No face-off this time between WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight world champion Canelo Álvarez and undefeated IBF super middleweight world champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant at the final press conference Wednesday before they meet in on PPV this Saturday from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“This fight is going to be history. You’re going to be witnessing something that you’re going to remember for a long time,” – Canelo
“I have to get the job done by any means necessary…I just can’t wait for the bell to ring Saturday,” – Plant
CANELO ÁLVAREZ
“I want to thank everyone for their support and for making this fight possible. We have come a long way in our career to make this happen. Now we’re just days away from making history.
“It’s so different when you’re in the ring, so I don’t really take anything from our altercation at the first press conference.
“I’ve faced many good fighters with skills that are similar to Caleb. It’s a style that I’ve seen before and I know what to do with it. That just gives me confidence in my experience heading into this fight.
“I always train 100% my hardest and for the style of my opponent. I like that idea that Caleb is coming in believing he will win this fight. It’s going to make it more exciting for the fans.
“The goal is to be an all-time great. I’m so proud of the journey I’ve taken to achieve that. I’m not going to stop until I’ve tried my best to reach that goal.
“Only one thing is going through my mind, and that’s winning. Everything else is outside of my control. I only care about what’s going to happen inside of the ring Saturday night.
“The fact that I can make history this weekend along with Formula One driver Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez, is very motivating for me. My goal is to make this an unbelievable weekend for Mexico.
“My emotions are under control. I’m excited for the fight of course. I’m excited to become undisputed champion and to make history. That’s what I want. But I can remain calm, because this is what I do.
“Only five male fighters in the history of boxing have accomplished becoming undisputed champion. I want to be the sixth. That’s the only thing on my mind.
“You’re going to want to tune-in to this fight. This fight is going to be history. You’re going to be witnessing something that you’re going to remember for a long time.”
CALEB PLANT
“There’s not much time left and not much left to say. Leading up to this fight, Canelo said that the Mexicans don’t f*ck around. That’s good to know, because where I’m from, we don’t f*ck around either.
“Make sure you tune-in Saturday night. You’re going to see the first undisputed super middleweight champion ever in this sport. This is history and you’re looking at him. His name is Caleb Plant.
“It wasn’t my intention to get under Canelo’s skin at the first press conference. I think the media makes more of it than we do. We’ve both been in worse scuffles than that. When the bell rings, it’s completely different.
“I’m someone who likes to focus on what’s in front of me. Until recently, Canelo wasn’t in my weight division, so I didn’t think much about fighting him. Once he came in the division, I knew that it would be a huge mega fight and here we are.
“I have to get the job done by any means necessary. That’s what me and my team have done so far to get to this point. Whether it’s boxing or in life, I’ve gotten here by any means necessary. I had opportunities to bow out, and I haven’t. I just can’t wait for the bell to ring Saturday.
“The way I see this fight turning out is, Jimmy Lennon Jr. saying ‘the new undisputed and still undefeated’. Canelo’s had multiple close fights, but I believe the right people are in place to make the right decision Saturday night. All I can focus on is the game plan and the job that needs to be done.
“People are going to say what they’re going to say. But I get the final say and I can’t wait to prove everything in the ring. I can’t focus on what other people say about me. If I listened to the doubters, I wouldn’t even be here.
“I’ve been the underdog before. It’s a place I like to be. I like people rooting against me. It gives me extra motivation, but when you’re fighting for undisputed status, you don’t need much more motivation than that.
“Make sure you tune-in. This isn’t just the biggest fight of the year, but you’re tuning in to witness history when I get crowned the undisputed super middleweight champion.”
EDDY REYNOSO, Canelo’s Trainer and Manager
“This has been a great training camp. We’ve had a great career so far, and this is a cherry on top of everything we’ve done so far.
“We have fought so many different kinds of champions. There is not much left to say about Canelo’s career. On Saturday, everyone is going to witness the first ever Mexican undisputed world champion.
“We respect and admire Caleb Plant’s work ethic. But in the end, we’re better and we’re going to show it Saturday night. The goal is to be at the top.
“I don’t focus on the opponent. I focus on what my fighter will be able to do. We had an amazing camp and we’re going to be ready to roll on Saturday night.”
JUSTIN GAMBER, Plant’s Co-Trainer
“I want to thank all the members of our team that are with us day in and day out. We have the best team in boxing. Every member is great at what they do.
“Saying that we had the best training camp ever is cliché, but I’m about to say it again. Every camp we’ve had has been great for different reasons. This training camp had challenges, but it’s been the best one this team has had.
“Just know that no stone has been left unturned. All the work has been put in. We’ve gone above and beyond to prepare for this fight. You’ll never see a better version of Caleb than you will Saturday.
“We still have 12 rounds of boxing to put in. At the end of those 12 rounds, I have no doubt whose hand will be raised. It will be Caleb Plant, the first undisputed super middleweight champion in boxing history.
“Any time you face the pound-for-pound best in boxing, you know you’re going to have your work cut out for you. We’ve had our work cut out before and overcame it. We’ve really prepared our whole career for this fight.”
Plant’s trainer said that Caleb’s hand will be raised in victory after 12 rounds. Guess that means they’re not going for the KO.
Add: The undercard sucks for this PPV.
I’ll be watching it for free on my Fire Stick.
I see plant having a hell of a night, sweeping many rounds until BAM, he gets caught cutting out of the corner with a overhand right late in the fight.
I would love for Plant to win, but logic says Clenelo.
Plant has a slim chance because he is a boxer and boxers are Canelo’s Achilles heal, however, Plant is no Mayweather. Boxers like Lara and Trout gave Canelo tough fights, and Plant is comparable to those guys, so we may may see something similar to those fights. Gotta go with Canelo in this one though, he has the experience, chin, and superior power. His only weakness is his footwork, but that’s why these championship fights go 12 rounds, he’ll eventually catch up to Plant for a late round stoppage.
I think that Canelo will have a much easier time with boxers, than he has in the past. Like him or hate him, he is a student of his craft. As with Mayweather, as for me anyway, his character has alot to be desired. However, like Alvarez, his passion is his art. No matter what your chosen profession or sport may be, if it is obsessively worked apon, you can do nothing but axcel. Canelo in 9.
Agreed 2centsworth. He has improved with each fight since being outclassed by Floyd. That said, the best Canelo never beats the best Floyd Mayweather. But there is no shame being second to Floyd.
After this fight, Plant’s new nickname will be ‘Kodak’. Why? Because the exposure is coming Saturday night. Canelo in six one-sided rounds.
Kodak does not make film anymore.
Well, it’s a fitting statement then Robert G because after this fight Plant won’t have a title any more. EXPOSED as a second tier trying his best to act like a first tier.
Who is Robert G?
Exposed???? Bit late for late to occur. Anyone can be beaten by Canelo but even if that happens, he will still be the second best in the world.
Plant has a big punk Mouth…. Canelo will wear The great Marvelous Marvin Hagler……..WAR HAT….. Shuting Plants Mouth for Good….. Canelo will beat the sh-t out of Plant…. God bless, All of you…. Kerry Roberts…..!
These guys need to stop saying that they will be the first undisputed super middleweight champion of the world. I guess most people on here just started watching boxing a few years ago, so they’ve never heard of a guy named Joe Calzaghe. Joe Calzaghe was a long-reigning WBO champion and then he beat undefeated power puncher Jeff Lacy for the IBF super middleweight title in an absolute blowout in 2006, and then fought unified WBC and WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler Circa 2007, in an epic fight, and won 116 to 112 to become the first four belt holding super middleweight champion in history. But, since Joe Calzaghe is not part of the current boxing mob known as the NABE, his history has suddenly been erased.
Chris:
– Agreed.
– Just watched a YouTube video by “Rummy’s Corner” who outlined, in his opinion, Calzaghe’s best 5 fights. It’s worth watching.
Chris: ur EXACTLY right about that.. Calzhage was by far one of the best. Thats for sure!! I believe Canelo is making the claim he is trynna be the 1st Mexican to do it. Plant is jus confused and delusional. He shld have obviously done his homework. Makes him look stupid.
No, Canelo is saying, and so is the boxing media, that he will be the 1st fighter in history to be undisputed at 168. Watch his videos where he talks about this.
Chris, actually the IBF had stripped Calzaghe prior to the Kessler fight in November 2007. Or maybe Joe gave it up. Either way it was not on the line when he beat Kessler for the WBA/WBC titles and retained his WBO belt. A fighter named Alejandro Berrio won the vacant title on 3/3/2007 and then lost it in his first defense by a pretty good boxer named Lucien Bute. That was in October 2007, shortly before the Calzaghe vs Kessler fight. Calzaghe vs Bute would have been a very good match for the official undisputed super middleweight championship but as you know Joe moved to light heavyweight and only fought twice more before retiring undefeated. Your point is well taken however. Since Calzaghe never lost the IBF title in the ring you could say his fight with Kessler was for the undisputed 168 pound crown. But, from an official standpoint, whoever wins on Saturday night will be the first to ever hold all four belts at once. To me, it’s just a selling gimmick. Everyone knows that Canelo is class A and Plant is class B, maybe even class C. Everyone knows that short of an injury like a cut eye or a bizarre slip and fall out of the ring (ala Hopkins vs Allen I) Canelo will win this fight in dominant fashion. For all intents and purposes, he is already the undisputed champion. But, as they say, it has to be shown in the ring. Canelo by TKO6.
I thought Calz got stripped of the IBF title after the Kessler fight. If i’m wrong then I
stand corrected. Also, Calz had much better fighters to go through, then Canelo
does, to become undisputed. Head to head Calz would’ve easily beaten Alvarez. Prime Kessler would’ve knocked him out. Plant has little to no chance, I agree.
Being undisputed with all these extra weight divisions is not that impressive-too many organizations and champions. Best to just enjoy the fights and ignore these meaningless belts-real fans know who the real champions are.
The only way caleb wins this fight if he jabs canelo the entire 12 rounds, if plant goes toe 2 toe with canelo caleb loses cause he will get tired in the later rounds and canelo will start to break him down.
If you saw the press conference then you saw there is a massive speed difference…anything can happen like Pacquiao Marquez, but it’s not this fight..Canelo ko#7, after a beat down..
Dude, that press conference tells nothing. Caleb didn’t throw that slap with intentions.
He was angry at getting shoved for no reason and he angrily reacted. Canelo landed an open handed slap that pushed Caleb’s glasses into his face. Watch all access on showtime parts 1 and 2, and you’ll see and hear EVERYTHING that happened.
Unless you live in a leftist alternate universe, then you’ll see I’m correct. I do pick Canelo for the W though. Plant cannot punch and nobody wins a decision against Canelo.
Calzaghe was good but caught B-Hop and RJJ well past their primes. Both would have beaten Slapsy Maxie Calzaghe IMO at their best, hands down. Everyone makes this huge deal about him beating Jeff Lacy, when Lacy was limited in many areas outside of power and all he really had was the lefthook, hence the nickname.
Why can’t anyone beat this little guy. He’s only 5’5”.
Alvarez is 5’8″; Plant 6’1″, according to BoxRec.
boxrec is is mistaking.
it just proves that little guys can beat a heavyweight!!
Beards never used to be allowed in boxing and now they are very popular FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. They should not be allowed.
Wheressssss the beef?