Canelo Álvarez defeated Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, November 6th. The bout lasted into an 11th round TKO for Canelo after he dropped Plant, and he then returned to his feet dazed; he continued with the referee, but Canelo could sense his hands low and pressed in a rush for the finish and got another knock down that was the final blow.
The last odds from Caesar Sportsbook listed Canelo as a heavy -800 favorite, while Plant was a +550 underdog. I think there is more than just one storyline with this whole night, though; it’s about Canelo becoming the first undisputed Super Middleweight Champion now holding the WBA, WBC, Ring Magazine, WBO, and now the IBF title with an immaculate record of (57-1-2). What I mean by I believe there is more than just one side is that Caleb Plant lost that fight. Still, to who probably one of the top boxers of this era and the best in his weight class right now, his record was only 21-0 before this was his first loss, but what comes with losses is the experience he learned that he could hang with the best for 11 rounds. Maybe Plant will feel later he is still in the conversation with top contenders in the Middleweight division because he showed more in that loss than he has in his wins.
For Canelo, what is next? He’s still 31 but has nothing much to prove. This bout against Plant unified all the belts he had before with Plant’s IBF title to have all the straps in the division for total undisputed status. There are some rumors with the welterweight champion of the UFC, Kamaru Usman making it public that he would like that “challenge” of having to face someone like Canelo potentially in boxing. Who’s to say? Dana White isn’t interested in that kind of event for his athletes after letting McGregor box against Mayweather. There is nowhere in my mind that Canelo gets in the octagon because he’s a boxer. I honestly believe in how combat sports is money usually can dictate one’s opponent besides always for the championship, so maybe we see Canelo vs. Usman because they’re the best welterweights. It draws, and they both have significant fans; it’s attractive to both MMA and Boxing, it’s unusual, and is undoubtedly something potentially in the future, probably even as an exhibition.
