DESPITE losing in stunning fashion, former world champion Caleb Plant has now been presented with two possible options for his next outing.
The 32-year-old found himself on the wrong end of a split decision, and an early contender for upset of the year, in the small hours of this morning.
His third professional defeat arrived against none other than Armando Resendiz, a sizable underdog who, prior to facing Plant, was perhaps best known for halting Jarrett Hurd back in 2023.
Only this time around, the Mexican’s upset victory seemingly carries an extra layer of weight, not least because of the ramifications it has inevitably caused.
Before the pair collided at the Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, it was no secret that Plant, 23-3 (14 KOs), had been angling for a dustup with fellow former world champion Jermall Charlo.
As it happened, his super-middleweight rival took care of business against Thomas LaManna with little difficulty, securing a sixth-round stoppage victory on the same card.
For Plant, meanwhile, the industrious style of Resendiz, 16-2 (11 KOs), ultimately proved too forceful, as it was not long before fatigue began to hamper the 32-year-old’s otherwise fluid movement.
As a result, two scorecards of 116-112, outweighing a bizarre 115-113 reflection in favour of the American, saw Resendiz claim the vacant WBA interim title.
Soon after his defeat, though, Plant claimed that his right hand had been causing him problems while, at the same post-fight press conference, insisting that he should have emerged victorious.
Along with that, ‘Sweethands’ told media members that he could either jump straight into a clash with Charlo, 34-0 (23 KOs), or, more likely still, organise an immediate rematch with Resendiz.
“I’d go right to the Charlo fight, but we got a rematch clause, so I’m more than willing to run it right back,” he said.
