Canelo vs Plant LIVE: Result and latest reaction to undisputed world title fight
The Mexican finished the fight in the 11th round to become the sport’s first undisputed world super-middleweight champion
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Canelo Alvarez became the first undisputed four-belt super middleweight world champion in boxing history Saturday night, stopping Caleb Plant in the 11th round with two dramatic knockdowns.
Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) added Plant’s IBF title to his own WBC, WBA and WBO belts with a steady tactical performance culminating in a brilliant display of his vaunted power to finish the previously unbeaten Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Mexican superstar generally recognized as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world became the sixth man to be a four-belt champion, and he joined junior welterweight Josh Taylor as the only current undisputed champs of their weight class.
After stopping three of his previous four opponents, Alvarez had to grind through a difficult matchup with the tenacious Plant (21-1), who usually moved backward and worked behind his jab to stay away from Canelo‘s power.
Alvarez remained persistent and racked up a volume of quality punches — and in the opening seconds of the 11th round, he sent Plant crashing to the canvas with a vicious combination followed by an uppercut while Plant tried to duck away.
Plant got up unsteadily, and Alvarez dropped him again with two big right hands, forcing referee Russell Mora to end it.
Plant is a sturdy champion and an inspirational athlete who overcame numerous personal tragedies to earn a shot at the pound-for-pound champ, but the Tennessee native found out just how big the gap remains between Canelo and his contemporaries.
Alvarez is the first Mexican fighter to reign undisputed atop a division, and every flag-waving fan in the vehemently pro-Canelo sellout crowd of 16,586 seemed aware of the achievement. The champion, a Guadalajara native, spoke frequently before the fight of his determination to achieve the feat both for himself and for Mexico.
Alvarez extended the most successful active career in boxing with his eighth consecutive victory in just over three years. He hasn’t lost in 16 fights since dropping a majority decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2013, with only a draw against Gennady Golovkin blemishing his record.
Alvarez and Plant had no personal animus until September, when Alvarez took offense to an insult from Plant during a news conference in Beverly Hills to promote the bout. Alvarez and Plant briefly scrapped, leaving Plant with a cut on his face and a new avenue of motivation.
Plant opened the biggest bout of his career with a solid game plan, tapping Alvarez with a solid jab and moving away from his opponent’s superior power, frequently using a shoulder roll to avoid trouble. Alvarez steadily walked down Plant and did damage in the fourth, backing him against the ropes and letting combinations fly.
Alvarez showed little fear of Plant’s punches, and he got even less heedful as the bout progressed. Alvarez gradually landed more effectively in the middle rounds, moving Plant backward and even daring the cautious Plant to hit him in the seventh.
Boxing gets frequent, deserved criticism as an institution for the promoter rivalries and fractious sanctioning bodies that prevent the best fighters from meeting each other far too often. But Alvarez used his star power to join an elite club by winning all four major belts.
Only five men had ever achieved four-belt undisputed champion status since the feat became possible with the WBO’s advent: middleweights Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor, junior welterweights Terence Crawford and Taylor, and cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk.
Taylor achieved the feat in May by beating Jose Ramirez. His first simultaneous defense of all four belts is scheduled for February in Glasgow against Jack Catterall.
In the co-main event, super middleweight veteran Anthony Dirrell earned his first win in nearly three years by stopping Marcos Hernandez in the opening moments of the fourth round with a vicious uppercut. The 37-year-old Dirrell celebrated with a standing backflip.
OK, live boxing from Vegas on the undercard next!
Elvis Rodriguez takes on Juan Pablo Romero in a welterweight clash now...
Andre Ward predicts Canelo vs Plant
“This is a great fight and a great opportunity for a fighter like Caleb Plant. I love this moment in his career where he’s fought solid competition, and he has the look and makings of a fighter that can go to the next level,” Andre Ward told Max On Boxing.
“He [Plant] has to prove it. I love these proving moments, and he’s getting that opportunity against Canelo on November 6th. Trust me; it’s not going 12.
“The thing about Caleb Plant, he couldn’t land a sucker punch on Canelo in the press conference. Canelo’s defense is real. He’s got to hit him in the ring now, and Canelo knows it’s coming. Who do you like in that fight? Canelo or Caleb Plant?
“I’m going to go with Caleb Plant. That’s my brother, so I’m going to support him all the way, but he’s got to prove it. He’s got the ability, he’s got the skills, but he’s got to turn up.”
Plant: Keys to victory
It’s no secret that Plant has to be almost perfect to stand a chance here, barring any kind of freakish injury for the Mexican.
The American has a crisp jab, which could become an annoyance early on, even if it’s not that heavy.
Plant’s right hand lacks that fight-changing power, but he has to throw it with some spite to deter Canelo from simply shutting down his more potent left.
Plant’s hands are fast, of that there’s no doubt, so combinations may be the way towards deterring Canelo - a gutsy task given the openings he will present Canelo, but against the cash cow, Plant has to be busy and active early and risk exposing his own gas tank to push Canelo to his own limits from the outset.
Canelo: Keys to victory
Canelo is a patient stalker, as shown against Kovalev, meaning he will happily give up some early momentum to Plant.
He did so against Saunders to some extent too, so Plant may well lead after three rounds.
But Canelo will be sure to land something hard each round, to remind Plant of his danger.
Also, if Canelo can move away from Plant’s left - to his left - it may blossom into a battle of the right hands and the Mexican certainly has a more even spread of power between both hands.
Canelo: Plant will feel something different
“I say, ‘You will see tomorrow. It’s time’,” Canelo told Showtime Sports. “I don’t need to say anything. It’s time. He will feel something different, believe me.
“Like I say before, for every action, there’s a reaction. I feel blessed, I feel motivated for all my fans. It means a lot.”
Mexico will stand still tonight to watch Canelo in his attempt to create more history as he rises up the list of greatest fighters from a country with such a rich history in boxing.
Mexican newspaper Record goes with a simple headline: “Undisputed”.
Canelo and Reynoso eye legacy-defining win
“Being the undisputed champion is huge for my legacy,” Canelo told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
“Not only would it be an honour to be the first Latin American fighter to do it, but there’s only a select club of fighters who have achieved this.
“Eddy and I said in the beginning that the goal was to be undisputed, and now we’re one fight away.
“Everyone knows what I’m going to do in the ring. When something is personal with me, it’s different. I have something special in my mind and I’m going to make it a great night for us.”
Canelo reacts to Ward predicting Plant upset
“Wow! But we’ll see,” Alvarez said after being informed that the legendary Andre Ward tipped Caleb Plant to win by knockout.
“It’s gonna be a knockout, for sure. I don’t wanna say that [meeting Ward is on the cards]. Maybe he wants to come out of retirement to fight me, but we’ll see.
“I’m in love with my power.”
Zach Parker closes in on Canelo Alvarez fight
A big win for Derby’s Zach Parker tonight, which moves him into position to face Canelo Alvarez down the line.
The 27-year-old dispatched Marcus Morrison, with the Mexican an option after rising up the WBO rankings, but Chris Eubank Jr could emerge as another spicy match if he wisely hangs about at domestic level.
Mark Tibbs on Canelo after training Billy Joe Saunders to fight the Mexican: "He's gone through the best opponents, Golovkin, Lara, Smith, he's dealt with them all in good fashion. He's a tough one to beat."
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