Connect with us

Featured Articles

Boxing Odds and Ends: Caleb Plant, a Romanian Heavyweight and More

Published

on

Boxing-Odds-and-Ends-Caleb-Plant-a-Romanian-Heavyweight-and-More

IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant can’t win for losing. In his most recent bout, Plant pitched a shutout over Caleb Truax, winning all 12 rounds on every scorecard – the cards of the judges, the announcing crew, and presumably everyone watching at home. And yet a writer for a rival web site characterized his performance as mediocre.

What wasn’t mediocre were the ratings. The battle of the Calebs reportedly drew a peak audience of 2.019 million on FOX, all the more impressive considering that the fight went head-to-head with an NBA game between the Lakers and Celtics on ABC.

Caleb Plant is different, from his roots in a small Tennessee town to other factors that need no elaboration. He has a compelling backstory and an attractive wife in the former Jordan Hardy, a PBC on FOX sports journalist. And, of course, he can fight more than a little. But fighters with the potential to become big draws tend to be well-protected and Caleb Plant (21-0, 12 KOs)  has been no exception.

Since winning the title with a hard-fought and well-earned decision over Jose Uzcategui, Plant has been thrust against Mike Lee, Vincent Feigenbutz, and Truax – hardly a murderers row. Lee, the Notre Dame alum, was way out of his element and Caleb Truax, the 2017 Cinderella man, was 37 years old and looked his age. “His resume is really, really poor, really poor,” said British promoter Eddie Hearn when asked his thoughts about a fight between Plant and Canelo Alvarez, the man Plant is chasing.

Plant vs. Canelo was reportedly almost a done deal until Hearn interceded and swerved Canelo toward Callum Smith. Plant vs. Canelo may yet come about later this year and, if so, it will be a blockbuster because Canelo won’t be the only one selling tickets.

It would be wise of Team Plant to catch Canelo sooner, rather than later. As Satchel Paige famously said, don’t look back because someone may be gaining on you.

The 168-pound division has two fast-rising talents in Edgar Berlanga and David Morrell. Either would be favored to defeat Caleb Plant if the fight were held tomorrow.

Berlanga, of course, is the New York-based Puerto Rican who is the 2020/21 version of the young Mike Tyson, albeit in a smaller package. None of his 16 opponents has lasted into the second round. “It might be a year or 18 months away,” tweeted Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler, “but I can see Edgar Berlanga hitting Caleb Plant on the chin and knocking him dead.”

Morrell, the Cuban southpaw, currently fighting out of Minneapolis, has attracted far less buzz; he’s had only four pro fights. But Morrell, a PBC fighter, already holds an interim belt which he earned with a wide 12-round decision over Lennox Allen. True, this is a WBA belt, raw sewage in the words of prominent boxing scribe Dan Rafael, but Allen was undefeated going in and Morrell’s other wins have come via stoppage. His punches aren’t as debilitating as those of Berlanga, but he may be the more skilled of the two.

Speaking of the WBA, we did a double-take when we checked the latest heavyweight rankings and saw Bogdan Dinu ranked #3, a notch below Oleksandr Usyk and a notch above Deontay Wilder.

Dinu has fought two fighters with recognizable names: Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller and Kubrat Pulev. Miller stopped him in the fifth round, Pulev in the seventh.

Dinu has fought twice since the setback to Pulev, both in his native Romania. His opponents were an obscure 41-year-old South African, Osborn Machimama, and an obscure 36-year-old German, Frank Bluemle. Machimama, who stands six-foot-three-and-a-half, weighed 323 ½ pounds. Bluemle is a blown-up cruiserweight.

Back in the days when The Ring magazine ratings were the only ratings that mattered, it was widely rumored that a boxer’s placement in the Top 10 was negotiable, if you get our drift. Nonetheless, we suspect that Nat Fleischer would roll over in his grave at the thought of Bogdan Dinu sitting at #3 on a list of the top heavyweight contenders.

With each passing day, it seems more certain that the 2020 Summer Olympics, pushed back to 2021 and slated to begin on July 23, are down for the count, a big blow to the Tokyo organizers who stand to lose billions of dollars. Orlando, Florida, is volunteering to fill the breach, but that’s a longshot. The coronavirus numbers are trending down in Orlando as in many other sections of the country (hooray!) and the metropolitan area – which includes Tampa and St. Petersburg – certainly has the infrastructure to host an Olympiad, but an event of this magnitude requires years rather than months of planning.

If the games are salvaged, how will the U.S. boxing team fare? Well, let’s put it this way: If a bookmaker posts a proposition on whether at least one U.S. boxer will leave with a gold medal, the clear-cut favorite would be “no.”

This says less about the quality of the team than about the fact that a would-be Olympic boxer has to scale more hurdles nowadays with the result that few nations are expected to have an entrant in every weight class. But it’s also true that many of the most promising prospects have left Team USA for the pro ranks, a development that began before the pandemic. The list includes two fighters who finished first in their weight class at the most recent Olympic Trials tournament, Javier Martinez and Keyshawn Davis.

Martinez, a 25-year-old Milwaukee southpaw, won the 165-pound competition at the Trials. He’s 2-0 as a pro with both wins coming on Top Rank cards inside the MGM Bubble. Davis, who topped the field at 138 pounds, was considered the boxer with the best chance of winning gold in Tokyo. He signed with Matchroom a few days ago and will make his pro debut on the Canelo-Yildirim card in Miami on Feb. 27.

Keyshawn Davis did not leave Team USA of his own volition. He was booted off the team last month for “violating procedures,” the exact nature of which wasn’t specified but may have had something to do with taking sponsorship money from an apparel company.

Davis enters the pro ranks with a ready-made catchphrase: “I am who they waiting for.” The hoodie with these words displayed on it sells for $48.99, the tee shirt a mere $24.99.

Photo credit: Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel 

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles5 days ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles23 hours ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles3 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles5 days ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending