By: Sean Crose
So now it’s official. Former titlists Caleb Plant and David Benavidez will sq. off in Las Vegas on the 25th of this March in the principle occasion of a Showtime pay per view card. Aside from the truth that this might be a beautiful combat for Showtime to broadcast on its flagship station as a substitute of pay per view, it is a very attention-grabbing matchup. First off, each fighters are fairly expert. What’s extra, the winner turns into a WBC obligatory for Canelo Alvarez’ tremendous middleweight crown. Lastly, the very fact Plant and Benavidez don’t appear to love one another a lot provides further pressure to the proceedings.
Plant was the IBF tremendous middleweight titlist till he was knocked out by Alvarez within the penultimate spherical of their grueling 2021 combat. It was the primary combat the person often called “Sweet Hands” had misplaced, however he got here again robust by turning out the lights in almost scary vogue on Anthony Dirrell within the ninth spherical of their match this previous October. Plant has longed to get a second shot at Canelo and, must be beat Benavidez, he could get his likelihood. The query, in fact, is can he beat Benavidez?
Like Plant, Benavidez is a former world titlist. Unlike the 22-1 Plant, the 26-0 Benavidez has by no means tasted defeat. He has, nevertheless, allowed his followers to style loads of disappointment by ending not one, however two world title reigns through a definite lack of self-discipline. In 2018, Benavidez misplaced his WBC title as a result of he was popped for having cocaine in his system. Then, after regaining the belt with a win over Dirrell the next 12 months, Benavidez went on to as soon as once more lose his title, this time resulting from lacking weight for his 2020 combat with Alexis Angulo.
Since that point, nevertheless, Benavidez has gone on to win three in a row, all inside the distance. In his final combat, which went down this previous May, Benavidez stopped David Lemieux in three, subsequently incomes himself the WBC interim tremendous middleweight title within the course of. Indeed, it may be stated that Benavidez is outlined by his energy, as he’s solely gone the space thrice in over twenty-five fights. Plant, nevertheless, confirmed how highly effective he will be when he blasted Dirrell final autumn. Throw in the truth that Plant has appreciable boxing capability and it’s comprehensible why boxing’s fanbase is intrigued with this matchup.
