WBC Special preview: Benavidez vs. Plant
Undefeated WBC interim super middleweight champion, David “El Monstruo Mexicano” Benavídez, and former world champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant, will clash in a powder keg showdown bout this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Benavidez and Plant will transform their war of words to the ring deeds. Only one of them will emerge as the official challenger of the 168-pound division.
The undefeated 25-year-old Benavídez (26-0, 23 KOs) became the youngest 168-pound world champion in history at just 20 years old when he defeated Ronald Gavril via split decision for the vacant WBC title in 2017. Emerging from Phoenix, who now lives and trains in the Seattle area, Benavidez has established his place in the super middleweight division with knockout power in both hands and improving his in-ring performance with each fight.
When he was fifteen years old, Benavídez went from weighing 250 pounds to becoming a lean burn boxer under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, José Benavidez, and his brother and veteran contender José Benavidez Jr. During those times, he went through and came out of rugged sparring sessions against the champions. middleweight Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin. Benavídez is riding a six-fight winning streak by knockout, most recently coming in the third round over former champion David Lemieux last May.
Plant (22-1, 13 KOs), has used his skill and fortitude to rise to the rank of world champion and, in his most recent fight, showed one punch power, notching one of the best knockouts of the year over Anthony Dirrell in the ninth.
Plant, 30, who was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and now lives in Las Vegas, won the IBF title by unanimous decision in a big fight over Jose Uzcategui in 2019. Plant dropped Uzcategui in the second and fourth rounds, achieving the championship victory.
He made three successful title defenses, defeating Mike Lee and Vincent Feigenbutz by TKO in addition to a unanimous decision victory over former champion Caleb Truax. He subsequently lost to Canelo Alvarez in November 2021, in a bout where all the 168-pound titles were up for grabs.
This event is part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of relations between Mexico and the United States, representing the multiple connections that both nations share.
Through this exciting fight, we celebrate the kinship between the people of these two great nations, presenting an opportunity to pay tribute to the past and seize new opportunities to shape our shared futures.
The fight is promoted by Premier Boxing Champions and will be broadcasted on Showtime PPV.
Tale of the Tape
DAVID “El Monstruo Mexicano” BENAVIDEZ
(USA)
WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion
Former 2-time WBC Super Middleweight World Champion
Age: 26
Date of birth: December 17, 1996
Residence: Seattle, Washington
Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona
Record: 26-0, 23 KOs
Total rounds: 118
World championship fights: 4-0, 2 KOs
Height: 6’0.5″ – 184cm
Reach: 74.5″ – 189cm
Stance: Right-handed
Promoter: Sampson Lewkowicz
Manager, trainer: Jose Benavidez Sr.
CALEB “Sweet Hands” PLANT
(USA)
Ranked WBC No. 1 at Super Middleweight
Age: 30
Date of birth: July 8, 1992
Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
Record: 22-1, 13 KOs
Total rounds: 142
World championship fights: 4-1, 2 KOs
Height: 6’1″ – 185cm
Reach: 74 ” – 188cm
Stance: Right-handed
Advisor: Al Haymon
Manager: Luis De Cubas Jr.
Trainer: Stephen Edwards
WBC Stats
WBC Interim Super Middleweight World Championship
March 25, 2023 / MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
25 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Thulane Malinga (S. Africa), Markus Beyer two times (Germany), Carl Froch (GB), Anthony Dirrell (US), David Benavidez (US).
75 super middleweight world championships bouts have been sanctioned in WBC history.
WBC Super-middleweight Champions
1. Ray Leonard (US) 1988 – 1990
2. Mauro Galvano (Italy) 1990 – 1992
3. Nigel Benn (GB) 1992 – 1996
4. Thulane Malinga (S. Afr) 1996
5. Vincenzo Nardiello (Ita) 1996
6. Robin Reid (GB) 1996 – 1997
7. Thulane Malinga (S. Afr) * 1997 – 1998
8. Richie Woodhall (GB) 1998 – 1999
9. Markus Beyer (Germany) 1999 – 2000
10. Glenn Catley (GB) 2000
11. Dingaan Thobela (S. Afr) 2000
12. Dave Hilton (Can) 2000
13. Eric Lucas (Can) 2001 – 2003
14. Markus Beyer (Germany) * 2003 – 2004
15. Danny Green (Australia) Interim 2003 – 2005
16. Cristian Sanavia (Italy) 2004
17. Markus Beyer (Germany) * 2004 – 2006
18. Mikkel Kessler (Den) 2006 – 2007
19. Joe Calzaghe (GB) 2007
20. Carl Froch (GB) 2008 – 2010
21. Mikkel Kessler (Den) * (Emeritus) 2010
22. Carl Froch (GB) * 2010 – 2011
23. Andre Ward (US) 2011 – 2012
24. Sakio Bika (Cameroon) 2013
25. Anthony Dirrell (US) 2014 – 2015
26. Badou Jack (Sweden-US) 2015 – 2017
27. David Benavidez (US) 2017 – 2018
28. Anthony Dirrell (US) * 2019
29. David Benavidez (US)* 2019 – 2020
30. Canelo Alvarez (Mexico) 2020 –
31. David Benavidez (US)* Interim 2022 –
* Regained
WBC Top 10 Super-middleweight Champions
1. Ray Leonard (US)
2. Joe Calzaghe (GB)
3. Nigel Benn (GB)
4. Andre Ward (US)
5. Markus Beyer (Germany)
6. Carl Froch (GB)
7. Mikkel Kessler (Denmark)
8. Robin Reid (GB)
9. Danny Green (Australia)
10. Eric Lucas (Canada)
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