That was his first title bout, and he rose to the occasion with a decision victory over Uzcategui. Plant turned professional in May 2014 with a first-round KO, but he wasn't in a notable fight until January 2019. That patience has been tested in the pros. This sport is a marathon, it's not a sprint. "Teachers in school telling me I need a Plan B: 'What are the chances of you becoming a professional boxer?'" Plant said. But he was still far away from realizing his dream. The talent was apparent and the hard work was paying off. On his way to earning a spot as an Olympic alternate for the 2012 Games in London, Plant won the National Golden Gloves at 178 pounds. "Not something I gave myself," says "Sweethands" Plant. The other kids would see Plant go to work and say, "Man, you've got some sweet hands." A boxing moniker was born. His success derived from quick combinations, a strong jab and fancy footwork. He excelled in the amateurs, routinely participating in older age groups, and placed fourth at the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships. "Why do we have to be poor? Why can't I have them clothes? Why can't I have them shoes? Why can't I live in that house? I would be in my room, sometimes emotionally upset, and thinking, 'I'm not going to be like this forever.'" "It made me really upset," Plant, now 29, recalls. He found the sport at age 9 and, along with his kickboxer father, Richie, mapped out a plan to escape not just poverty, but all the heartache. Plant dreamed of a better life, and boxing was his way there. He was part of that 18%, a reality that was drilled into him when he would see celebrities on TV flaunting the latest clothes and cars. PLANT GREW UP in Ashland City, a town 20 miles outside Nashville with a population of less than 5,000 and, according to the World Population Review, a poverty rate over 18%. "So I know how I got here: It was through my hard work and my dedication, through a lot of sacrifice and, most importantly, a lot of self-belief." ![]() I mapped this out, me and my dad when we first started. "This didn't happen by accident," Plant, a 6-1 underdog, says moments before working out at City Boxing Club last month. And Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) is certain that confidence will lift him to victory once more in his biggest fight yet: Saturday's meeting with pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas for the undisputed super middleweight championship (9 p.m. ![]() His unbreakable will served him well when, as a 5-1 underdog, he upended Jose Uzcategui in 2019 to win a super middleweight title. His way out from the trailer park, his therapy for all the hurt, was the boxing ring. Plant pushed forward the only way he knew how: with unflappable personal discipline and dedication to his craft. Just over four years later, his mother, Beth, was killed in a shooting involving a police officer. His daughter, Alia, died three months shy of her second birthday. Personal tragedy served to strengthen that steely resolve. LAS VEGAS - Even during those hot summer days spent in a trailer park outside Nashville, Tennessee, Caleb Plant knew he was meant for so much more. It was all over - Plant had won.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĪfter fighting through personal loss, Caleb Plant pursues his greatest career win against Canelo Alvarez In the ninth round of his fight with Dirrell this weekend, Plant put that advice into practice as he attacked the side of his opponent's body with a left, before transitioning quickly into a hook shot that caught Dirrell so clean, it flattened him in an instant. They were clearly working on power through the camp. ![]() That is, to ensure one's weight is firmly on the balls of one's feet when punching, to maximize power. The brutal ending was likely one that had been rehearsed at length.Īt a media workout in Las Vegas last month, Insider observed Plant's coach Stephen "Breadman" Edwards imploring his fighter to "sit down" on his punches. It was expected to be a 12-round affair, but Plant - who desperately wanted to rebound following an 11th-round knockout loss to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez - finished Dirrell in a manner so violent and spectacular it will surely be considered in any Knockout of the Year awards. Watch Plant annihilate Dirrell with a hook, before an equally violent celebration, right here.Ī red-hot super middleweight rivalry came to a head on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.Ĭaleb Plant and Anthony Dirrell jawed at one another during a hostile promotion ahead of their 168-pound boxing contest. The 30-year-old boxer was hoping to rebound following a defeat to Canelo Alvarez last year. Getty ImagesĬaleb Plant scored a thumping knockout win on Saturday against Anthony Dirrell.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |