Via Huck Allen: Coach Kenny Porter believes Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant will learn from the defeat against Canelo Alvarez and bounce back from the defeat.
Many boxing fans feel that former IBF super middleweight champion Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) won’t be able to win another world title at 168 after a knockout defeat in the 11th round.
Fans noted that Plant showed weakness in the ninth round as he started a conversation with Canelo, asking for consent and seemingly garnering compliments to bolster his already lost confidence. his trembling.
Witnessing the weakness of 29-year-old Plant in unification battle at the highest level of 168, fans believe he will do the same when facing someone good later in his career. me.
During the championship rounds with Canelo, Tennessee’s native Plant didn’t seem to be ready for battle.
Like a war-weary soldier, Plant had been confined near the front lines for too long during the war with Canelo, and he seemed like he had too much experience to carry.
Plant’s conversation with Canelo during the round is a sign of psychological distress. He broke down.
Plant basically gave up and retreated around the ring, no longer as ready to fight as in the first half of the competition.
Plants have to learn the ‘L’ word Kenny says
“We played him early in his camp, and I felt that Caleb had a chance in the early rounds to take the early rounds; I felt in the first innings he was in for the fight,” coach Kenny Porter told. Against TV Hub about ‘Sweethands’ Plant’s loss to Canelo Alvarez.
“But I know he has to hold on tight during the game because that’s when Canelo is going to be strong. He [Canelo] Hold on to him, chop him, and chop him. He was patient until he got to him.
“This situation right here for Caleb, take the letter ‘L,’ learn from it, it is not a loss. Remember it and learn from it and raise your game.
“He’s going to raise his game; I knew he would because I knew he was a human being,” Kenny said, expressing his belief that Plant can learn from failure.
You’ll be inclined to agree with Kenny on his belief that Plant will learn from the defeat against Canelo and return to be a better fighter in the future.
This writer doubts that Plant can ever return to improve, as what we see in the loss to Canelo is a repeat of the same mental and physical breakdown he showed in the previous episodes. championship round of fight with Jose Uzcategui in 2019.
There is almost no difference in how Plant fell to Uzcategui and how he fell to Canelo.
The only reason Plant didn’t lose to Uzcategui was because he faced a limited boxer who lacked the talent to become a true champion level fighter.
If Plant was there with one of the talented 168-pound boxers like David Benavidez, David Morrell Jr, Zach Parker, or Edgar Berlanga, he would lose overnight.
“He will become a better martial artist from this like you’ve seen from others,” Kenny continued about Plant.
“Canelo, for example, when he got that loss against Mayweather. He has enhanced everything he has done since then.
“Caleb will do the same thing. I am not comparing the two. I would simply say that Caleb was capable of raising his bar and was even better than he was that night.
“Hopefully he makes the right decisions. I’m sure he will because I know Caleb is a human being, and he has a great support person behind him in his wife,” Porter said of Plant’s wife.
“I knew her for a few years, even before they met. Also, his dad and his coach Larry Wade and his head coach too. He has a great support system.
Kenny said of Plant: “They’re going to get together and figure out which way to go, and like I said, he’s going to be better than he was.
Plant’s best chance at winning another world title at 168 was when Canelo started vacating his belt.
If Canelo gives up the strap, Plant has the ability to defeat many top boxers, but not one with the strength and mental toughness.
Plant could have a mental breakdown again if he finds himself in an adversarial situation against a boxer with the strength and ability to put pressure on him continuously for 12 rounds.
Caleb’s loss was a learning experience
“There are no losers. Think who he fought,” said Barry Hunter on Plant not a loser just because he was defeated by Canelo. “It was a learning [experience]. In other words, he went to college.
“Now he has to go back to get his Master. Canelo is Canelo. In my opinion, at the moment, he might be the best boxer on the planet. He’s definitely one of the three.
“You have to give him credit,” Hunter said of Canelo. “He was patient enough and kept chopping, chopping, chopping until he got Caleb. We know what the outcome is.
“You have to have a lot of respect for Caleb to go in there with this guy and fight as long as he did and stick with it for as long as he did,” Hunter said.
The loss to Plant confirms the same things were known about him entering the contest with Canelo. Plant collapses under pressure, and he lacks the stamina and strength to compete with a talented opponent.
Going forward, the only way for Plant to have success is if his management at PBC skillfully maneuvers him around the talented opposition to put him in a fighting position for the vacant belt. against a perfect boxer.
The way Plant was put into combat position with the weakest link at 168 against Uzcategui was the perfect situation for him.
Plant can win if he is played carefully, but he doesn’t have the talent or the mental toughness to hold the belt for long.
