Stephen Edwards Puzzled By McCumby’s Slow Career Progress
With all the preparation all said and done, one-time super middleweight champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (22-2, 13 KO’s) is set to face contender Trevor McCumby (28-0, 21 KO’s). Yet, Plant’s chief second, Stephen “Breadman” Edward, is very curious about McCumby’s frightfully slow career pacing. In a recent interview with Mill City Boxing, Edwards explained his mystification in greater detail.
“I remember hearing about Trevor McCumby when he was a prospect. [cutman] Mike [Rodriguez] used to be like, ‘yo man, I got this white kid. He punches pretty hard, blah, blah, blah’, and then that was like 14 years ago! And then I just noticed he never really stepped up. He just started fighting ten round fights a couple fights ago. So I do wonder what happened with him as far as his progress is concerned because he was with Top Rank – Top Rank got good matchmakers. They really know what they were doing, so I don’t understand how you can have this many fights and still be fighting eight rounders all that time.”
“Bro, I never even had the luxury to do that with my guys. Like once my guys got to 6 or 7-0, they had to fight six rounders. Once they got to like 11-0, they had to fight eight rounders. Once they got to 13, 14-0, they was fighting ten rounders! I’ve never seen matchmaking like that in my whole life! Dude was like 24-0 before he fought a ten-round fight! [He has two ten rounders] in 28 fights!”
WHAT’S THE THINKING HERE?!
After putting McCumby’s resume under the microscope like this, it does make one wonder why he was moved at such an excruciatingly shlepped pace. Did his team not believe in his skillset? Did McCumby doubt his own ability? These are rather valid questions. So, why would Plant select him as an opponent if he’s been bred in such a spoonfed manner?
To this point in his career, Sweethands has always called out the best and shown himself to be a stand-up guy. In fact, he’s already faced two of the division’s best when he tangled with David Benavidez and unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Said to say, it’s clear that Plant is willing to challenge himself. So this could merely be a case of Plant seeking to get back in the ring and shake off some rust. He has been out of action for a year and a half.
Yet, there will be those who say that this is a cherry-pick simply for the sake of cherry-picking. If that is the case however, especially with the pacing of McCumby’s fight schedule, it’s imperative that Plant look stellar. If the former champion does struggle, or loses, this would be a disastrous turn of events for him. Losses to Alvarez and Benavidez can be easily forgiven and justified. Losing or struggling with a guy who hasn’t touched the big leagues with a ten foot pole is drastically different! For these reasons, the Plant versus McCumby duel could turn out to be a very interesting fight to watch.
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