Edgar Berlanga Avoiding a Fight With Caleb Plant
A more than reasonable matchup in the super middleweight division would be a match between Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) and former IBF champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (23-2, 14 KOs). However, there are little signs to suggest that it will occur, and the fault lies at the feet of Berlanga.
GOING TOO FAR?
Their beef is known throughout boxing circles. In recent days, the 168-pounders engaged in a series of what were threatening back-and-forth exchanges on social media. Among the trash-talk was a private text exchange where The Chosen One threatened physical violence outside the ring. The reaction from boxing fans was so visceral that Berlanga took down the post.
Never should professional animus go beyond the four corners of the squared circle. It’s above the line. Moreover, Berlanga comes off sounding corny. More importantly, his rants don’t address the issue at hand. Is he willing to trade fists with Sweethands?
ALL TALK AND NO ACTION
Berlanga is coming off a unanimous decision loss to now-unified champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September 2024. Coming off such a high-profile fight with Canelo and given a good account of himself, it could be a case that Berlanga thinks that a fight with Plant is a big step down. That would be galling for someone who hasn’t even won a world title. If that’s the case, The Chosen One is likely suffering from delusions of grandeur, and a majorly inflated sense of self.
Inactive since a ninth-round stoppage win over Trevor McCumby on the undercard of Alvarez-Berlanga, Plant has been open about his desire to make it happen. Berlanga has been on social media seeking fights with two-division champion Jermall Charlo and two-time 168-pound champion David Benavidez. However, when Plant’s name is mentioned, the native New Yorker does more trash-talking than anything else.
Plant versus Berlanga is a fight that would draw the attention of boxing fans. Both men are visible and viable names in the division. The fighter who wants it is Plant. It’s a sad indictment that Berlanga doesn’t feel the same.
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