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MGM Grand Garden Arena | Las Vegas, NV – When it comes to professional athletes being recognized by one name, it’s few and far in between that ring a bell for the general public. This weekend, Canelo, already an owner of an all-time spectacular career record and highlight reel, returns to the fight capital of the world to defend his throne and his #1 pound-for-pound ranking against a motivated and eager challenger in Caleb Plant. Anytime Canelo laces up the gloves under the bright lights the fight world takes notice, but this fight has gained extra steam because of a scuffle during their initial press conference. It’s safe to say you won’t want to miss this fight!
Physical Attributes and Skills
🇲🇽 Canelo Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs): 5-foot-9, 70.5-inch Wingspan, 168-pounds, Orthodox Stance
Proven performer on the biggest of stages, Powerful Puncher, Naturally Allows The Knockout To Present Itself, Has Fought This Generation’s Who’s Who Of Boxing
🇺🇸 Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-0, 12 KOs): 6-foot-1, 74-inch Wingspan, 168-pounds, Orthodox Stance
Undefeated, Bulletproof Mindset, Enjoys The Process of Breaking His Opponent’s Will, Doesn’t Mind Making It A Gritty Fight
Best Career Performance
Alvarez: After a questionable scorecard in his first fight against Gennady Golovkin that saved Alvarez and made the fight a draw, the Mexican marauder left no doubts in the rematch as none of his fights since then have been close.
Plant: There’s a reason Plant is in this position. Not only because he’s undefeated and has tremendous skill and has earned a shot at the king, but because Canelo, who’s the big-time A-side in this fight, is doing what generally goes on in boxing and what has happened to him as well – fight a rising star before they reach the peak of the career. In 2013, Floyd Mayweather picked a young Canelo and now Canelo is applying that same strategy, respect.
Advantages & Disadvantages
For Caleb Plant, besides having the confidence that comes with an undefeated record and being the much taller man, Canelo Alvarez checks off every single other box associated with being an elite-level athlete and performer. Alvarez is a once in a generation type of fighter who’s talked with his fists and has quietly built one of the best resumes in boxing history. He has never shied away from a fight and does a great job of staying relevant with the general public because of his frequent activity. That alone, at only 31-years old, shows how much foresight for his legacy he has.
Who wins?
Being the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world comes with an almost seemingly impenetrable degree of confidence. Since his first and only career loss at the hands of this generation’s greatest boxer in Floyd Mayweather, Alvarez made it hard to even flirt with the idea of picking against the Mexican powerhouse. Unfortunately, for Plant, who is a warm-hearted individual with an inspiring story, will be facing an extra focused Canelo because of his pushing and shoving match at a press conference:
The rivalry between @Canelo and @SweetHandsPlant heated up at the opening press conference 😤
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) October 30, 2021
In just one week, they settle their war of words in the ring 👑#CaneloPlant | November 6 | BT Sport Box Office pic.twitter.com/LuXPiTldFo
From a fan’s perspective, Plant is so much fun to watch not only because he welcomes a technical slugfest, but because he has a unique swagger to his style. Alvarez hasn’t faced a fighter like Plant in terms of showmanship since Mayweather. Crazy enough, that quote on quote showboating will play a factor in the fight. Although well-prepared, Canelo’s downloading of reads and timing could be thrown off when in real time he is being disrespected by Plant’s mannerism and gestures. A fighter, especially of Alvarez’s caliber, will never admit to being distracted in the heat of battle because of mocking, which will result in Canelo being a bit tentative. Although Plant will win the hearts and minds of fight fans because of his skill and aura, Canelo will stay stern to his game plan and slowly but surely chop the tree [or plant] down.
Alvarez (-1250) vs. Plant (+700)
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Will The Fight Go The Distance?
Though there is bad blood between these two masters of the sweet science, there will still be a level of respect that keeps each fighter from doing anything out of the ordinary. Canelo’s legacy gets heavier each time he steps inside the ropes. Canelo will keep the fight technical and mount offense in waves and will use every bit of discipline to not engage in Plant’s strategic antics to try to get him into a firefight. These split-seconds taken by Canelo to remind himself to ignore Plant’s showboating are split-seconds that he won’t be pulling the trigger. Again, I’m not saying Plant will knockdown Canelo or do any significant damage, but the potential in-ring distractions point to Canelo playing things even closer to the chest to keep his legacy intact.
Yes (+160) or No (-230)
How Do They Win?
I see Alvarez planting (no pun intended) his flag in the middle of the ring and not backing up early on, but eventually the artistry will show with him picking his spots to attack once he breaks Plant’s defense and shows resistance to Plant’s mental warfare.
Alvarez via KO (-200) or DEC. (+200) or Plant via KO (+2000) or DEC. (+1100)
What happens after a win?
Alvarez: Unless undefeated boxer and former champion, Andre Ward, is coming out of retirement, Alvarez will sit on his throne until another formidable opponent makes a worthy claim.
Plant: I mean …
Stay locked right here for the NBC Sports Edge combat sports weekend recap Monday morning!
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