Caleb Plant is two days away from the biggest payday of his life. Win, lose or draw, Plant will walk away from the ring with a $10 million fight purse. But Plant wants anyone who thinks he is only showing up at the MGM Grand Saturday night for a payday to know he fully intends to win the undisputed super middleweight championship.
“I’m in this to win it,” Plant wants fans to know he is confident ahead of his undisputed match. “There have been guys who lost before the bell even rang against Canelo.”
Caleb Plant feels the confidence he exudes rubs Canelo the wrong way. Plant wants the pound for pound great to know he is not a guy that is showing up to hand over his title. “I think that’s why he’s so irritated with me.”
The bad blood between the two fighters boiled over at the opening press conference to promote their boxing match. A verbal back and forth started when the fighters faced off for photographers. Canelo shoved Plant hard in the chest with both hands. Plant retaliated by throwing a left hand, and a skirmish ensued.
“This is personal for me,” Plant said shortly after the press conference. “I’ve sacrificed a lot for this sport, so anyone getting in the way of my goals makes it personal for me.”
Caleb Plant also draws on the many obstacles he has already overcome as a 29-year-old undefeated champion. “There’s a lot of poverty and a lot of drugs where I’m from,” Plant explains. “There’s not a whole lot of opportunities.”
Plant says he decided at a young age that he would not become satisfied with his surroundings. He also knew, “if I didn’t get up and go do what I had to do to get here, then I’d be stuck where I’m from.”
Caleb Plant says the hunger he used to propel him from poverty to the top of the boxing world still drives him. He also feels Canelo is underestimating the challenge he will face on fight night. “He’s got a tall order in front of him.”