Caleb Plant, Anthony Dirrell Sign Deal For Super Middleweight Fight

A matchup between Caleb Plant and David Benavidez won’t be happening just yet.

Instead, Plant will be facing fellow former super middleweight titlist Anthony Dirrell on a date yet to be determined.

Plant and Benavidez were reported to fight in September, but Jose Benavidez Sr., David’s father, claimed that Plant declined.

“Team Benavidez has reached out to Team Plant and unfortunately, Caleb Plant has declined to fight David Benavidez September 2022,” he said.

“David is willing to make the best fights happen for the fans, but unfortunately the fighters who the fans want to see, do not want to fight @benavidez300.

“We will continue to prepare hard for his upcoming fight on May 21st against David Lemieux Interim WBC World Super Middleweight Title.”

Boxing Scene’s Jake Donovan further reported that the negotiations “never evolved past casual discussion,” but the goal is to have the winners of Plant-Dirrell and Benavidez-Lemieux face each other “later this year.”

Plant responded to Donovan’s tweet:

“He had a fight signed before me, then I get a fight signed, then he says some and y’all believe it. When are y’all going to learn that I don’t have hide or lie about anything. I haven’t proved my character yet?”

He had a fight signed before me, then I get a fight signed, then he says some 🧢 and y’all believe it. When are y’all going to learn that I don’t have hide or lie about anything. I haven’t proved my character yet? https://t.co/qNG59rn1vw

— CalebPlant (@SweetHandsPlant) March 14, 2022

Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) hasn’t fought since being stripped of his IBF super middleweight belt by an 11th round knockout against Canelo Alvarez.

Dirrell (34-2-2, 25 KOs) fought on the same night, on the undercard, and knocked out Marcos Hernandez in the sixth round. In September 2019, he suffered a ninth-round stoppage by Benavidez.

Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) will, meanwhile, make a second straight hometown appearance and face David Lemieux in a vacant interim WBC super middleweight title match on May 21.