Is anyone brave enough to pick Caleb Plant to upset Canelo Alvarez? (Spoiler: Nope)
The picks are in for Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant for the undisputed super-middleweight title. Even though Caleb Plant is a worthy world champion and a really good fighter, he’s not on Canelo Alvarez’s level in the eyes of both the Bloody Elbow and Bad Left Hook teams. It’s Canelo across the board and everyone believes a stoppage is destined to be the outcome.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant
Mookie Alexander: I don’t know how Plant wins this fight. He doesn’t have the power to hurt Canelo so that means he has to outbox him over 12 rounds, which is only marginally more possible than him knocking Canelo out. Plant has a really good jab, moves around the ring well, and his left hook is underrated. But the problem for Plant is everything he’s really good at, Canelo is great at. And one area where I expect Canelo to make Plant’s life miserable is by attacking the body relentlessly and working in some uppercuts off the hooks downstairs. This looks like a fight where Plant may get a round or two early but Canelo is just going to steadily pick Plant apart, wear him down, and stop him late. Canelo Alvarez by TKO, round 11.
Lucas Bourdon (from preview): Plant is a very good fighter but it is tough to envision his combos getting past Canelo’s multiple layers of defense. Canelo is equally able to parry, block or dodge and is one of the best counter punchers in the sport. He will likely look to pressure early, let Plant fire and punish him to the body. Plant’s footwork likely isn’t good enough and his right hand isn’t enough of a deterrent to prevent Canelo from walking him down. He’s also slowed down late in fights before, notably against Uzcategui and while Canelo’s had cardio issues himself before, those seem to be a thing of the past now that he’s fighting at higher weights. Canelo winning via late round stoppage after a lot of body work in the first half seems like the most likely outcome.
Scott Christ (Bad Left Hook): Without the power to deter Canelo, Plant has to sincerely and thoroughly out-box the Mexican superstar. I think Plant’s a really good boxer, but I don’t believe he’s quite good enough to do that. I think Caleb will win rounds, some early when Canelo is feeling it out, bujt I also think Canelo’s going to stop him when he turns up the heat later in the fight, having done progressive damage. I don’t think Alvarez plans to promise a stoppage and not deliver, but he won’t do it recklessly. Canelo TKO-11
Wil Esco (Bad Left Hook): Since beating Uzcategui, Caleb Plant has gone on to defend his IBF title against “Subway” Mike Lee, an obscure Vincent Feigenbutz, and a shopworn Caleb Truax — all three appearing to be particularly contrived title defenses that never really sat too well with me. Now Plant is headed into his biggest career opportunity against the current pound-for-pound king in Canelo Alvarez. I genuinely think Plant is a good fighter, but forgive me for not believing Lee, Feigenbutz, and Truax are the type of opponents who prepare you to face someone like Canelo. Canelo is a massive step up in talent and ability from all those fighters, even a big step up from Uzcategui, and I think Plant will find that things are just different when standing in front of a fighter like this. I’ve got Plant giving Canelo some trouble early with his movement, but I think Canelo eventually finds his range and does damage. Canelo TKO-10
Staff picking Canelo: Mookie, Lucas, Stephie, Scott (BLH), Wil (BLH)
Staff picking Plant: