One of the best super middleweight bouts has been completed.
David Benavidez will meet Caleb Plant in a pay-per-view battle for the titleholders on March 25 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it was announced Wednesday.
Benavidez and Plant were ranked 1 and 2 by the WBC. The plant was ranked in the Top 3 of all four major sanctioning agencies.
The rivalry went on for years as the two frequently exchanged trash talk.
“I can’t wait until they put me in the ring with him so I can beat him,” Benavidez said. “This is going to be a great night for boxing fans. I can’t wait to step in there and show everyone the takedown they’re about to see.”
Plant said: “After I kill [Anthony] Dirrell, I’ve made it clear that I want to pursue the greatest possible battle within the division. This is one of the most anticipated fights and here I am again, showing the world why I am one of boxing’s biggest attractions.
“I feel sharp and in place. I’m looking forward to March 25, not only to give the fans what they’ve been waiting for, but to show who’s better.”
Benavidez (26-0.23 KOs) is a two-time former champion who is often considered the second-best 168-pound athlete, behind only undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez. And many believe he can cause trouble for the Mexican star.
The 26-year-old Phoenix native stopped his last six opponents, including David Lemieux in three rounds last May.
He lost his belt after testing positive for cocaine and was subsequently unable to gain weight to defend his title.
Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) lost his biggest fight yet, in the 11th knockout round against Alvarez in November 2011 causing him to lose his belt. Tennessee bounces back stop Dirrell with a single punch in the ninth round this past October.
Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Events Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., was excited about the game.
“This is one of the biggest and most explosive fights that can be done in boxing, not just in the super-middleweight class,” he said. “It pits two boxers at the peak of their sport, both with extraordinary skill sets and contrasting styles, both of whom take great pride in the way they perform. It was an exciting match and the outcome was unpredictable.
“Add in their mutual and genuine hatred for each other and we have an unstable 50-50 head-to-head pairing and potential contenders for the fight of the year.”
