It’s fight week in September, which almost always means Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is headlining an event traditionally held on Mexican Independence Weekend. This time, it also marks the long-awaited return of former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) who will face top contender Trevor McCumby (28-0, 21 KOs) on the undercard headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas, NV. Although McCumby isn’t the biggest name in the division, Plant still looks to take his “Revenge Tour” brand and lifestyle to new heights beginning on Saturday night.
Although his popularity is at an all-time high, the 32-year-old Plant from Nashville, TN, wasn’t always a fan favorite. He debuted in May 2014 and racked up quite a few wins before making his way onto TV screens, with his fights more notably being seen on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). There was a growing level of frustration among the fans as Plant’s style wasn’t appealing. From 2016 to 2018, it was one unanimous decision after another. It wasn’t until his fight for the IBF title in January 2019 against then-champion Jose Uzcategui that a light appeared to have switched on for Plant.
Leading into that night, Plant had finally gotten the title opportunity that he had long desired, but it came with the pressure of winning a world title for his daughter, to whom he had promised a championship. His daughter Alia passed away in 2015 at 19 months of age, and it’s a loss he carried heavily. During the Uzcategui fight, fans saw Plant display immense heart and fight in an inspiring manner. Plant would earn a well-deserved unanimous decision and broke down in the middle of the ring, fulfilling a promise to his daughter while also beginning a new life by proposing to his longtime girlfriend, Jordan.
Reflecting on that night, Plant does agree that winning the title elevated him in more ways than one. “In 2017, I won prospect of the year and still doing good, was undefeated and had quite a few knockouts,” said Plant. “Winning the world title, I wanted to do that for Alia. That’s a promise I made to her. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders because that really meant so much to me. While it was giving me fuel, maybe at the same time, it was putting pressure on me.” Plant continued, “I’ve heard from other coaches that after you win a world title that your confidence goes up, and I definitely felt that. I’ve been on a roll since then. I lost to Canelo, and that’s when I really thought that I needed to get on my Revenge Tour and maybe me and Canelo can run that back so I can right that wrong.”
Speaking of “The Revenge Tour”, it’s a lifestyle brand Plant created, not your ordinary fighter merchandise. It doesn’t have his name on it or his face but rather trendy designs which can be worn in any setting. It was birthed shortly after Plant savagely knocked out Anthony Dirrell in the ninth round of their October 2022 fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Plant famously made a shovel throwing dirt gesture at Dirrell while he lay on the floor as the war of words was intense throughout fight week.
The merchandise caught fire right away, and in the fashion industry, where brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are the largely popular brands, Plant has carved out a small niche for his clothing apparel, which fans have gravitated towards. Was he surprised by the demand for his brand of merchandise?
“Maybe a little on how fast it has taken off, how much support it has gotten, and how fast it sells out every time we drop something,” said Plant. “I think people gravitate towards it because people know it’s a genuine life I have lived. I’m not just saying it or talking about it. I have literally lived my life getting my revenge on life. It sounds negative when you first think of revenge, but a lot of us come from a place where we didn’t have much growing up, and we wanted more for ourselves, so we are getting revenge on the fact we didn’t have much, all of the times we were told no, all of the times we were told we weren’t good enough and all of the trials life throws at you.”
While his brand continued to gain popularity, Plant’s career stalled for a short time. He fought only once after the Dirrell fight, which resulted in a unanimous decision loss to David Benavidez in March 2023. That was 18 months ago. Plant fell victim to the waiting game as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) ended their deal with Showtime Boxing at the end of 2023 due to a corporate merger. PBC then rolled out a new agreement with Prime Video. Plant didn’t allow the situation to frustrate him and kept it business as usual regarding his life and career.
“I think it just took a little bit of time with PBC locking in the new deal. I’m not the only fighter that has had to deal with that (lengthy time away from the ring). I was just really focused on the things that I can control, like my attitude every day, going to the gym and getting better, keeping my weight in check and going to physical therapy every week, etc. Focusing on the things I can control, knowing that eventually when my time comes, I’m in the right spot and prepared.”
On Saturday night, Plant faces McCumby, who fans believe hasn’t earned a big fight as his resume is thin compared to Plant’s. However the former IBF super middleweight champion isn’t taking him lightly. On the contrary, he sees a little of himself in McCumby. “This is a big fight,” said Plant. “The interim WBA super middleweight title is on the line. He’s undefeated and a fighter that wants to keep it that way. This is his big moment, and I know how I felt when I had my big moment against Uzcategui, so I would be a fool to underestimate him.” Plant added, “It’s happened a million times in boxing (an underdog upset). I don’t want to be the million and one.”
Plant knows what’s at stake but is confident that he will not only leave the ring with the interim WBA title, but also leave a lasting impression on those attending the fight live in Las Vegas or watching it on PPV. “And the new WBA interim champion” is what Plant said you will hear on Saturday night. “I’m looking to handle business in fashion whether that’s a vicious as$ whooping over 12 rounds or it’s a knockout/stoppage. People will walk away saying, ‘That’s a bad boy right there.’” Let’s see if Plant’s comments translate to an entertaining fight, as he is part of a card headlined by boxing’s biggest star, Canelo.
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