Alvarez, Plant finally come to terms over a fight in November
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Caleb Plant have finally decided upon a fight deal
Credit: Matchroom Boxing/AP
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) has been gunning for the super middleweight undisputed championship for the better part of the past four years. He has faced nearly every prominent opponent at the 168 pounds, ranging from Callum Smith to Billy Joe Saunders. The only opponent left for the Mexican champion before he can take complete control of the entire division is Caleb Plant (21-0, 12KOs).
Canelo and Plant have had nothing but difficulties planning the unification bout. In recent months, both camps have struggled to agree to an exclusive deal for the upcoming fight. Even so,it seems that a decision has finally been reached, and now the next most significant fight in boxing is bound for Nov. 6.
"I am very excited to have this fight before me," Alvarez said in a statement released Thursday. “I am happy because I am going to make history, and in my career, that's exactly what I want to do -- leave my mark in boxing.I can't wait to see all my fans on November 6."
The fight between the two champions was originally planned for Sept. 18; however, the negotiations for the deal fell through not long after Canelo's defeat of Saunders..
"The project since we got to 168 was this: to be the first Latino and Mexican to be undisputed," Alvarez's trainer Eddie Reynoso told ESPN. "It is something that I have been projecting for more than one year."
Plant will be the first boxer from Premier Boxing Champions that will face off against Alvarez, but it is hard to say if he will be the last. Canelo's last three fights have been streamed on DAZN and were promoted by Matchroom sports. However, Eddie Hearn will not be involved in the promotion of this event.
Plant claims that Alvarez will earn over $40 million for the fight from television revenue and Canelo's sponsorships. The American has, however, planned for the Mexican boxer dropping out or being injured.
"If I get injured or sick, then he gets a late replacement for the same amount of guaranteed money, but if he gets sick or injured, then we've got to wait for him," said Plant to ESPN.
Canelo and Plant will arguably lead to the biggest fight of the year. The two fighters have waited to unify the super middleweight division ever since Canelo's defeat of Billy Joe Saunders last May. The Mexican fighter will have three belts to defend against the Tennessean's singular IBF title. The winner of this bout will be the first person to unify the super middleweight division since the beginning of the 4-belt era.