BoxRec

David Benavidez, Caleb Plant strike deal for 168-pound clash

Former super middleweight titleholders David Benavidez and Caleb Plant both announced Thursday on social media that they've struck a deal for a long-awaited fight.

The 168-pound bout will be presented by PBC on pay-per-view in the first quarter of 2023, a source told ESPN.

Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) and Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) have circled each other for years with plenty of barbs in both directions. Besides a genuine grudge, Benavidez-Plant is a fascinating clash of styles.

Benavidez, 25, is a volume-punching pressure fighter who's been among boxing's most avoided fighters.

Plant, 30, is a stick-and-move boxer whose only defeat came last November in an 11th-round TKO loss to Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion.

But after Alvarez, Benavidez and Plant are widely considered the two best fighters who campaign at 168 pounds (Benavidez is ESPN's No. 2 super middleweight; Plant is No. 3).

"You can't hide from me anymore, I'll see you soon," Benavidez wrote on Instagram.

"I went and made it happen," Plant wrote. "Contract signed. See you early next year."

nice fight, lmao at the IDIOTS who said plant wont fight benavidez

This is a good, solid fight! More of what we need amongst the recent chaos, fallouts and fall throughs!

Good for Caleb.
Doing it old school style.
Fighting only 3 months after his last bout.
Taking a stand against all these Wimpy headed, Greedy minded, Typical Modern day Primidonna Pansies.

Fight will be for the interim WBC super middleweight belt.

Canelo probably vacate then winner becomes full champion.

Finally a fight that I can stay up for. Damn has boxing been racing towards irrelevance.

I'd say Benevidez. Plant has shoddy stamina and can't defend his body well, especially against fast hands.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑03 Nov 2022, 17:47 nice fight, lmao at the IDIOTS who said plant wont fight benavidez

Wait, didn't the idiots also say that Benavidez is afraid to fight anyone relevant.

can't speak for the dumb dumbs, i know i didnt

A good fight. Such fights should be made instead of mismatches, which we have so often today. Two young top fighters in their primes.

I guess, Benavidez will win. Plant will be hittable enough for such aggressive and relentless fighter like Benavidez. I see it as a late stoppage.

Really good fight.

Is it PPV worthy though?

maverick23 wrote: ↑04 Nov 2022, 06:30 Really good fight.

Is it PPV worthy though?

No.

But it’s probably the only way it could be agreed.

They want $2m purses each and PBC can’t even afford that. At $79.95 or whatever this’ll be, how many PPV’s to break even and give them each a $2m purse each?

Glad Plant finally got his confidence up enough to fight someone worthy. Now if Mall Charlo and Andrade would follow suit.

Plant will get on his bike, but think DB will eventually wear him down to win.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑03 Nov 2022, 23:15

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑03 Nov 2022, 17:47 nice fight, lmao at the IDIOTS who said plant wont fight benavidez

Wait, didn't the idiots also say that Benavidez is afraid to fight anyone relevant.

Yes, mucho credit to both fighters for getting this on so quickly, and so fuss free.

Especially to Caleb Plant who seems pretty well fearless stepping in with potentially the most dangerous opponents.

Hopefully this will shut up those idiots for a while.

There's nothing to complain about whatsoever.

This is a great fight from all angles.

I am minority but im going in this with Plant.

Well, it won't be much surprising, if Plant wins. His style is bad for Benavidez, it's only a question, if Plant can polish it enough.

DrDuke wrote: ↑04 Nov 2022, 14:21 Well, it won't be much surprising, if Plant wins. His style is bad for Benavidez, it's only a question, if Plant can polish it enough.

It depends how strong will Plant punches be. Pitty pat slaps will not stop Benavidez from stalking and wearing Plant down. If he land meaningful punches, with slick defense, he has a decent chance. Still Plant will be underdog

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑04 Nov 2022, 08:16

maverick23 wrote: ↑04 Nov 2022, 06:30 Really good fight.

Is it PPV worthy though?

No.

But it’s probably the only way it could be agreed.

They want $2m purses each and PBC can’t even afford that. At $79.95 or whatever this’ll be, how many PPV’s to break even and give them each a $2m purse each?

I don't understand why Haymon just doesn't bow out. Announce bankruptcy. This is a fight that one time would be an HBO or Showtime main even, not a PPV. He's looking at a second failure after Wilder drew negative fans. I'm not sure how anyone is investing money to willingly lose it.

DrDuke wrote: ↑04 Nov 2022, 14:21 Well, it won't be much surprising, if Plant wins. His style is bad for Benavidez, it's only a question, if Plant can polish it enough.

I'm not sure there really is a bad style for Benevidez, unless it is a slick southpaw like Morell or Andrade. He is a relentless puncher, but a little slow footed. Hope he practices cutting off the ring cause he'll need it to catch Plant. Plant is no monster puncher, just because he caught Dirrell.

Benavidez Promoter on Plant Fight: It Was Fantasy Before; Now Is the Time

Sampson Lewkowciz remembers the time when Caleb Plant, barely some 10 fights into his professional career, kept imploring him to make a fight between him and David Benavidez.

But Lewkowciz, the longtime promoter of super middleweight contender Benavidez, repeatedly told Plant that such a fight was premature; Lewkowciz saw the matchup as tent-pole material down the line, and he felt that “marinating” the contest was the right move.

Fast forward several years and it appears that Plant, a Las Vegas resident from Nashville, will finally get his wish.

Plant and Benavidez recently both announced on their respective social media accounts that they had struck a deal to face each other in the early part of 2023.

“I went and made it happen,” Plant said. “Contract signed. See you early next year.”

“You can’t hide from me anymore, I’ll see you soon,” Benavidez said.

The announcement came as a breath of fresh air for boxing fans as it followed disappointing news that a welterweight undisputed fight between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. would not be happening this year. Both Plant and Benavidez fight under the Premier Boxing Champions banner.

Lewkowciz said the fight reached a point where it was no longer simply “fantasy.”

“Listen, he’s a great boxer,” Lewkowciz said of Plant in an interview with ESNews. “He wanted that fight when he had 11, 10 fights. I remember he said, ‘Sampson .’ I said ‘No, it’s not the time.’ And then, you know — I respect all fighters. I would never say anything negative about anyone. Sometimes people fantasize. Boxers fantasize. It was fantasy when he had 10 or 11 fights, he wanted to fight Benavidez. I told him it’s not the time at this moment. Now is the time.”

“Both guys wanted the fight,” Lewkowciz added. “It will be really a personal fight … I don’t know about hate. They don’t like [each other].”

Plant is coming off of a brutal one-punch knockout of Anthony Dirrell last month at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It was the first time he fought since his knockout loss to Canelo Alvarez last November.

Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) last fought in May, a dominant third-round stoppage of veteran David Lemieux.

David Benavidez: “This Fight Is 100% Personal With Plant, Gonna Put A Beating On Him Worse Than Canelo"

“This fight for me is 100% personal with Caleb Plant,” said Benavidez during an interview with Boxing Scene. “I’m really looking to go in there and beat the shit out of him.”

“My plan is go in there and do what I know I can do to Caleb Plant and that’s gonna be put a beating on him worse than Canelo.”

Plant will get destroyed in this fight-blown out in less than 6 rounds.

Imagine Plant outboxing the so hyped Benavidez. This fight will tell us how good Benavidez is.

apollo creed wrote: ↑25 Nov 2022, 10:28 Imagine Plant outboxing the so hyped Benavidez. This fight will tell us how good Benavidez is.

Interesting contrast in styles. I think Plant is an excellent boxer, more flashy, good feet. Benevidez is busier, more basic perhaps, but also a great boxer. I'm guessing it will come down to stamina with Plant, because he'll be on his bike. If DB catches up with him at some point he'll stop him. Too relentless, big motor.