David Benavídez vs Caleb Plant and Stacked PPV Card Promises Fireworks
By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña
Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, bitter rivals David “The Mexican Monster” Benavídez (26-0, 23 KOs) and Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) will battle it out for the interim WBC World Super Middleweight Title. This modern-day grudge match between two warriors who have had reigns as champions at 168 pounds are both eager to once again ascend to the top of the division. The 25-year-old undefeated Benavídez became the youngest-ever Super Middleweight World Champion at just 20 years old when he defeated Ronald Gavril by split decision for the vacant WBC title in 2017. The Phoenix-native who now lives and trains in the Seattle area, is one of the hardest puncher’s in the division and plans on showcasing that power in this fight. “I’m gonna break Caleb’s jaw on Saturday night, by the sixth round.” Stated Benavídez at today’s final press conference “I’ve been working extremely hard and I’m super ready. All the talk is done. I see Caleb has been doing that grave digging gesture, but he’s digging his own grave. We’re gonna see what that chin is like on Saturday.” Benavídez has knockout power in both hands and will to win. As a chubby 250lb teenager Benavídez became somewhat of a mythical legend in the boxing community, when at 14 years old he was sparring and holding his own against the the like of Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin. Now after knocking out his last six opponents Benavídez heads into this explosive matchup confident he’ll be victorious. “I can’t wait until they put me in the ring with him so I can beat his ass, This is going to be a great night for boxing fans. I can’t wait to step in there and give everyone the beatdown they’re coming to see.”
David Benavídez talks his upcoming fight with the media (photo by Trapp Photos)
For the former IBF Super Middlweight Champion Caleb Plant a victory over Benavídez could catapult him back into a rematch, and a chance to avenge the only loss of his career against the face of boxing and the undisputed 168lb Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Plant however has a big task in front of him and will need to utilize all of his boxing acumens come Saturday night. Training for only the second time under the tutlage of Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, the 30-year old Plant clearly understands the task at hand. “David is a good fighter, and he knows I’m a good fighter too. I’m not interested in fighting bums. I want to fight good fighters for the fans and for my legacy.” stated Plant who went onto to say “The fans are going to see me get my hand raised. That’s what I’m guaranteeing. I feel I’m the better boxer, I have the better IQ and I have more experience. I have the better pedigree and it’s gonna show on Saturday night.”
Caleb Plant promises his hand will be raised Saturday night (photo by Trapp Photos)
The Plant – Benavídez fight is one that will showcase a great pressure fighter in Benavídez against a savvy technical, highly skilled boxer in Plant. These are two fighters who are in the prime of their career and their war of words will be settled in the ring this Saturday. “This is one of the biggest and potentially most explosive fights that can be made in boxing, not just in the super middleweight division,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “It pits two fighters at the peak of their athletic primes, both with prodigious skill-sets and contrasting styles, both of whom take great pride in the way they perform. It is an intriguing matchup and the outcome is impossible to predict. Add in their genuine and mutual dislike for one another and we have a volatile, 50-50 matchup and potential fight-of-the-year candidate.
In the Co-main event unbeaten rising stars Jesús “Mono” Ramos (19-0,15 KOs ) and Joey Spencer (16-0, 10 KOs) will go toe-to-toe in a 10-round super welterweight bout. A native of Casa Grande, Arizona, Ramos has big back-to-back wins over Luke Santamaria and Vladimir Hernandez and has gained praise recently with highlight-reel knockouts stopping six of his last nine opponents. Now Saturday night Ramos will look to get one step closer to a World title opportunity with a victory. “I took this fight because I want respect. I want people to know that I’m here. I’m coming to make a statement at 154 pounds. Whoever wins this fight catapults themselves to the next level. That’s what I’m here for. I think we’re both good boxers and it could definitely go the distance, but if we really want to prove something, we have to get the stoppage.” stated Ramos.
Jesus Ramos and Joey Spencer ready for war (photo by Trapp Photos)
The 22-year-old Spencer who began his career in 2018 caught the eye of boxing fans with his combination of speed, power and athleticism. Spencer’s most recently came away with a big one sided win over the previously unbeaten Kevin Salgado. That fight he controlled the action throughout and scored a unanimous decision victory. “It’s not that often that fans get to see fights between two undefeated rising fighters like Jesús Ramos and I’m thankful to be a part of it,” said Spencer. “This is the fight I asked for, and for it to take place on one of the biggest cards of the year is very special. I’m training to put the rest of the division on notice come fight night.”
Also on the card rising lightweight contenders Chris “Primetime” Colbert and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, enter the ring for a lightweight showdown. Representing his native Brooklyn, N.Y., Chris Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) will look to impress boxing fans in his lightweight debut against the 23-year-old Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KOs) who trains as a stablemate of unbeaten two-time world champion David Benavidez and will look for a big bounce back victory after dropping a September 2022 contest to Edwin De Los Santos. “He’s in for a long night. I went back to the drawing board and prepared tremendously. I focused a lot on myself and cleaned everything up. I’m ready. Stated Valenzuela. “I think I have more advantages. I’m a natural 135 pounder. He was dropped by a 130-pounder and Saturday night I’m going to show him why the lightweight division is a different story.” Colbert who is moving up in weight came up short in a hard-fought contest to super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in February 2022, will look to get back to his winning ways Saturday night. “I wouldn’t say I’m desperate, but I know what happened in my last fight. No excuses. Everything happens for a reason though. I just know that I’m getting the win on Saturday. He’s a tough competitor, but I’m going to do what I do best, and that’s win.” said Colbert “There’s no pressure on me. I’m ready to go the distance. I’m just the overall better fighter. If all he’s got is power to beat me, he’s got another thing coming, he better hope his tool-box is full on Saturday.
Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela and Chris “Primetime” Colbert face-off at today’s final press conference (photo by Trapp Photos)
To kick off the televised PPV card undefeated Cody Crowley (21-0, 9 KOs) of Ontario, Canada returns to the ring to battle Abel Ramos (27-5-2, 21 KOs) who is part of the Ramos boxing family out of Casa Grande, Arizona, which includes his nephew, and rising star Jesús Ramos, who he will be sharing a card with for the fourth-straight time. “Abel knows what to expect, I just hope he has the greatest sleep of his life Friday night, because I want the best Abel Ramos standing at the center of the ring and ready for a world of hurt.” said Crowley “My main concern is that every fan in the stadium is standing on their feet at the end of a Cody Crowley fight. Expect fireworks.” Ramos who believes he can get one step closer to a world championship fight stated “I’m excited. I’m glad he’s got this type of mindset. It’s gonna be a good show for the fans. I’m gonna hit him with good power shots. I don’t think he’s felt power like mine and he’s gonna feel it Saturday.”
Cody Crowley and Abel Ramos are ready to give fans their monies worth (photo by Trapp Photos)
