Benavidez Overwhelms Plant With Power and Pressure To Earn Unanimous Decision Victory
Tonight, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, David Benavidez overcame the sound strategy of Caleb Plant by adapting to the situation, and delivering strong power punches from the inside.
In addition to the game plan that Plant found success with in the earlier rounds of the fight, he also showed a supreme ability to take a shot, and a lot of heart to continue fighting back even when things got extremely difficult. But, he was no match for Benavidez on this particular night.
Through the first five rounds, Plant used excellent lateral movement to keep Benavidez from getting his footing and unleashing his trademark rapid power shots. Furthermore, when Benavidez found a way to get close, Plant would clinch up to ensure that his opponent was unable to find a rhythm from inside the pocket. As soon as the referee would separate them, Plant would score with quick shots, then get back on the move.
This plan was coupled with combination punching that resembled shades of what we saw when Plant faced Anthony Dirrell; punching to the body then following up with a shot on the same side up high. But Benavidez was unfazed, and eventually began to find ways to use Plant’s strategy against him.
#BenavidezPlant is cookin 🔥
Order 👉 https://t.co/BYO7umzWX0 pic.twitter.com/4PzuZ1FKMx
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) March 26, 2023
The sixth round is when the tides really turned in Benavidez’s favor. While Plant was still moving around the ring quite well, “The Mexican Monster” began to expect the clinch from his opponent when the pair would get close. He started to unleash mid ranged combos and big shots to the side of Plant’s head before he would get a chance to grab on.
.@SweetHandsPlant and @Benavidez300 trade combinations at the end of RD6.
Buy #BenavidezPlant on @ShowtimeBoxing PPV NOW: https://t.co/JEpjQn80Br pic.twitter.com/JUxDLwgsko
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 26, 2023
This trend continued for the majority of the back half of the fight, and Benavidez also started cutting the ring off and utilizing his jab much better than he was in the early rounds, leaving Plant no choice but to exchange at close range. This resulted in Plant being shaken up by powerful hooks on multiple occasions, and you could really see his composure slipping away as things progressed.
Jab work for @Benavidez300 👊#BenavidezPlant pic.twitter.com/aE6MYzCucK
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) March 26, 2023
In the tenth round, Benavidez had Plant hurt in a big way from an absolute bomb of a right hand. It was obvious that Benavidez smelled the blood in the water as he began to stalk his opponent and land multiple consecutive shots in what looked like a game of target practice.
The championship rounds were all Benavidez, as he continued to unload powerful shots from inside the pocket in an attempt to end the match, but Plant continued to display his iron chin. The bout ended with both competitors toe-to-toe trading shots and leaving everything they had in the ring, in a showing of true combat excellence.
WHAT A FIGHT 💥
Give it up to @Benavidez300 & @SweetHandsPlant 🙌#BenavidezPlant pic.twitter.com/sdAx0gthcE
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) March 26, 2023
Displaying their outstanding sportsmanship, the two main event athletes buried the hatchet of the beef between them that has been ongoing for years, and complimented one another on their fighting ability.
Forging respect in the most violent way possible 🤝@Benavidez300 @SweetHandsPlant #BenavidezPlant pic.twitter.com/jWfKwHw2CC
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) March 26, 2023
The story of this fight came down to Benavidez’s ability to adapt based on his opponent’s game plan, and not allow the clinching to break his rhythm. Because of this, he was able to overwhelm Plant with inside punching to the body to get him to drop his hands, and then deliver massive strikes to the head.
Through this bout, Benavidez has added a 27th win to his undefeated record. Meanwhile, Caleb Plant suffered his second loss in three fights, but became just the fourth opponent to go the distance inside the squared circle with “The Mexican Monster”.
With the retention of his interim WBC super middleweight title, everyone is hoping that we will see Benavidez face the undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez, sooner rather than later.
Benavidez exclaimed during the post fight interview that is the fight he wants next, and he wants it in September.
“I have a lot of respect for Canelo Alvarez, but he has to give that shot now, that’s what everybody wants to see. Me versus Canelo, let’s make it happen in September.”
Benavidez wants Canelo next 👀 #BenavidezPlant
(via @ShowtimeBoxing) pic.twitter.com/jS74h88z34
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) March 26, 2023
Official Result: David Benavidez def. Caleb Plant via Unanimous Decision (115-113, 116-112, 117-111)