On Saturday night, two of the best super middleweight boxers in the world will meet in Las Vegas and fight for the interim WBC title. Caleb Plant carries a record of 23-1 and the hopes of challenging Saul Canelo Alvarez once again. Meanwhile, David Benavidez carries an undefeated record and hopes of regaining his world title. However, the records and future plans of both fighters seem to be an afterthought given the bad blood between the two men.
Plant and Benavidez have exchanged insults via social media, during press conferences and run-ins throughout the better part of five years. During a recent interview with Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor of The Pivot, Plant explained why his beef with Benavidez has intensified over the years.
“As far as the Benavidez thing, I mean…that really started out as just something where we agree to disagree [about who’s better],” he told Clark, Crowder and Taylor.
“Over time, it just developed into something more. [At one point], it was normal fight banter. But then, [Benavidez’s] dad hopped on an interview and said that I only talk about Aaliyah to get clout and to be famous.”
Before Plant was a world champion, the Tennessee native lost his first daughter, Aaliyah, at just 19 months. Since then, the Tennessee native has gone on to marry FOX Sports Reporter Jordan Plant and welcome his second child into the world. However, the loss of his daughter, Aaliyah, is still something that sticks with him.
“He’s liked pictures on Instagram of me and Aaliyah laying in the hospital together,” Plant said about Benavidez’s father, Jose.
“Whatever you want to say about me, go ahead. If you want to talk about the bros, go ahead. If you want to talk about my Dad, that’s cool. [If you want to talk about] boxing, that’s cool. Anything you want to say, [it’s cool]. But once you start bringing up someone’s Mom, kids or wife, that’s like a different level [of disrespect]. What happened between me and Canelo, we shook hands after. Some things you don’t come back from and that’s not something that is ever reversible for me.”
Caleb Plant will have an opportunity to settle the score when the two men meet at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 25, 2023.
