Anthony Dirrell calls out Caleb Plant
The undisputed fight appears no longer to be happening between unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (56-1-2, 36ko), and IBF champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (21-0, 12ko). Alvarez will likely not hurt for a replacement opponent. Plant’s fate remains in question. However, former two-time WBC super middleweight champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (33-2-2, 24ko) recently threw his name in the mix, looking for a fight with Sweethands.
The boxing community is still trying to cope with the fight not happening. Early reports indicate WBA ‘Super’ light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol could be next for Alvarez. Initially, this left the IBF champion without a dance partner and not a lot of options moving forward. Plant had placed all his eggs in one basket in hopes of landing the big money payday fight with Canelo. Moreover, he was very candid about why things took an ugly turn – over ridiculous contract demands by team Canelo.
So, what is next for Plant? Well, this is where Dirrell comes in. The former two-time champion was last seen in the ring getting a draw against less than stellar opponent Kyrone Davis back on February 27. The Dog did not look good at all in the WBC title eliminator. Also, many felt that draw hurt his chances of getting another crack at a championship fight.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS?
The Dog was in attendance supporting his brother Andre’s return to the ring, and he was quickly asked about when can fans expect to see him back in the ring also. Wasting no time at all and seizing the moment, Anthony Dirrell called out Plant.
“Hey, Caleb c’mon man. You ain’t got the Canelo fight, let’s fight.”
Dirrell is ranked by three of the major governing sanctioning bodies. So before fans put on the frowning face in disapproval, think about this fight for a minute. When looking at the IBF rankings, a fight with the former two-time champion is a possibility.
The first two slots are empty but that is typical of the IBF organization. Moreover, fans have never heard of #3 rated Evgeny Shvedenko, or #4 rated Aidos Yerbossynuly. Former champions Jose Uzcategui and David Benavidez have a fight date on August 28.
Former two-time middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs holds down the #7 spot. However, he fights under the DAZN banner, so it is a long shot on making that. Vladimir Shishkin is another unknown fighter that would not generate any buzz. Lastly, nobody wants to see a rematch with former IBF champion Caleb Truax.
Therefore a fight with Dirrell could be the way to go, for now. The Dog, at 36 years old, still has enough bite left to provide an entertaining fight.
By: Garrisson Bland
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