Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime / Courtesy
David Benavídez was slow to carburete, at times he looked passive and could not connect to the elusive Caleb Plant, a defensive specialist. But by the time this Saturday’s fight drew to a close, the only question in the arena of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was whether the so-called “Mexican Monster” was going to get the knockout.
Caleb Plant survived and actually closed well in round 12, showing heart. However, David Benavídez ended up pummeling him in the second half of the bout to win via unanimous decision and retain the interim World Boxing Council super middleweight championship.
Benavidez, now 27-0 (23 KOs), had said he hoped to knock Plant out in less than six rounds to end a years-long bad relationship between them. There was no knockout, but the fighter of Mexican and Ecuadorian blood did the job. He needed a big win and this was it. before a packed arena and in the presence of celebrities like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gervonta Davis.
“I have a lot of respect for Canelo Álvarez, but it is time for him to give me a chance,” said Benavídez. after getting his best win in professional boxing after the ballots of 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111 from the judges.
Plant (22-2) had his moments in the early rounds using every inch of the ring, jabbing very quickly, and when Benavidez attacked him, he embraced him to the delight of experienced referee Kenny Bayless.
Despite the hugs and the slow start, Benavídez imposed conditions between rounds 8 and 11, in which he increased his number of punches and bloodied Plant’s face. It seemed over and over again that he was going to knock him out.
The referee let Caleb Plant hold David Benavídez the entire fight
Accustomed to attacking and overwhelming his opponents with a volume of blows that few boxers can boast, David Benavídez was different in the first five rounds this Saturday: he was selective, he did not look comfortable and when he threw, he missed a lot against Plant, who every time who felt in danger, hugged the man born in Phoenix.
Plant’s hugs were an important part of the fight. Not only did they allow him to prevent the “Mexican Monster” from reaching out and connecting, but he managed to dirty the actions enough to prevent Benavídez from getting into rhythm and distance. The fact that the referee never called him out upset many in the arena.
Plant also landed two low blows without penalty, most notably one in the fourth round that required a pause in the action for Benavídez to recover.
Kenny Bayless, yes, admonished Benavídez for pushing Plant’s head with his gloves on a few occasions to try to get rid of the endless hugs. The referee did it during the rounds and also in the undefeated boxer’s corner after the end of a round, as seen on the Showtime PPV broadcast.
In order to carburete and take control of the fight, Benavídez had two keys: the jab with his long arms and the uppercut to solve many times before the pile-up of Plant. And then, when he had a bit of space, he’d throw a powerful upside down right hand that whittled down the Tennessee fighter.
A sequence that summarizes how the fight went occurred in round 10 when Benavídez, held by his rival’s right arm, landed up to four good straight left shots to the head and body.
“I had to take that fight one step at a time, round by round. Caleb Plant is a tough fighter,” Benavídez commented. “But I think I showed my power shots, good defense, head movement and I was able to move around the ring and cut the ring very well.”
The triumph of Benavídez, who entered the ring with the flags of Mexico and Ecuador, was unquestionable. Beating a former world champion like Caleb Plant was necessary and it can lead to more big fights for him. “Long live Mexico and long live Ecuador,” he proclaimed in the ring.
After the tension and verbal aggression between them, Benavídez and Plant finally touched gloves before the final round and after the unanimous decision they embraced, with Plant recognizing Benavídez as a “great fighter”, a story similar to that of his rivalry with Canelo Álvarez from a couple of years ago.
“We haven’t been the best of friends, but we got in the ring and we fixed it up,” Plant said. “David was the best tonight, I don’t detract from him. Congratulations to him and his family. He is an extraordinary fighter.”
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