Caleb Plant vs. Anthony Dirrell | FOX PPV - October 15, 2022

[Ruthless-RKO]

Caleb Plant-Anthony Dirrell Super Middleweight Clash In Play

David Benavidez and his team now claim there is no path to a fight with Caleb Plant in September.

They are not wrong about that, though not for the suggested reasons.

Boxing Scene has learned that a deal has been reached between Plant and Anthony Dirrell in what would be a matchup of former super middleweight titlists. A target date has not yet been established for the fight, which would be the first for both boxers since separate appearances on the same Showtime Pay-Per-View event last November 6 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The development was learned by BS.com upon looking into the claim from Jose Benavidez Sr., David's father and trainer who posted Sunday evening that a fight with Plant was no longer in play.

"Team Benavidez has reached out to Team Plant and unfortunately, Caleb Plant has declined to fight David Benavidez September 2022,” claimed the elder Benavidez. “David is willing to make the best fights happen for the fans, but unfortunately the fighters who the fans want to see, do not want to fight @benavidez300.

“We will continue to prepare hard for his upcoming fight on May 21st against David Lemieux Interim WBC World Super Middleweight Title.”

Plant's only response to the news was to offer a "cap" emoji in a tweet Sunday evening, suggesting that the other side was telling a lie.

The only real discussion regarding the suggested fight came with initial interest expressed by both fighters to the point of trash talking one another through social media. Talks never evolved beyond loose discussion, since Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) already had a targeted path for next steps in the careers of both fighters.

Plant (21-1, 12KOs) has not fought since his IBF super middleweight title reign came to an end, suffering an eleventh-round knockout to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in their historic undisputed super middleweight championship clash last November. The fight marked the first career defeat for Plant, a 29-year-old Ashland City, Tennessee native now based out of Las Vegas who held the IBF title since January 2019 when he outpointed Jose Uzcategui in Los Angeles.

Dirrell (34-2-2, 25KOs) enjoyed a far better night at the office on the PPV undercard, scoring a sixth-round knockout of Marcos Hernandez. The win was his first since outpointing Avni Yildirim in February 2019 to enter his second WBC super middleweight title reign. The 37-year-old Flint, Michigan native lost the belt in his first defense, suffering a ninth-round stoppage to Benavidez (25-0, 22KOs) in September 2019 as part of a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View event from Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles.

The fight was the last for Dirrell before the pandemic, returning last February in a twelve-round draw with Kyrone Davis atop a PBC on Fox show from Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

There has been past talk of a fight between Plant and Dirrell, who share history though not to the degree of disdain between Plant and Benavidez. Such a fight would make more sense as a first step back for Plant, rather than waiting out the fight that Benavidez already has scheduled but has hardly discussed.

Benavidez will enjoy a second straight hometown appearance, as the former two-time super middleweight titlist will next face David Lemieux. The vacant interim WBC super middleweight title will be at stake for the May 21 Showtime headliner, which will air live from Footprint Center in Benavidez’s hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. Benavidez headlined the venue in his last fight, a seventh-round stoppage of Davis last November.

Boxing Scene understands that the plan from there is to match the winners of Benavidez-Lemieux and Plant-Dirrell in a fight later this year. Such a fight will come as Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) has tied up the super middleweight titles, with plans to move up for a challenge of WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11KOs) on May 7 and—with a win—a trilogy match with Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin (41-1-1, 36KOs) on September 17.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Beni's brother is claiming Plant doesn't want to fight David in September..

[Enlightened-One]

Beni's brother is claiming Plant doesn't want to fight David in September..

The PBC recently failed to get Canelo to sign a two-fight $100m deal for the Mexican to face Jermall Charlo and David Benavidez.

Unfortunately for the PBC, Canelo chose to sign two-fight deal with DAZN instead, which includes an optional third bout.

Canelo will be facing Dmitry Bivol in May, Gennadiy Golovkin in September and will very likely end his deal with DAZN, by fighting Illunga Makabu in December.

Team Benavidez may be tempted to make the Caleb Plant fight right now, but I’m not so sure that this would be in the best interests of the PBC, because if David loses, it removes one of their fighters from contention to become a future Canelo opponent.

And there’s no reason for Canelo to face Caleb Plant again if the American somehow upsets David Benavidez.

To be fair, Caleb Plant deserves a confidence building fight, to help him recover from the Canelo stoppage defeat.

[Bandog]

Weak, pathetic move by Plant. Taking on a 37 yr old Benevidez KO victim that hasn't looked good recently.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Weak, pathetic move by Plant. Taking on a 37 yr old Benevidez KO victim that hasn't looked good recently.

It's not the worst fight considering he is coming off a KO loss to Canelo.

As EO said, confidence building. Shame it will be a year since he last fought though.

[Bandog]

Weak, pathetic move by Plant. Taking on a 37 yr old Benevidez KO victim that hasn't looked good recently.

It's not the worst fight considering he is coming off a KO loss to Canelo.

As EO said, confidence building. Shame it will be a year since he last fought though.

I get it. It's fine if you're a Plant fan. If EO wasn't a fan, we'd have to see another duck thread, multiple times.
After all the trash talking, calling Benevidez a fat boy that can't fuk with him? Using the excuse DB has a fight signed is poor. Alot of time between May and September. Why engage in trash talking if you have no intention to fight? Confidence building?

[gilgamesh]

Mark this down as a Caleb Plant win that I won't give a shit to watch.

[Enlightened-One]

Why engage in trash talking if you have no intention to fight? Confidence building?

A world title bout between two fighters that won their most recent outing is easier to sell (as a PPV event) than a free-to-air calibre non-title fight between an unproven hyped boxer facing a rival that was comfortably beaten and KO’d in their previous contest.

The PBC wants any bout between Plant and Benavidez to "marinate", which has the added benefit of keeping Benavidez on the a safe path to retain his chance to engage in a PPV bout against Canelo during 2023.

[Bandog]

Why engage in trash talking if you have no intention to fight? Confidence building?

A world title bout between two fighters that won their most recent outing is easier to sell (as a PPV event) than a free-to-air calibre non-title fight between an unproven hyped boxer facing a rival that was comfortably beaten and KO’d in their previous contest.

The PBC wants any bout between Plant and Benavidez to "marinate", which has the added benefit of keeping Benavidez on the a safe path to retain his chance to engage in a PPV bout against Canelo during 2023.

STFU man. You can't spin this as positive, for anyone. Plant has never had any intentions, or never will fight Benevidez. All of that is fine, just keep his mouth shut.

[margaret thatcher]

benavidez hasnt fought sh!t, so all his talk is just hot air too

actions speak louder than words. evidently some posters respect talking more than actually fighting good opposition. they are gullible dudes

[maverick23]

This is a poor fight. I’d be less annoyed by it if they had it in February or March and then a big fight after it but that’s not the case and it’s a pretty poor quality headline fight if that’s what they’re looking to do.

[Bandog]

benavidez hasnt fought sh!t, so all his talk is just hot air too

actions speak louder than words. evidently some posters respect talking more than actually fighting good opposition. they are gullible dudes

You can't fault boxers to want to fight the best at their weight. Hard to build a resume when the best at your weight won't fight. Of course you know that, hopefully, unless you are just trolling as usual.

[margaret thatcher]

benavidez hasnt fought sh!t, so all his talk is just hot air too

actions speak louder than words. evidently some posters respect talking more than actually fighting good opposition. they are gullible dudes

You can't fault boxers to want to fight the best at their weight. Hard to build a resume when the best at your weight won't fight. Of course you know that, hopefully, unless you are just trolling as usual.

talk is cheap, anyone can say they want this or that, then fight utter garbage their whole career

[Ruthless-RKO]

Benavidez on Plant: We Wanted Verbal Agreement To Fight in Fall; This Fat Boy Would Beat His Ass

David Benavidez does not understand why Caleb Plant would not commit to fighting him later this year.

Earlier this month, Benavidez’s father generated some commotion when he announced that he reached out to Plant’s team about fighting his son in the fall. A few days later, Benavidez Sr. said that Plant had “declined” the proposal. As Boxing Scene's Jake Donovan previously reported, a Benavidez-Plant fight was never seriously in the cards, as both fighters had separate bouts lined up.

Benavidez himself is slated to take on veteran middleweight contender David Lemieux at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Benavidez’s backyard. The Las Vegas-based Plant had already been in talks to face longtime 168-pound contender Anthony Dirrell.

Benavidez, 25, seemed to suggest in a recent interview that all his team wanted was a “verbal agreement” from Plant.

“There could’ve been a verbal agreement,” Benavidez told Fight Stars TV. I have my [current] fight signed already with David Lemieux. But if he was it and I’m with it, we can have a verbal agreement to have the fight happen after our fights. That’s no problem. We could’ve made that fight happen in September or December.

“If he doesn’t want to fight and he’s saying all that s---, he’s basically saying he doesn’t want to fight.”

Plant, 29, had responded to a hypothetical match-up between him and Benavidez with the words, “Fatboy can’t f--- with me," which seemed to trigger Benavidez Sr.'s explicit call for a fight.

Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) added that the WBC sanctioning body “would’ve loved” to make that fight an eliminator, which, in his view, gives Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) even less of an excuse

“The WBC would’ve loved to have made the fight a WBC interim title [bout], but why is that fight not made?” Benavidez said. “It’s not made because Caleb Plant didn’t want to fight. You think the WBC wouldn’t have loved to have made that fight? That would be a great situation for the WBC. Now he’s going out there – I heard he’s in talks with Anthony Dirrell? He just talks all that sh-t for no reason. But deep down inside I know he’s scared.”

While both fighters may not meet in the ring anytime soon (i.e. this year), a fight should be relatively easy to consummate, as they fight under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. According to Benavidez, they even have the same point person.

“We go through the same people,” Benavidez said. “We go through Luis DeCubas [Jr.]. He handles me and he handles Caleb Plant. So it’s not that hard to make the fight happen. And it’s not only me. It’s with all these guys.”

Benavidez simply wants Plant to put up – or shut up.

"This fat boy would beat his ass," Benavidez said. "He can say whatever he wants. That’s the thing about Caleb Plant. He runs his goddamn mouth all day. And he does little effort to make these fights happen.

"I’ll put his ass in the hospital," he added.

[Enlightened-One]

David Benavidez needs to focus on keeping his own house in order.

And what I mean by this, is instead of telling the media he's trying to make unrealistic bouts against opponents that tasted defeat in their most recent outing, basically using their names to promote himself, he should be focussed on improving his own resume.

He needs to prove that he’s every bit as good as the hype, prove he’s no longer undisciplined, prove that he’s not going to make another reckless mistake to sabotage his own career… and also earn the right to engage in a marquee bout.

As far as I can tell, he hasn’t done that yet. He talks to the media a lot, but as the old saying goes… “talk is cheap.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Not a done deal yet.

“[The Dirrell fight is] not a done deal yet, but as I said, we’re looking to get the biggest name possible,” said Plant. “Coming off a loss, I might not be able to get the biggest fight out there right off the bat.

“I want somebody that is going to push me, and the fans can enjoy, and somebody that this going to give me even more momentum stepping back into the biggest fight I can get after that.

“I understand that I’ve got to work my way back. That just comes with the territory, but that’s something I want to do … Just continuing to work on my craft and getting better, and I’m going to be back soon.”

“I’ve been letting something heal up, and that’s why I haven’t been back yet,” said Plant. “I want to get back to my winning ways, and then let the world know why I’ve had to take a little more time off. Until then, I want to keep it under wraps.”

“I feel like I got a lot of momentum coming off the Canelo fight, even though things didn’t go my way. We were disappointed in that, but I felt like I showed the world that I’m right there at the world-class level. It’s not like I went out there and embarrassed myself and got beat up and hadn’t won a round.

“It was disappointing because I didn’t come to do good. I came to win. I showed and proved to myself that I’m not scared of anybody. I’m not scared to go out on my shield. I just got clipped late in the fight, and anybody can get clipped. Roy Jones has been clipped, Muhammad Ali has been clipped, and Roberto Duran got clipped.

“It’s not like I got clipped by some bum or somebody that nobody knows. It’s by somebody that’s probably going to go down as an all-time great.

“I know I’m right there at that level and my team knows I’m right there at that level. I just got caught with a good shot, and I’ve got to bounce back.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Conference Quotes

CALEB PLANT

“I’m feeling good and I’m thankful to my team. It feels good to be back and I’m excited for my first time fighting in New York. I’m looking to be impressive on October 15.

“Dirrell has a lot to say about me and says that I hate him, and that’s a strong word, but it’s true. I guess it irks him and it irks me. I don’t hold hands with guys in my division. He doesn’t even know me though. October 15 there are definitely going to be fireworks.

“When I beat him, it will be because I’m better than him. But he already knows that and that’s why he hates me.

“You saw what Uzcategui did to his brother and what I did to him. I always knew he was a possibility. He couldn’t even hold onto his title long enough for us to unify and now he’s big mad.

“I try to approach every fight the same and treat every fight the same. I’m all in. I’m focused and motivated. I have a great team and we’re putting together a great plan. I just can’t wait until October 15.

“I’m looking to put on a great performance and get my hand raised. I’m here to make a big statement. I want to clear out the rest of the division.

“I’m in a blessed position to be in a title eliminator, but it doesn’t add to how focused and disciplined I am. It doesn’t matter if it was a four round fight. I’m training hard and I’ve got a lot of momentum.

“I’ve been doing my job and staying focused. I always keep boxing first in my life whether I have a fight coming up or not. I still feel like I’m hunting. There are a lot of things that I want to accomplish in this sport, but first things first and that’s handling business on October 15.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL

“I’m ready to fight and beat some ass. He’s running. He’s been running from me. Can you name somebody that likes him? Nobody likes him. Canelo Alvarez smacked you, remember that. I wouldn’t ever let another man smack me.

“He fought tomato cans and cab drivers. I give him respect for Jose Uzcategui. But he was supposed to fight me before Canelo and he backed out of it.

“I’ve fought the best, who’s he fought? He’s fought nobody. He knows it. Forget my experience, I’m beating him down.

“This is just another fight. I’m preparing like it’s any other fight. When it comes down to it on October 15, he’ll see.

“I’m just looking to be me and put on a great performance. Everyone knows I’m the dog and that’s what I’m going to show once again.

“I always do what needs to be done outside of the ring. I’ve kept my body where it needs to be. If you take care of your body, your body will take care of you.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Plant on the biggest lesson he learned in his loss to Canelo
“I don’t really feel I learned too much about myself that I didn’t already know, but just gaining that experience. That’s something that you can’t buy. And just being at that level and everything that came with it, I feel like I was well prepared for it but now that I’ve gone through it I’ll be able to carry that experience with me into bigger fights moving forward.”

On what he would’ve done differently in that fight with the benefit of hindsight
“There’s a few things that I would’ve done differently, but I’m gonna keep those to myself because my plan, I’m gonna clear out the rest of the division, I’m gonna get a rematch. So in the rematch you guys will be able to figure out and see what’s going on.”

On those who question whether his lack of power will always be problematic for him at the elite end of the division
“I mean, people can say what they want but in all my fights and in most of the rounds in the Canelo fight I’ve thrown more punches and landed more punches than all of my opponents. So if they’re supposed to be throwing more punches than me then why are they standing around looking at me? If I don’t hit hard, or I don’t hit hard enough, why aren’t they just walking through it and getting the job done, doing what they gotta do.

“Against the Canelo fight, I was doing great. I was doing good, I got caught with a shot, you know, that happens in big time boxing. Two great fighters go up against each other, one will probably have to come up short, and that was me this time. Like I said, I’ve gained that experience and get to take it with me moving forward in to other big fights and I’m just that much more seasoned.”

On why he’s fighting Anthony Dirrell
“After that type of fight with Canelo and doing as well as I did, I wanted a big fight coming right back. I could’ve took a no-name or just got my feet wet, but I want to carry this momentum and I want to get the biggest name that I could and the biggest fight that I could. And this is what we were able to get, and so here we are.”

On making a change and bringing in a new lead trainer in Stephen ‘Breadman’ Edwards
“Just after the fight, some relationships run their course and that’s what happened after the last fight. I still have my father with me, I still have Coach Ray with me, and now Breadman’s on the team working with us and we got great chemistry. We’ve known each other for a long time, he’s a great coach, he knows a lot of things. Him and my dad get along really well.

“Camp is going great, this is the best camp that I’ve had. We’re really only a week in as far as official camp, as far 8 weeks goes, but me, Breadman, my dad, we’ve been training hard and working for weeks now and you gonna see the best Caleb Plant you’ve seen yet.”

On what Breadman has added to his fight game
“I’m not gonna get too specific but he’s got great energy in the gym and he’s from Philly — one of, if not the fight capital of the world. So he know a lot of tricks, a lot of tips, and a lot of the same things my dad has been calling for and asking for and we just haven’t had the chance to work on yet. And now with Breadman we’re doing that so Oct. 15 tune in.”

On if he intends to fight David Benavidez should he beat Dirrell
“Right after Dirrell my plan is to step to make the biggest fight that I can possibly make in the super middleweight division, and if that’s with David Benavidez then that’s the fight I want to make.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Undercard Press Release

Two exciting high-stakes showdowns have been added to the jam-packed four-fight FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View event headlined by the return of former WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder as he takes top-rated Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius on Saturday, October 15 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The telecast will feature undefeated Cuban sensation Frank Sanchez battling Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron in a 10-round heavyweight duel, while top bantamweight contenders Gary Antonio Russell and Emmanuel Rodriguez meet in a 12-round rematch opening the pay-per-view telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

In the co-feature, former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant faces two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell in a WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator between 168-pound rivals.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by BombZquad Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase in-person at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

An amateur standout from his native Cuba, Sánchez (20-0, 13 KOs) now trains in California with renowned trainer Joe Goossen. The 30-year-old has remained busy on his rise up the heavyweight rankings, scoring three victories in 2020 as he earned a unanimous decision over Joey Dawejko and stopped Brian Howard and Julian Fernandez. Sanchez caught boxing fan’s attention when he scored a career-best win in October 2021, dropping the previously unbeaten Efe Ajagba on his way to a unanimous decision victory. Sanchez kicked off the New Year with a 10-round decision triumph against Christian Hammer in his last fight.

The 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Negron (25-3, 20 KOs) was scheduled to meet Sanchez on January 1 but had to withdraw from the fight after testing positive for COVID-19. Negron rides a five-fight winning streak into the match against Sanchez, including four wins by stoppage. The 34-year-old bounced back from defeats to Dominic Breazeale and Brian Howard to put together his win streak, which includes a March 2020 knockout over previously unbeaten Robert Alfonso. He scored an eight round unanimous decision over Scott Alexander in his last fight in May 2021. Negron has fought professionally since 2009 and now lives in Miami where he trains alongside Luis Ortiz.

The 29-year-old Russell (19-0, 12 KOs) originally met the former champion Rodriguez in August 2021, but an accidental clash of heads ended the fight as a no-contest before the first round was completed. The middle brother between WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Jr. and 2016 U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne, Russell returned to the ring after the Rodriguez bout to earn a decision victory over Alexis Santiago in November 2021. Fighting out of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Russell also owns a decision victory over former world champion Juan Carlos Payano in December 2020.

Fighting out of Manati, Puerto Rico, Rodríguez (20-2, 13 KOs) has also added a victory since his first clash with Russell, knocking out Roberto Sanchez Cantu in March. The 30-year-old won the IBF Bantamweight World Title with a unanimous decision victory over Paul Butler in 2018 and successfully defended it against then-unbeaten Jason Moloney. Rodríguez went on to lose the title to unbeaten champion Naoya Inoue in their May 2019 title bout.

[Bandog]

Plant is such a pretender. Acting all tough, then fighting a guy that Benevidez stopped. Same deal with Mall Charlo. All talk.

Maybe the two can muster enough courage up to fight each other.

[margaret thatcher]

plant just faced canelo and is now facing the best smw benny has beaten. at least he's not f@cking facing ronny ellis or having back to backs vs ronny gavril

i thought andrade and benavidez said theyd fight anyone, so why havent they fought each other if that's how it works?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Dirrell Vs Plant Training Camp Notes & Quotes

Former two-time super middleweight world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell stated his clear intention to leave the ring with a victory when he takes on former super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant in a WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator that serves as the co-main event of a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View on Saturday, October 15 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“I don’t care about Caleb Plant and I don’t care what he says,” said Dirrell. “If I go in there and fight up to my capabilities, I’ll come out victorious for sure. I’m doing this for myself. If you’re doing it for something other than yourself and your family, then you’re doing it wrong I think. I’m here to prove to myself that I still have it. I don’t care what people think or say. As long as I keep positivity in my circle, then I’ll be fine.”

Dirrell has conducted training with his longtime coach, the renowned SugarHill Steward, at their typical base camp at Delray Boxing in Delray Beach, Florida. As a fighter who has frequented the region throughout his career, he made sure to pass along his support for those in the state affected by Hurricane Ian.

“Luckily the area we’re staying in didn’t get hit that hard by Hurricane Ian,” said Dirrell. “So we’re alright thankfully, but I know others haven’t been as fortunate and I just hope everyone is staying as safe as possible.

“Camp has been good and I’m feeling healthy. We’re just working on what we need to work on to beat Caleb Plant. That’s it. We come up with game plans and stick to those game plans. If something isn’t working, we move to the next game plan. We’re just ready to fight.”

A native of Flint, Michigan, Dirrell will look to add a signature victory to his already storied career, against another fighter looking to regain their championship status in Plant. Although Dirrell fought on the undercard of Plant’s previous fight, an undisputed title bout loss to Canelo Alvarez, he has kept his focus on his own training instead of studying the bout.

“I’m not even really thinking about Caleb and what he does honestly,” said Dirrell. “I only saw Caleb’s fight against Canelo when I was at the arena. Bits and pieces of it. We know what Caleb does and we know what he brings to the table. All I worry about is what I can do as a fighter.”

Having twice captured the super middleweight championship, Dirrell will return to fight at Barclays Center for the second time. His first outing came in his first ever world title fight, as he fought Sakio Bika to a draw in 2013, before beating him in the rematch to win the WBC belt. Although he has fond memories of Brooklyn, Dirrell has maintained his laser focus on the task at hand on October 15.

“Brooklyn has always been good, but I’m just focused on the fight,” said Dirrell. “People get too caught up in circumstances and lose focus on what they have to do as fighters. I’m always going to go in there and be ‘The Dog.’”

As fight night nears, the veteran Dirrell knows that looking past a fight can have dire consequences. Even for a fighter who has admitted that he’s nearing the end of his career, he’s maintained his dedication to the day in and day out work that has helped him already accomplish so much.

“We’re going to have to see what happens in this fight,” said Dirrell. “I’m not worried about anything after this fight. That’s out of my control right now. What’s in my control is what’s happening in the gym every day.”

Here is what Plant, and his new trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards had to say Tuesday from DLX Boxing in Las Vegas:

CALEB PLANT

“To me, Dirrell was the one who was tense at our press conference. He was getting frustrated and getting loud and couldn’t think of anything to say. What I took away is that I’m on his mind. I feel like I’m living rent-free in his head. He knows he has a top-quality opponent in front of him and someone he can’t mess with. I don’t know where his head’s at, but I know where mine is and I’m ready to rock.

“I’m feeling really good. We’ve been having a great training camp with excellent sparring. It’s been a little bit since I’ve been in the ring, so I’m just excited for the buildup.

“Me and my dad (Richie Plant) brought in a great trainer in ‘Breadman’. I’m just doing a crazy amount of work in the gym sparring top guys. I’m fully-prepared and ready to roll.

“Regardless of who it is in the ring, it’s just somebody who’s in the way of my goals and what I set out to do. If you’re in my way, I take that personally. I’m not just disciplined during camp, I’m working like this year-round.

“I’m just looking to make a statement and put on a big show. I’m coming off the big fight against Canelo Alvarez, and I’ve just been training hard. Ever since that fight, my team has been in the dungeon and we can’t wait for the bell to ring so we can show the world what we’re working on.

“Right now all I’m thinking about is October 15. I wanted the biggest fight that could possibly be made coming off a loss, and this was the name we got. He’s a former two-time champion, so this is the fight that I wanted. After this, I’m looking for the next biggest fight that can be made. Doesn’t matter if it’s Jermall Charlo, David Benavidez or anyone else.

“I feel young and I feel fresh. I’m nowhere close to being done with everything that I want to accomplish in boxing.

“I’m excited to be fighting at Barclays Center for the first time. I know I’ve got fans in that area so I can’t wait to pull up and see what the energy is like. Most importantly, I’m just ready to fight.

“My wife Jordan gave me a pair of Grant gloves that I train with, and for this fight she got our daughter’s name engraved on them, which really helps remind me what I’m fighting for while I’m in the gym training.”

STEPHEN “BREADMAN” EDWARDS, Plant’s Trainer

“We’re having a great training camp. Caleb gives you 100% every day. He’s a fast learner, he’s organized and he’s on schedule. I can’t say enough about his work ethic. Now we just need to translate it to the fight.

“Caleb has a big upside and he doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear for a 30-year-old. He’s got a lot of potential and he’s in a stacked division. He’s got a chance to really leave his legacy in the game by coming out on top in some of these marquee matchups.

“This is going to be a really good fight. I have a lot of respect for Anthony Dirrell. He’s a good fighter and a good puncher. I do believe that Caleb has the decided speed advantage and is a little bit of a better athlete. The bad blood makes the fight intriguing, because when guys have personal issues, it tends to make them fight harder. I expect a violent fight with both guys being tested, but I believe Caleb has more advantages.

“I have to give Caleb days off to take his mind off of boxing, because he works so hard and is an intense guy. He goes 100% every workout and that’s a testament to his ability level. When you get the most out of your workouts, you keep progressing and getting better and better.

“I want to take it one fight at a time. What happens in the future is not really my decision. Hopefully we’re going to be successful and I’ll have a long stay with Caleb. I’m definitely not looking past this opponent. Dirrell says he has a lot of animosity for Caleb, so I expect it to be a really hard fight.”

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by BombZquad Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through seatgeek.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase in-person at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

[Ruthless-RKO]