Plant-Benavidez super middleweight clash all set for 2023

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Caleb Plant against David Benavidez. It’s finally happening, boxing world.

After years of back and forth in jockeying for their respective positions in the super middleweight division, one of the most talked about matchups will take boxing by storm next year after both fighters confirmed they already struck a deal.

Mike Coppinger, ESPN’s sports journalist, also announced that Plant and Benavidez are set for a blockbuster fight and will be presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

In an Instagram post, Benavidez posted: “You can’t hide from me anymore, I’ll see you soon.” Plant then replied: “I went and made it happen. Contract signed. See you early next year.”

Since displaying different approaches that made them effective champions, the Plant-Benavidez showdown will showcase one of the most interesting style clashes in the history of the sport.

Plant, the former IBF super middleweight champion, bounced back from his loss to Canelo Alvarez and knocked out Anthony Dirrell.

The fighter from Tennessee shocked the boxing world by storm after displaying a slick and evasive technique that combined calculated punches and an efficient defensive game that helped his record rise to 23 wins, 13 knockouts, and one defeat.

On the other hand, Benavidez is yet to taste his first-ever professional defeat and kept his record perfect in 26 fights.

The former WBC super middleweight champion possesses a different style compared to Plant and is more aggressive with his offensive game.

Benavidez is a lethal pressure fighter that relies on his volume of punches to disrupt his foes’ rhythm and game plan.

He was rumored to take on Alvarez after Plant’s loss but contracts weren’t signed which resulted in the latter’s decision to take on Dmitry Bivol in the light heavyweight division where he lost via unanimous decision.

The final venue and fight date are yet to be announced in the following months including the specific contract clauses for both boxers.