Caleb Plant Refused to Fight on Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Boxing Card Despite Stunning Move by PBC

It’s been nearly two-and-a-half years. On November 6, 2021, Caleb Plant suffered his first loss. He met with success the following year. But it proved fleeting. On March 23, 2023, Plant experienced a second setback. But all through these defeats, there’s been a common thread. Fans and followers acknowledge in unison that Plant is a good fighter with a solid heart who carried himself well against the likes of Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez. More so, he’s still 31 years old. Hence, by any stretch of the imagination, he should still be getting reasonable fight offers.

Or did he receive any offers but refuse to proceed? A new line of thought seems to suggest so. Perhaps there’s more to it than meets the eye. A series of discussions over X shed new light on what might have transpired that perhaps prolonged Caleb Plant’s absence from the ring. Whatever the case, it’s been over a year since ‘Sweethands’ returned to the ring. Fans eagerly await their icon.

Caleb Plant: Layered Return

The mystery seemingly unfolded with an innocuous tweet from a follower yesterday. It suggested that perhaps its high time Caleb Plant parted ways with PBC. “Plant is a good fighter with heart. Should leave the PBC. Good fights are out there for him, but he has to leave the island. Would love to see him school, Berlanga,” said the follower.

However, the post apparently caught celebrated boxing writer Dan Rafael‘s attention. The ‘2013 Nat Fleischer Award’ recipient wasted no time and countered that there was a plan for Plant in the offing and that PBC was rather fine with it. “Plant was offered opportunity to fight on the Nate Diaz-Masvidal PPV, and PBC was OK with it, but he wasn’t interested,” said Rafael.

Reportedly, former UFC fighter-turned boxer Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will settle their long-pending rematch puzzle in the squared circle on June 1 at Inglewood, California’s KIA Forum.

Anyways, if whatever Rafael mentioned stands correct, then what options, otherwise, Caleb Plant has in hand?

Super Middleweight Range Extended

Last year’s ‘slapgate’ incident between Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo during Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr.’s weigh-in created quite a flutter. Subsequently, talk of a fight between the two gained some traction. But it led nowhere, fizzling out eventually. Charlo, on the other hand, went ahead and fought Jose Benavidez Jr. on his return fight at the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade undercard.

A few weeks ago, speaking with Fight Hype TV, he laid out the plan that he envisaged for 2024. “Out of 2024, just more big fights. You know been a minute since I’m been in the ring, so proba probably be uh tuneup, um, coming back sometime in the summer, and you know, then we’ll we’ll take it from there.” The reporter checked for what could come next, especially the big name he might be going after.

‘Sweethands’ replied, “I mean, I think the Charlo fight makes the most sense, you know, I know everybody else wants to see that, and that’s a big fight for boxing, so you know, if it’s going to push the culture forward and push boxing forward, and you know something that excites me, then I want to be a part of it.”

David Morrell is another alternative. In fact, fighting the WBA (regular) super middleweight has its own advantage. A win over the Cuban-born boxer might benefit Plant in other ways. It gives him a chance to seek a rematch with Canelo Alvarez or with David Benavidez once again.

What’s your view? If Dan Rafael’s statement is true, then did Caleb Plant do a wise thing by not proceeding with an undercard fight? Please share your views with us in the comments below.