Caleb Plant Takes Title from Jose Uzcategui in LA

LOS ANGELES-No more doubt about Caleb Plant who floored Jose Uzcategui twice early in the super middleweight world title fight, then hung on to win by unanimous decision with some clever moves and a lot of heart on Sunday evening.

Plant is the new IBF super middleweight world titlist.

After 12 tense and hard fought rounds Plant (18-0, 10 KOs) took some blows and took the IBF super middleweight title from Mexico’s Uzcategui (28-3, 23 KOs) at the Microsoft Theater. A crowd numbering more than 5,000 fans saw a good one.

It was the super quick Plant that jumped out to a big lead with some nifty counter punching early in the fight. In the second and fourth round Plant connected with some left hooks that sent Uzcategui to the floor each time. Though knocked down, the belt holder was never hurt except on the score cards as time would reveal.

“I knew I caught him clean during those knockdowns, but I knew he wasn’t all the way out so I took my time,” said Plant. “I stayed relaxed, I stuck to the game plan, and I got it done just the way I said I would.”

For the first half of the fight Plant was able to use his clever footwork and sharp counter-punching skills to keep Uzcategui off balance. But that was in the first half of the fight. The second half told a different story.

Uzcategui was very patient stalking Plant and seemed to figure out the Tennessee fighter’s strategy and technique. By the seventh round he began pounding away at the body and head with increased pressure. Some big shots were landed but Plant’s chin stood the test especially in the seventh round. Plant shook but did not fall.

Uzcategui tried to position Plant into his powerful punching range but whenever it was attempted, the challenger would grab and hold until it was safe to get out of range. It was a tactic he used for most of the second half of the fight.

Plant was bloodied early in the fight by a blow and it left some blood on his face, but he still proved very durable whenever Uzcategui connected.

The ninth and 10^th rounds proved very effective for Uzcategui but he could never find Plant where he wanted him. Instead the clever Plant kept the fight at his distance and avoided the big blows.

It was a battle of tempo and Plant seemed to have it his way. Uzcategui was determined but not enough to corral the challenger into a position where he could land a big combination. It was evident that one blow would not be enough to severely hurt Plant.

“He started to tire around the sixth round, which was the plan,” said Uzcategui. “Caleb knew how to clench and hold. He was smart.”

The final two rounds saw Uzcategui try and deliver the knockout blow but never came close. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Plant 116-110 twice and 115-111.

“This is overwhelming. I am a kid who came from nothing. I believed in myself and now I’ve been crowned king,” said Plant.

Other Bouts

Rugged Texas super bantamweight Brandon Figueroa (18-0, 13 KOs) beat up Mexico’s Moises Flores (25-2, 17 KOs) for three rounds while switching from southpaw to orthodox in a fight that took place mostly on the inside. Figueroa floored Flores with a left cross in the third round but the Mexican fighter beat the count. When the fight resumed Figueroa blasted Flores with a three-punch combination for the knockout at  1:35 of the third round and was counted out by referee Jack Reiss.

Figueroa said he feels ready for a world title shot. Flores had only one loss and that was to current WBA super bantamweight titlist Danny Roman of Los Angeles.

“I knew he wasn’t going to be able to handle those body shots,” said Figueroa. “My message to Danny Roman is I’m going to go home and prepare.”

Ahmed Elbiali (18-1, 15 KOs) walked through former contender pf a decade ago Allan Green (33-6, 22 KOs) with little trouble. Elbiali knocked down Green in every round until a series of blows dropped Green for a third and final time at 1:16 of the third round of a light heavyweight fight.

Former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (18-1, 12 KOs) returned to the boxing ring after a more than one year layoff and knocked out Giovanni Delgado (16-9, 9 KOs) at 3:00 of the first round. A long left cross ended the night for Delgado who was counted out by referee Jack Reiss in the super bantamweight clash.

“This is my division. This is my time,” said Rigondeaux whose last fight was at super featherweight against champion Vasyl Lomachenko in 2017. “Whoever has a belt I am taking it.”

Former Mexican Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (8-0, 8 KOs) looked sharp and dropped Sergio Lopez (22-13-1, 15 KOs) with a left hook to the body in the third round for the knockout win at super lightweight. Delgado works with trainer Robert Garcia. The end came at 2:48 of round three as referee Tom Taylor counted out Lopez.

“I’ve been practicing so long with Robert Garcia in the gym,” said Delgado who trains in Riverside, Calif but is originally from Linares, Mexico. “I am in this for the long haul.”

Philippine fighter Michael Plania (18-1, 10 KOs) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Dallas fighter Juan A. Lopez (12-5, 4 KOs) in a super bantamweight fight. Plania showcased flashy but ineffective combinations and tired in the last three rounds. Lopez was able to pin down Plania in the last three rounds but it was not enough to offset the slow start. The scores were 79-73, 77-75, 78-74 for Plania who knocked down Lopez in the first round but it was ruled a low blow.

Michigan’s Joey Spencer (6-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Brandon Harder (2-2) at 1:27 of the second round. Spencer floored Harder in the first round with a body shot. In the second round Spencer knocked down Harder with a one-two combination then finished him with a left hook for the knockout in the super welterweight match.

Photo credit: Luis Mejia / TGB Promotions

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