Jose Armando Resendiz says he knows what he has to do for him to “disarm” interim WBA super middleweight champion Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant’s offense and defeat him this Saturday, May 31st, in their 12-round main event at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
Resendiz (15-2, 11 KOs) will have to take a page out of the playbook of David Benavidez for him to defeat Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) because he’s got to put a lot of pressure on him from the get-go. It would also help to have a strong inside game because that’s likely going to be Plant’s plan B if he starts taking punishment in the center ring.
Caleb Plant’s Evolving Fight Style
Caleb, 32, now fancies himself as an inside brawler after knocking out Trevor McCumby in the ninth round last September. McCumby had dropped Plant in the fourth, and looked like he was on his way to a knockout win. Plant took the fight to the inside and beat up McCumby.
“Plant is an amazing fighter, one of the elites at 168, but that motivates me even more. It makes me so happy because when you beat someone like that, it makes that win even bigger,” said Jose Armando Resendiz to the media, discussing his fight against Caleb Plant this Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Assessing Plant’s Elite Status
Resendiz is being too complimentary of Plant. He’s not an “amazing fighter,” and definitely not an elite at super middleweight. His record is 2-2 in his last four fights, and that is NOT an elite-level resume. If Plant were elite, he’d be coming into this fight with a 4-0 record in his last four fights, and he wouldn’t need to be taking a tune-up.
“You can talk tough outside the ring, but once you step inside the ropes, then it’s a completely different deal,” said Resendiz, reacting to being told that Plant said he’s going to ‘Step on him.’ “I don’t care what people say about me because in the end, I’m going to prove myself as a fighter inside the ropes. In the end, that’s all that matters to me.”
Plant’s wins over 39-year-old Anthony Dirrell and bottom-level fringe contender Trevor McCumby have gone to his head, making him believe he’s got the ability to walk through anybody in the super middleweight division. He’s not that kind of talent and never has been. Plant is a boxer with a chin problem and a poor gas tank. The matchmaking being done by Plant’s management suggests that they are aware of his flaws.
So, they’re going to protect him as much as they can, hoping to keep him winning long enough to get blessed by Canelo Alvarez for a rematch. That’s why Jermall Charlo is being lined up as Plant’s next opponent rather than one of the young contenders that would be trouble for him.
Resendiz’s Plan to Beat Plant
“I believe in myself. I believe in the work I’ve done, and not only can I do all the same, but I can do even more. In the end, I know I can disarm Plant in the way that he can be disarmed. We’re going to be ready for whatever comes my way during the fight,” said Resendiz.
The only way to defeat Plant is by pressuring him, throwing a lot of power punches, and not letting him rest. ‘Sweethands’ Plant has always had a poor engine, and he’s struggled when put under the gun for six hard rounds in the first half of his fights.
Resendiz is fighting outside of his normal weight class of middleweight, and doesn’t possess the same technical ability as Caleb does. However, he’s six years younger and has a lot less mileage on him. He’s also more active than Plant, who has slowed his career down since picking up a big $10 million payday againt Canelo Alvarez four years ago in 2021.
Plant has the same motivation for a second payday against Canelo as Edgar Berlanga. So, he’s fighting for the wrong reasons now. He’s money-hungry now. You can call it gold fever.
Last Updated on 05/29/2025
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