Former IBF super middleweight title holder Caleb Plant wants to catapult his career toward getting another crack at a crown.
Plant (23-2, 14 KOs), ranked No. 4 by The Ring at 168 pounds, has had to work his way up the ladder once again ever since suffering his first career loss via knockout to Canelo Alvarez in 2021. Since then, Plant knocked out Anthony Dirrell in 2022 and suffered a unanimous decision loss to David Benavidez in 2023. Last time out in September, Plant scored a ninth-round stoppage in a hard-fought fight against Trevor McCumby.
“Whatever comes my way, I'll be ready for it,” Plant told the media on Saturday. “I absolutely want the [Edgar] Berlanga fight. I want the [Jermall] Charlo fight. If [Jaime] Munguia can work his way back into being something that is worth going after, I will take that as well. [Being a champion again] is big on the list. The only thing more important than that for me is making big fights.”
Plant alluded to a summer return this year, floating May, June, or July as the dates. Inactivity has plagued Plant in recent years, however, as he’s fought just six times in five years.
Fights against Berlanga and Charlo would be marketable matchups due to the brewing beefs Plant has experienced with each of the contenders in recent years. The Charlo fight would be easier to make because Plant and Charlo are both tied to PBC, but Charlo has mostly been inactive in recent years, fighting only once since June 2021.
Plant became the IBF super middleweight title holder in 2019 by beating Jose Uzcategui via unanimous decision and defended the title three times against Mike Lee, Vincent Feigenbutz, and Caleb Truax before losing to Alvarez.
“I love boxing,” said the 32-year-old Plant. “I want to become a world champion again. It's a big dream and goal of mine. I'm just getting started.”
Manouk Akopyan is a lead writer for Ring Magazine. He can be reached on X and Instagram @ManoukAkopyan.