Despite a fairly ugly build up to this super middleweight unification bout between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant on Saturday night in Las Vegas, it’s been all business since fight week began on Monday for both fighters.
Alvarez and Plant have shown great restraint in going after one another and staying focused on the task at hand as first bell inches closer and closer.
Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) went as far as saying during Wednesday’s final press conference that “the media makes more of it when we do” when asked about the September scuffle between the two that went viral and caused a still visible cut below Plant’s left eye.
The native of Ashland City, Tennessee, was also quick to add, “we’ve both been in worse scuffles than that. When the bell rings, it’s completely different.” The bell will finally ring this weekend inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena (Showtime PPV, 9 p.m. ET)
Where any lingering grudge talk will be replaced by that of history as the 168-pound division crowns its first four-belt undisputed champion with Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) looking to continue his march through the record books.
A titleholder in four divisions, the 31-year-old Alvarez is the face of his own era and the rare pound-for-pound best fighter who doubles as the sport’s biggest draw. The Mexican icon has held strong as a large betting favorite and has flirted with the idea of a full-time move up to light heavyweight should he defeat Plant.
“The goal is to be an all-time great,” Alvarez said. “I’m so proud of the journey I’ve taken to achieve that. I’m not going to stop until I’ve tried my best to reach that goal. Only one thing is going through my mind, and that’s winning. Everything else is outside of my control. I only care about what’s going to happen inside of the ring Saturday night.”
Plant, 29, will bring elite hand and foot speed to the matchup and an aggressive style for a fighter not known as a one-punch knockout artist. His mental toughness has been a big focus in terms of the pre-fight narrative as he has promised to leave it all in the ring in the biggest fight of his pro career.
Canelo head movement 🤯 #Canelo #CaneloPlant #Alvarez pic.twitter.com/bEEAIUNpXq
— Hi (@QplazmP) November 7, 2021
.@Canelo tags Plant 👀 pic.twitter.com/FM9oS5gUJ8
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 7, 2021
And still champion.. Canelo Alvarez #caneloVsPlant pic.twitter.com/nOZewaGim1
— Kilminster_9 (@Kilminster_9) November 7, 2021
Let’s gooooooooooo canelo pic.twitter.com/vo5PRCH6bK
— EatMyLzzz-_ (@EatLzzz) November 7, 2021