A superb looking headliner takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where the interim WBC super middleweight title is at stake between the champion, David Benavidez, and Caleb Plant.
SHOWTIME televise Benavidez vs Plant on pay-per-view in the USA and on FITE TV pay-per-view in the UK.
Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) has held the full version of this title once before, getting off the deck in the final round to take a split decision win against Ronald Gavril for the vacant belt in September 2017 before winning near enough every round of a rematch five months later.
After one more defence, the 26-year-old then lost the title after missing weight ahead of a contest against Roamer Alexis Angulo in August 2020, eventually winning in the tenth round, and hasn’t fought for the strap since, with undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez holding the title, with the winner becoming mandatory to the Mexican great, who defends his belts against John Ryder on May 6.
Benavidez was last out in May last year, blasting out David Lemieux in three.
Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) should provide the Phoenix native with his stiffest test, having previously served as IBF champion in January 2019 with a points win against Jose Uzcategui.
’Sweethands’ made three defences before daring for undisputed greatness, giving a good account of himself before being stopped by Canelo in eleven in November 2021.
The 30-year-old returned last November, knocking out Anthony Dirrell in nine.
Prediction: Although Benavidez is unbeaten, he is largely unproven, and I was impressed with Plant’s performance against Canelo. For that reason, I edge towards Plant to take a tight points win.
Crowley clashes with Ramos
Welterweight contender, Cody Crowley (21-0, 9 KOs) appears on the undercard, and the Canadian can move closer to a world title shot by securing a points win over ten against Abel Ramos (27-5-2, 21 KOs).
View this post on Instagram
Remaining Undercard
In other ten rounders, at super welterweight, Jesus Alejandro Ramos (19-0, 15 KOs) should remain unbeaten with a stoppage win in the battle of the unbeatens with Joseph Spencer (16-0, 10 KOs), and at lightweight, Chris Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) can return to winning ways with a points success against Jose Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KOs) who is coming off a knockout loss.
Super bantamweight, Kevin Gonzalez (25-0-1, 13 KOs) can halt Jose Sanmartin (34-6-1, 21 KOs) inside schedule, and Orestes Velazquez (6-0, 6 KOs) may have to go the distance for the first time against Marcelino Nicolas Lopez (37-2-1, 22 KOs).
View this post on Instagram
The sole eight rounder is at super featherweight, where Demler Zamora (10-0, 8 KOs) can outscore Jesus Abel Ibarra (15-0, 7 KOs).
The only six rounder comes at super middleweight, and Daniel Blancas (5-0, 3 KOs) can remain unbeaten with a stoppage win against Nicholas Molina (4-1-1, 4 KOs).
