Mexican superstar WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Álvarez (56-1-2, 38 KO's) has one up on IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-0, 12 KO's) of Tennessee as things intensified Tuesday afternoon between him and Plant at the kickoff press conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Canelo will step into the ring with Plant on Saturday, November 6, live on Showtime PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“Boxing needs this fight. Especially Mexican boxing. To have an undisputed champion this will only add more to Mexican boxing and its traditions,” Canelo told wwwsoutherncaliforniaboxing.com “This is important for my career and legacy,”
Standing face to face, seconds after they were introduced Canelo and Plant jawed at one another. Canelo suddenly shoved Plant across the stage, the IBF champion immediately went up to Canelo and took a swing, Canelo countered with a left causing a small cut underneath Plant's right eye. Southern California Boxing caught up with Canelo following the incident here is what he had to say.
“He’s an insecure person and that’s why he came with a lot of excuses about lots of things. I don’t care about it though. I’m just going to do my best on November 6 and win the fight,” Canelo said. “You can say whatever to me, but not to my mom. I’m going to fight anyone who says something about my mom. And he swung first. I just pushed him. He swung first, and I do what I do. He crossed the line. My actions were instinct when he took a swing at me. I never intended to fight him or antagonize him,”
It's obvious that Canelo did not appreciate the remarks Plant had to say following Canelo's stablemate, WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez positive test for a banned substance. Plant went on to social media, putting Team Canelo and the Eddie Reynoso stable on blast. Stemming from Alvarez's positive test for Clenbuterol prior to the Golovkin fight and Oscar Valdez most recent test findings.
“He is talking all that smack because Oscar (Valdez) and me with the Clenbuerol. We come from nothing, and we worked hard to be here. For somebody to lie and talk trash about us, that upset Eddy. It is what it is though. We just must show everyone who we are on November 6,”
"There are a lot of people who say things on social media but then they don’t show up. Some people want to take down a whole country and a great athlete that represents his country. They talk a lot of trash. The offensive language is what offended us the most. We are respectful people, and we move forward from this with our heads held up high. Now we are going to train well, win the fight and see what comes next after that,” Canelo’s trainer Eddie Reynoso said. "I'm a little upset by how things turned out today, but in the end, we will settle things in the ring on November 6,” Reynoso added.
Canelo looks to become the first Mexican fighter in history to be crowned undisputed champion as he looks to conquer the super middleweight division and putting his name in the history books as the process has been a pleasure to watch.
“To be undisputed is history for Mexico and for everyone on my team. To be the undisputed champion is just a great thing for my career,” Canelo on his quest to become one of Mexico’s greatest. “To be the first Mexican to be undisputed champion and to be the first Latino to be undisputed. It’s very important for my career,”
Coming off a spectacular stoppage over previously undefeated world champion Billy Joe Saunders last May at the Dallas Cowboys home of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Alvarez was exciting in breaking down the Englishman to an eighth-round stoppage as Saunders suffered a broken orbital, Canelo picked up the WBO super middleweight title with the win.
Earlier this year, Canelo stopped Yildrim inside four rounds early this February in Miami.
In his quest of conquering the super middleweight division Canelo was dominant in defeating previously undefeated Callum Smith last December to win the WBA super middleweight title and vacant WBC super-middleweight title.
Prior to the super middleweight conquest Canelo knocked out Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO light heavyweight title back in November of 2019. Adding a fourth world title in his fourth weight division in what has been an impressive career.
Having faced and defeated the likes of Shane Mosley, Erislandy Lara, Austin Trout, Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Daniel Jacobs, Gennadiy Golovkin and suffering his only defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. There’s no denying the impressive career, Alvarez’s has had.
Team Canelo has had their preparation underway working with his longtime trainer Eddie Reynoso at their headquarters in San Diego, California as they get ready for Plant.
“We will continue to do what we do to prepare for this fight. I know what Eddie is capable of and things are going smooth right now,” Canelo on his preparation. “We always do a great job in camp because we have so much experience doing this,” Canelo added.
“I think this is going to be a great fight, one where we unify the 168-pound division. As we do with every fight, we’re going to work hard in the gym. We’ve always worked hard in the gym,” Reynoso on the preparation.
Plant won the IBF title in January of 2019 over Jose Uzcategui in winning a unanimous decision. Since winning the title, Plant has defended the title three times. Scoring a first round knockout over Mike Lee in his first defense, a stoppage over Vicent Feigenbutz in his homecoming fight and is coming off a decision over veteran Caleb Truax earlier this year in January.
“Caleb might be on the same level as Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith, but he’s not on my level. I respect that he isn’t here to back down. You can see from today that this is definitely going to be a good fight,” Canelo about Plant. He’s a good fighter but I know my skills. My experience is going to give me the edge in the fight. I have faced similar styles to Caleb’s against Floyd Mayweather, Erislandy Lara, Austin Trout and Saunders,” Canelo added.
Alvarez is not one to make predictions about his fight as throughout his career but due to the accusations, and allegations that Canelo along with his team are cheats has triggered the Mexican superstar. Canelo has boldly made his prediction.
“It will be over in eight rounds or less. I’m going to knock out this guy. Easy.” Canelo said.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla