’m going to stay world champion.
“My job is to go in there fully focused on the task at hand. I could care less what the odds say, I know what I need to go in there and do because betting odds don’t win or lose fights.”
.@SweetHandsPlant with the PSA 🗣 : "I'm gonna embarass him. I'm gonna punish him. I'm gonna stop him. Wait and see." #PlantTruax #TeamPlant
🔗: https://t.co/YU0jzQpfkN pic.twitter.com/jYcuhgngHi
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) January 27, 2021
Canelo Alvarez defends his WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine World Super-Middleweight titles against Avni Yidirim on Saturday February 27 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
A win sets up either current WBO super middleweight champion Billy Jose Saunders or Plant for a unification bout, if successful over Truax.
Jab City. 🥊😏🔥@SweetHandsPlant #PlantTruax #PBConFOX pic.twitter.com/b2YPYGHseQ
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) January 26, 2021
“I feel like there are unification fights to be made and I feel like they will happen. But as of now, January 30 has my full attention. After that, we’ll have a better understanding of how the cards will fall in the super middleweight division and we’ll be ready to make our next move.
“I think people tend to forget I only have 20 fights. So within 21 fights to not only win a world title from a champion but then have another former world champion under my belt, I feel like I’m off to a great start in my career and I think there are big things ahead.”
