Jermall Charlo says he wants to fight Caleb Plant because he views it as a bigger legacy fight for him than facing Canelo Alvarez or “The so-called Mexican Monster” David Benavidez. Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) doesn’t like that Plant slapped him two years ago. He sees Plant as a “Culture vulture,” a poser.
(Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Charlo and Plant have separate fights against low-level middleweights this Saturday night on May 31st, on PBC on Prime Video at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The boxing public has criticized the need for tune-ups and the poor quality of the opposition that has been chosen.
They would have preferred that Plant and Charlo fight instead of the need for warm-ups. Those two have been professionals long enough that they shouldn’t require tune-ups. If the idea is to marinate their fight to create interest, it’s understandable why they’re taking a couple of gimmes.
Jermall is fighting journeyman Thomas LaMana (39-5-1, 18 KOs), and Plant is defending his interim WBA 168-lb title against Jose Armando Resendiz (15-2, 11 KOs).
“We got history, we got history. He snuck me at the thing, he wanna be tough, he wanna be, you know. He’s a coach vulture,” said Jermall Charlo to Stephen A. Smith’s YouTube channel, about Plant.
Plant’s Popularity Decline
It’s too bad that Jermall chose to sit inactive for two years after his last fight in 2023, because he could have fought Plant when there was a high level of interest after being slapped. Plant’s career has gone downhill with his loss to David Benavidez, inactivity, and the poor opposition he’s chosen to fight.
His inactivity and lack of risk-taking have hurt his popularity as much as his losses to Benavidez and Canelo. In some ways, Plant is similar to Edgar Berlanga with the way he’s fought ham-and-eggers, and how he’s trying to weasel a rematch with Canelo without taking risks.
“He’s not on my level. He [Plant] has the WBA interim world title,” said Charlo about Plant. “The Super [held by Canelo Alvarez] should be vacated soon. So me and Caleb Plant should be fighting for that world title. I want to fight Caleb. That’s the fight that the fans want. That’s the fight that needs to happen.”
There’s a good chance the winner of the Canelo vs. Terence Crawford fight will vacate the WBA ‘Super’ 168-lb belt. If Crawford wins, he won’t bother fighting Plant or Jermall. Canelo won’t be forced to fight Plant or Charlo if he doesn’t want either of those fights.
“The Canelo fight, that’s a cool fight, but the fans and all around the world, they’d rather see me fight that fight [Plant],” said Charlo. “That’s a fight I want to have. Yes, we talked about it. We handled business together. He’s got to take care of his business [Armando Resendiz], and I got to take care of mine. You got a different hunger in Jermall Charlo, and that’s the fight I want and the one I’m going to have.”
Jermall might be right. Fans would rather see them fight each other than face Canelo or Benavidez. Plant has already lost to Benavidez and Canelo. Jermall has been too inactive in the last four years for him to be seen as a compelling opponent for either of those stars.
“I’d rather fight for my legacy than Benavidez because he’s the so-called ‘Mexican Monster’ and Canelo because he’s Canelo. He’s an all-time great or whatever. I feel me and Caleb Plant would be a better fight than Canelo or Benavidez,” said Charlo.
If Jermall loses to Plant, it’s going to mess up his career. He won’t get the Canelo or Benavidez fight after a loss to Caleb, and he’ll be too old to rebuild.
Last Updated on 05/30/2025
Read the full article here