Caleb Plant Calm and Cool before Hometown Title Defense!
Now that we’ve reached the eve of his hometown title defense, IBF world super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (19-0, 11 KO’s) is in a cozy and prepared mental space. The native of Nashville, Tennessee is painfully aware that hometown fights have been a notorious jinx for fighters throughout the years.
Recently, Jarrett “Swift” Hurd was toppled by Julian “J-Rock” Williams in a hometown fight. Then ironically, in his very next bout, Williams was soundly defeated in his first title defense staged in his native Philly backyard. This is why Plant is happy to be at home, but has chosen not to dwell on that fact.
“[On fighting at home] I’m excited, but it’s not really something that I’m focused on. I’m excited to be here in front of all you guys, be in front of my home crowd. Like I said, this is something that I really wanted, something I pushed for but once I got it, there’s no reason to really continue to focus and worry and wonder about that.
“I’m just treating it like it’s another fight in another city in another venue and this is another ring, another day of work.”
IT’S BIGGER THAN THE BELT
For many fighters, obtaining a world title is often the peak of their ambition. Therefore, while capturing that title is a source great joy, it can signal a decline in their overall hunger. Luckily for Plant, he has outlined a number of goals beyond merely wanting to become a champion, and these other ambitions are what continue to propel him to seek loftier and loftier milestones.
“There’s four world titles in each weight class, so to be undisputed that means you have to hold all four at the same time and there’s never been a super middleweight to do that. So I want be the first. I want to be pound-for-pound. I want to be a legend. I want to be immortal in the sport.
“Those other goals and aspirations that I just named that are so high up there, that’s what keeps me motivated. There’s many factors that can be motivating: my daughter, my mother, my step-mom, my dad, Jordan [his wife], my children who aren’t here yet.
“Making sure that they don’t have to go through some of the things that I went through to get to this point.”
FOCUSED ON THE TARGET
Yet, Plant realizes that none of those grander objectives will come into fruition unless he takes care of business on Saturday when he faces Vincent Feigenbutz (31-2, 28 KO’s). However, as is his way to do, when it came to his opponent, the IBF champion kept it short and sweet.
“I know he’s got a lot of fights, a lot of knockouts and I know he’s coming to spoil my plans, but he’ll fall short.”
By: Bakari Simpson
