Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) is becoming must-watch television.
Plant had a career-defining year in 2019. He defeated Jose Uzcategui to obtain the IBF Super Middleweight title and then followed that up by dominating an undefeated Mike Lee in July of 2019.
The 27-year-old Nashville, Tennessee native is rising to the pinnacle of the boxing world. Plant has turned tragedy into triumph and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
The Super Middleweight division has great champions, and contenders ready to challenge Plant. Champions in the division include David Benavidez, Callum Smith, Canelo Alvarez, and Billy Joe Saunders.
Contenders in the division include former champions Caleb Truax, Daniel Jacobs, David Lemieux and Chris Eubank Jr.
Plant has not shied away from wanting to fight the best of the best, whether it’s in his division or not.
He’s gone on the record stating he wants a unification fight with Benavidez or Smith. If those aren’t possible he would take a crack at Middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin or Canelo.
With a plethora of options at hand, what’s next for Caleb Plant?
Caleb Truax
Former IBF Super Middleweight champion Caleb Truax is the highest-ranked contender at third. Truax would need to have an eliminator fight to earn the mandatory number one spot to fight Plant.
Truax is coming off of a win on January 25, 2020 vs. David Basajjamivule in a majority decision win. Prior to that in April of 2019, Truax faced off against Peter Quillin in an IBF title eliminator bout that ended in a no-decision due to a cut caused by a headbutt.
Truax would be a tough competitor for Plant and another world champion to his resume.
This wouldn’t be the best-case scenario, and people would probably criticize the matchup as Truax is on the downside of his career, while Plant hasn’t hit his prime yet. However, Caleb Plant vs. Truax would make sense for PBC matchmaking and should be a headlining fight.
Daniel Jacobs
Jacobs is coming off of a 1-1 record in 2019. His loss came at the hands of Canelo Alvarez in a Middleweight unification bout in May of 2019. He then bounced back with a win later that year over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Plant and Jacobs have traded words following comments Jacobs made on an Instagram live interview with Matchroom Boxing USA President Eddie Hearn.
Jacobs listed Plant at the bottom of the Super Middleweight champion list and referenced him as beatable. Jacobs stated, “I think Plant is good, but I think he could be beat, He’s beatable. I see a lot of flaws in his game.”
Plant responded on his own Instagram live and an interview with FIGHTHYPE.com to the comments. Plant called Jacobs old, and stated he isn’t an A-level fighter. Warning Jacobs that he would put a boxing lesson on him.
The only road bump with this fight being made would be PBC and DAZN working together to get a deal done that benefits both sides. This has not yet been done and would entail agreeing on television broadcasting or streaming rights, along with the right sie purse for both fighters.
With that being said, Plant vs. Jacobs would be great for boxing, and for both fighters careers right now.
David Benavidez
Benavidez regained the WBC Super Middleweight title with a 9th round KO victory over Anthony Dirrell in their vacant title bout in September of 2019.
Benavidez remains undefeated but was stripped of his belt due to a failed drug test taken by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association in 2018. Now back to being a world champion, Benavidez looks to fight the best in the division.
Plant and Benavidez have been trading verbal jabs since 2017. The distaste for each other is genuine and has only continued to gain steam.
Benavidez has gone on the record calling Plant overrated, and the easiest champion to defeat in the division. He has criticized Plant’s power, and stamina late in fights. Plant has let it known he believes he is the faster, and smarter fighter in the ring. Along with referencing Benavidez and his failed drug test for cocaine, the trash talk has been endless.
Benavidez and Plant both seem to want the fight as soon as possible. However, Benavidez’ manager Sampson Lewkowicz believes Benavidez still has some growing and shouldn’t fight Plant until 2021, or 2022.
This fight will happen, we just don’t know when. The problem with waiting for Benavidez to be ready is the fact that Plant would be in his physical prime in a year or two, maybe the time to face off is now.
Who do you want to see Caleb Plant fight next?
