The IBF super-middleweight champion says his tough childhood and hard road to the top will stand him in good stead when takes on Saul Alvárez on Saturday
Caleb Plant usually carries himself with composure and conviction. Whether he is talking late at night on a Zoom call to me about the terrible adversity of his past life, or walking around Las Vegas this week, answering one question after another about how he feels before he faces the formidable Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez in their world super-middleweight unification bout on Saturday night, Plant has been impressive. He will defend his IBF title while trying to wrest the WBA, WBC and WBO belts away from Álvarez. The winner will become the first undisputed world super-middleweight champion in boxing history.
In these last few days both men have been respectful of each other despite the constant reminders that, in September, they exchanged insults and a few blows after a face off descended into a fracas when Álvarez pushed Plant with real force. “It was normal pre-fight banter,” Plant says with a shrug. “You know how it goes: ‘I’m going to beat you. No, I’m going to beat you. Fuck you. No, fuck you.’ It seemed like he lost his cool then and I responded the way I was taught to respond. I’m a fighter.”