Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant preview and prediction

Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant fight for the title of undisputed champion. Most are giving Alvarez the edge, but here’s why Plant could make this tricky. 

Canelo Alvarez is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Caleb Plant lacks the name recognition of Alvarez, but he may be his best opponent since Alvarez’s two fights with Gennadiy Golovkin.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, is the setting for Alvarez vs. Plant on Saturday, Nov. 6. All four of boxing’s super middleweight belts are up for grabs, and the winner becomes the undisputed champion.

That’s a treasured decoration that few in the sport ever attain. For all of Alvarez’s boxing accomplishments, he has never been an undisputed champion. Can the undefeated underdog upset boxing’s biggest name? Here’s how FanSided thinks this fight will play out.

Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant preview

The odds are stacked against Plant. According to Wynnbet.com, he’s sitting at 6-1 odds. Yes, Alvarez deserves to be the favorite, but those are steep odds against a current champion.

Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) is the IBF champion. He defeated Jose Uzcategui in 2019 by unanimous decision to earn his title. He has successfully defended it three times, but the biggest name on that list is a faded Caleb Truax. Truax is a former champion but was past his best when he fought Plant.

Plant didn’t electrify audiences with his January decision win over Truax, but he easily won the fight. The fighter, originally from Ashland City, TN, is two years younger than Alvarez at 29 years old. That’s a negligible age discrepancy, but he has boxed 303 fewer rounds than Alvarez.

Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) has a giant advantage in experience and depth of résumé, but he has also taken a lot more punishment than Plant. So far, Alvarez has steamrolled most of his opposition, but every fighter can only take so many shots in the ring.

It’s unlikely that Alvarez has reached that number yet. In May, he obliterated Billy Joe Saunders, stopping Saunders in round 8 after breaking his orbital bone to bits.

Plant has a similar skill set to Saunders. He’s more of a counterpunching fighter that has elite hand speed fast reflexes. Don’t expect Alvarez vs. Plant to end the same way as Alvarez vs. Saunders. Also, don’t expect Plant to pull off the upset.

Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant prediction

Plant is a better athlete than Saunders and more skilled than Callum Smith, who dropped a lopsided decision to Alvarez in 2020. Smith tore his bicep early against Alvarez and was able to make it through the final bell. The fight wasn’t close, but Smith was far from 100 percent.

An able-bodied Plant should be able to go the distance with Alvarez. Those who are picking Alvarez to knock out Plant aren’t giving Plant enough credit. He’s a slick puncher with decent power and is a champion for a reason.

Plant is a wildcard coming into this fight. He has never been truly tested in the ring because he has never fought an A-level fighter. He could surprise a lot of people by making things semi-competitive against Alvarez.

Saunders was competitive until his orbital bone gave way. If Plant can avoid serious injury, he should win about four rounds against Alvarez. Don’t expect more from him.

By round 6, Alvarez will find his mojo and methodically break Plant down, but not enough to knock him out. Plant will enter survival mode by round 9 and will have to run from the power-punching Alvarez.

Alvarez has the speed to neutralize Plant’s reflexes down the stretch. He will keep Plant on the defensive and stack up points on the card. Alvarez will end the fight throwing, and Plant will be dodging. You can’t win a fight if you don’t let your hands go, which is why Alvarez will win by unanimous decision.

Plant should lose, but at least he can look good doing it. That would be enough for Plant to save face and get more big paydays moving forward.