It took nearly seventeen months before he could stage a comeback. And what a return it was. Though fighting on his old rival’s undercard, Caleb Plant secured a convincing victory over Trevor McCumby two weeks ago. The win made him an interim super middleweight champion as well. In many ways, cards are neatly decked for ‘Sweethands’.

Under no circumstances would he want to be derailed from the momentum he gained with such difficulty. Aside from the division’s top-ranking contenders, his future plan might involve rounding back to old adversaries, Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez. The two champions themselves have been at loggerheads over a much-anticipated matchup that remains unrealized to date. Perhaps that could be the reason why Caleb Plant took immediate measures to set the record straight on one of his earlier observations involving a comparison between Alvarez and Benavidez. Probably, it’s imperative for him not to burn the bridges.

Caleb Plant: I didn’t say that!

Caleb Plant’s latest response follows an earlier reply. Taking up Caleb Plant’s name, a user had earlier tweeted, “Caleb Plant on David Benavidez vs. Canelo. “Canelo hits harder and can knock him out easily. “I have fought against both, and I can say that Canelo hits stronger. I do not know why Benavidez insists on a fight with Canelo. “What are your thoughts on this?🤔”

Plant immediately got back that it was ‘fake news’. He made it clear that if the fight gets in the making, then it will be great not only for boxing but also for the fans. Nevertheless, like many, he also admitted that it’s way too challenging to forecast who would come out as the winner.

However, another user latched on to what Plant had earlier said about the Mexican superstar’s power. “You did say Canelo hits harder, right? 🤔” they said. Caleb Plant once again outlined it plainly: while he did mention that Canelo Alvarez ‘hits harder’, it doesn’t mean that David Benavidez lacks any. Both the champions possess power that surpasses what others command.

It was on November 6, 2021, that Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant squared off for the super middleweight’s undisputed title. Alvarez won the fight through an eighth-round technical knockout. He defeated Anthony Dirrell in between. However, another attempt at David Benavidez’s WBC interim title on March 25 also ended in a loss by a unanimous decision.

Now what came to pass

It was while he was in conversation with Marcos Villegas that Caleb Plant shared his thoughts on the potential Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez showdown. “Given you know you spent time with both (Alvarez and Benavidez), would you favor one or the other stylistically taking yourself out of it as an analyst?” asked the Fight Hub TV founder.

The Ashland City-born pure boxer replied, “Canelo, he’s got more experience, um, maybe a little more savvy because of the experience; I think he hits harder than, uh, David, and then at the same time, you know there’s things that David does better than Canelo.” Subsequently, he elaborated on how many fans frequently ambush him, seeking his views if Alvarez and Benavidez face off.

It would be a momentous battle in boxing. But Caleb Plant stressed that it’s literally a ‘roll of dice’ because the fight involves so many ‘variables’. There’s a high chance both might throw their everything in the ring. So Plant espoused the clash might turn up as comparable to the historical 2001 Bernard Hopkins–Felix Trinidad fight.

Now with Caleb Plant’s clarification, perhaps the matter should be put to rest. Alvarez-Benavidez fight still remains a hopeful matchup. Once it makes it through the negotiation tables, then perhaps a serious study on winnability may provide a more compelling argument.

What about you? Do you feel Canelo Alvarez hits harder than David Benavidez?