3/25 PBC on SHO PPV: David Benavidez vs Caleb Plant

[Agent Mulder]

David Benavidez-Caleb Plant PPV Fight Set For March 25 At MGM Grand In Las Vegas​

A date and a site have been solidified for the grudge match between super middleweight rivals David Benavidez and Caleb Plant.

BoxingScene.com has learned that Benavidez and Plant will fight March 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Phoenix’s Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) and Plant (22-1, 13 KOs), a native of Ashland City, Tennessee, jointly announced through their social media accounts November 3 that they agreed to contractual terms.

The bout between Benavidez, 26, and Plant, 30, will headline a four-fight Showtime Pay-Per-View card.

The winner of their 12-round, 168-pound match, which will be contested for Benavidez’s WBC interim championship, will become the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s WBC super middleweight title. Alvarez stopped Plant in the 11th round of their title unification fight 14 months ago at MGM Grand Garden Arena, but Benavidez wants his own opportunity to challenge the fully unified 168-pound champion.

Benavidez, who is a 2-1 favorite over Plant according to FanDuel sportsbook, had planned to fight Venezuela’s Jose Uzcategui (32-5, 27 KOs) next in a lower-profile fight to stay busy. Soon after Plant viciously knocked out Anthony Dirrell on October 15, however, representatives for Benavidez and Plant agreed to fight next.

Plant and Benavidez have talked trash about one another over the past few years, yet negotiations never took a serious turn until last fall.

Plant’s brutal knockout of Dirrell, a former WBC 168-pound champion, came in his first fight since Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) stopped him to become boxing’s first fully unified super middleweight champion of the four-belt era in November 2021 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. A picturesque left hook by Plant knocked Dirrell (34-3-2, 25 KOs) unconscious in the ninth round on the Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Benavidez will fight for the first time in 10 months when he opposes Plant, whose performance against Dirrell earned him BoxingScene.com’s “Knockout of the Year” award for 2022.

In his most recent action, Benavidez stopped Canadian contender David Lemieux in the third round. Benavidez dropped the former IBF middleweight champ in the second round and referee Harvey Dock halted the action while an overwhelmed Lemieux (43-5, 36 KOs) was still standing during the third round May 21 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona

 

[JP_614]

Excited for this fight should be a good one. I got David by KO it will be a tough fight. Plant goes down late.

 

[malbaker86]

I got Benavidez by KO but wouldn't be surprised if Plant boxed his head off. Just don't know if Plant can hold up if Benavidez is able to walk through his shots and walk him down and get his combos off

 

[Mashal88]

Plant needs a J-Rock vs Hurd performance to win this. At the very least, he does have Breadman in his corner. But Plant straight up isn't strong enough to pull that off. He was pushed around by Canelo repeatedly(in a fight I thought he took at least 5 rounds nevertheless) and Uzcategui did some damage in those last 5 rounds. Stamina is a big issue for Plant. We saw it in both of those fights.

Benavidez is levels above Uzcategui skillwise and is bigger and has a higher workrate than Canelo. Plant might do well periodically but when Benavidez throws that jab out, counters Plant himself and starts to up the pressure, what will happen?

Late stoppage for Benavidez. And I've felt this way for years. I like both guys though and I'm happy they are finally fighting.

 

[Megadeus]

I could see this looking like the Rashidi Ellis vs Villa fight that just happened but with a slightly rougher and earlier ending

Plant boxing beautifully piecing dude up round after round before fizzling out and getting crushed by the sheer volume

 

[patscorpio]

 

[R=G]

Plant will move and do well the first 3 rounds but Benavidez and those fast hands will connect by the 2nd half.

 

[HTXBreh]

Plant should have to shave his beard before he gets in the ring.

 

[ChocolateGiddyUp]

Y’all better hope Flabavidez wins

 

[Recca Gatsby]

FINALLY been waiting on this forever

 

[NormanConnors]

Excited for this fight should be a good one. I got David by KO it will be a tough fight. Plant goes down late.

 

[R=G]

FINALLY been waiting on this forever



You ordering or stealing??

 

[alpo]

 

[Derek Lee]

Same

 

[patscorpio]

Y’all better hope Flabavidez wins

of course he will