Caleb Plant on showdown with Canelo Alvarez: 'He's got a tall order ahead of him'
Caleb Plant has heard how Canelo Alvarez and his trainer believe their fight on Nov. 6 will play out: The first few rounds will be tricky for the Mexican star but then he’ll take over.
Plant believes Alvarez and Co. are partly right … but mostly wrong.
“The first couple of rounds are going to be tough, the middle rounds are going to be tough and the late rounds are going to be tough,” Plant said before a media workout on Wednesday. “He’s got a tall order ahead of him.
“I’m prepared, I’m focused and my team is ready. I just encourage everyone to tune in because there are going to be fireworks.”
Yes, Plant, a prohibitive underdog, is confident going into their pay-per-view fight for the undisputed super middleweight championship.
He believes that faith in himself is something that some of Alvarez’s past victims might’ve been missing, leaving them at a distinct disadvantage going into the fight.
“I think there have been some guys who have lost the fight before the [opening] bell rang,” he said. “I think that’s one reason he’s irritated with me. Some guys come in and they’re there to let him win or hand over their belt, get their check and leave.
“Anyone who knows me … knows that I’m not here for the media, for the press. I’m not here for the check. Like I said, I’m here for those belts and here for that win.”
Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) is the favorite for a reason. The pound-for-pounder has taken down a dozen or more elite opponents who were more accomplished than Plant at the time Alvarez fought them.
Plant does have two advantages to go with solid all-around ability, however: Height and reach. He is 6-foot-1, Alvarez 5-8. And Plant has a 3½-inch reach advantage.
Of course, other opponents of Alvarez have had similar advantages and failed to win. Plant’s trainer, Justin Gamber, acknowledges that fact. At the same time, he’s certain that things will be different on Nov. 6.
“It’ll only make a difference in the fight if we use it in the right way,” Gamber said of Plant’s size advantages. “There have been a lot of guys bigger and longer than Canelo, where it hasn’t been a factor. … Luckily we have the tools and the ability to use it the right way, the skills to use our height, reach and our physical attributes the right way.
“I expect Caleb to do that on fight night.”