HAVING distanced himself from a fight against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, stating he wouldn’t have enough time to prepare for it, IBF super-middleweight champion Caleb Plant has now set his sights on fights against fellow champions Callum Smith and David Benavidez.
According to Plant, his team have made contact with Smith, the current WBA super-middleweight titleholder, with a view to making that fight happen, while Benavidez, owner of the WBC belt, has emerged as a possible future foe following some foul-mouthed back and forth on social media between the pair.
Posting to Instagram yesterday, Benavidez wrote: “First of all, you just turned down a fight with Canelo that’s still 10 weeks away. If you think you’re better than every other super middleweight, why turn that fight [Canelo] down with plenty of time left? You’re a p***y that just talks out of his a**, that’s why.
“Now that everyone knows that you’re a p***y, you try and lie and say you sent an offer to Callum Smith and GGG (Gennady Golovkin) to fight. LMAO! Why don’t you tell Luis Decubas to send me an offer tomorrow for a unification bout between me and you and we’ll get it done, little boy.
“All you do is run your f**king mouth like a b***h and only fight bums like Mike Lee and Vincent Feigenbutz. That’s why you think you’re the s**t.
“Caleb Plant talking out his a** again lol,” continued Benavidez. “We can get this fight done ASAP! Tired of waiting and hearing you run your mouth. Let’s get it done.”
Plant revealed on Thursday that he is looking for a fight against Callum Smith or, failing that, former world middleweight ruler Gennady Golovkin, who has often flirted with the idea of making a move to 168 pounds.
“We’ve sent offers to Callum and GGG,” Plant said. “Hopefully, we hear back soon and if not, then tell Oscar [De La Hoya] if he thinks I’m scared [of Canelo Alvarez], then let’s get it cracking in the Fall with Canelo.”
De La Hoya, of course, may have other ideas. He reacted to Plant turning down a May 2 date against Canelo by stating the American would never again get the chance to make life-changing money opposing the Mexican superstar. Then again, this is boxing. De La Hoya wouldn’t be the first promoter to go against his word; to be lying yesterday and telling the truth today.
Before reading what follows, it is worth keeping in mind two things: Frank Warren is Tyson Fury’s promoter and Tyson Fury’s heavyweight title fight against Deontay Wilder this Saturday (February 22) is being broadcast live on BT Sport Box Office at a cost of just under 25 pounds.
Okay, now that’s clear, you can add context to Warren’s claim that Fury will become Britain’s greatest ever heavyweight if he dethrones WBC heavyweight champion Wilder in Las Vegas.
“With all due respect to Lennox Lewis, I think Tyson will go down as the greatest British heavyweight in history if he wins this fight,” said Warren. “If you look at what he has been through, nearly three years out of the ring and a 10 stone weight loss, I think this will be the greatest comeback of a fighter ever, forget about Britain.
“I think this is the biggest fight that I’ve been involved in. Thus is bigger than things like Frank Bruno against Mike Tyson.”
Remember: Fury’s promoter, BT Sport Box Office, 25 quid.
