Canelo Alvarez vs Caleb Plant for the undisputed crown set for November
Boxing fans around the globe can breathe a sigh of relief. News from ESPNMX reported that the fight for undisputed between unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (56-1-2, 38ko) and IBF champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-0, 12ko) is a go for November. This means Premier Boxing Champions Al Haymon and Team Canelo were able to get a deal done.
Both champions were originally set to fight on the traditional Mexican Independence Day on September 18. However, both sides ended negotiation talks at the last minute over a contract dispute.Plant immediately got his side of the story out, speaking to ESPN about some of the most outrageous demands of the Mexican mega-star.
“One that is absurd, if I get injured or sick, then he gets a late replacement for the same amount of guaranteed money. But if he gets sick or injured, then we have to wait for him.”
That particular demand was a bridge too far with PBC top brass and was one of the reasons Alvarez walked away from the negotiating table. This left fans feeling sucker-punched by the sport as once again another big fight got canceled.
CANELO DOUBLED BACK TO MAKE NOVEMBER FIGHT
Once news broke that the fight was dead, everyone started throwing their names in the hat. The trilogy fight with two-time middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin resurfaced. Then there was unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. Even former two-time light heavyweight champion and former Canelo victim Sergey Kovalev poked his head up from the boxing graveyard.
DAZN promoter Eddie Hearn quickly jumped in offering WBA ‘super’ light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol as a late replacement fight. However, that idea never got past the first phase. Hearn later revealed that Alvarez’s ultimate goal was to fight for the undisputed crown. Hence, he proceeded to go back to the table and see what Mr. Haymon had to say. It was one last attempt by the unified champion in fulfilling a personal goal of becoming the first-ever super middleweight champion. As it stands, Alvarez is the number one ranked fighter on the 3kingsboxing top 10 list.
The unified champion, being true to his word, did go back and this time got a deal all sides agreed upon. The boxing community is undoubtedly overjoyed the remaining hiccups have been ironed out. Canelo, Haymon, and Plant were able to make a deal for the good of the sport.
Still, there has been no official announcement, The tentative date and location are said to be in Las Vegas on November 6.
By: Garrisson Bland
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