By Dan Ambrose: Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant says he’s going to whoop former two-time WBC super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell’s a** on October 15th. Then he’s going to turn his sights towards doing the same to Jermall Charlo or David Benavidez.
Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) realizes that he’s got to get some significant wins under his belt for him to have a chance of getting a rematch with Canelo Alvarez.
The Tennesse native lost his IBF 168-lb title to Canelo by an 11th round knockout last November in a competitive fight until the later rounds, but now he feels he’s learned from that loss.
The 37-year-old Dirrell (34-2-2, 25 KOs) stands in Plant’s way from moving forward to the next obstacle. Plant and Dirrell will be fighting in the co-feature spot on the Deontay Wilder vs. Robert Helenius card on FOX Sports pay-per-view on October 15th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Dirrell has similar power in his punches as Canelo, and he could take advantage of Plant’s poor stamina and fragile chin to knock him out if he can put hands on him. Plant looked good against Canelo until the championship rounds, but he really fell apart beginning in the ninth.
During the ninth round, Plant had a running conversation with Canelo that seemed to some like he was trying to persuade the Mexican star to take it easy on him, which he didn’t
“I’m just looking to put on a statement and make a big show,” said Caleb Plant to Premier Boxing Champions when asked about his thoughts on fighting Anthony Dirrell.
“This is my first time fighting in New York. Coming off fighting Canelo, I’m just looking to make a statement. I know it’s been a while since I was in the ring. Ever since then fight, me and my team have been working really hard.
“When the bell rings, we’ll show the world what we’re working on. I said all the things that I needed to say, and that’s it,” Plant said about Dirrell. “Him getting loud because he’s not smart enough to think about anything else.
“I’m not going to get into a shouting contest with a dumb man. I’ve said all the things that I need to say. Right now, I’m just thinking about the 15th, but those are fights that I want [Canelo Alvarez and Jermall Charlo].
“I’m coming off a loss. Losers can’t be choosers. Coming off a loss, it’s not like I can choose the biggest fight that can be made. But I wanted the biggest fight that possibly could be made, and this is the man we got.
“He’s a former world champion. This is the fight that I wanted. As soon as I’m done with this, I’m looking for the biggest fight that can be made. Whether that’s Charlo, whether that’s Benavidez, anyone can get it.
“I’m going to whoop Anthony Dirrell’s a**, and after that, Charlo or Benavidez. With 22 fights, I’m accomplishing a lot more earlier than other guys with more fights than me. I haven’t taken a lot of punishment in my career.
“Look at the Canelo fight. That fight was close up until the stoppage. Even then, I didn’t take a lot of punishment. I got caught with a good shot, and then I got caught with another one,” said Plant.
