- Álvarez stops Plant in 11th round to unify all four titles at 168lbs
- Canelo Álvarez v Caleb Plant – as it happened
The imperious march of Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez continues as, in the 60th fight of his long and illustrious career, he became the undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world after a devastating stoppage of Caleb Plant in the 11th round on Saturday night in Las Vegas. In a typically patient yet dominant display Álvarez dispatched Plant with a brutal series of blows as he added the American’s IBF title to the WBA, WBC and WBO belts he already owns.
The end was as ferocious as it was clinical. A shuddering left hook from Álvarez made Plant sag like a suddenly stricken tree hit by lightning. He began to totter forward but Álvarez pushed him back to find the space to then uncork a vicious uppercut. Plant went down heavily but, being such a brave and defiant fallen champion, he rose to his feet and made a curious little jog to the opposite corner. He could not escape Álvarez for long because, as soon as the standing count of eight was over, Plant was again battered by a sustained series of clubbing combinations. The American crashed down against the ropes before hitting the canvas. He rolled over on his back, his arms spread wide in barely conscious surrender, and the fight was over.