Top tier boxing promoter Eddie Hearn made his usual weekly drop-in on the Ak and Barak program on SiriusXM, and as he’s currently working with superstar Canelo Alvarez on a two-fight deal — Feb. 27 against Avni Yildirim and a May 8 target date for Billy Joe Saunders — he had some thoughts on Canelo’s future for 2021.
That could include a bout with Caleb Plant, though Hearn cautions that “nothing” — not even the Saunders fight — “will be official until Canelo’s hand is raised in Miami on Feb. 27.” The promoter said they’ve sold about 10,000 tickets Canelo-Yildirim, and the stadium will be set up to hold about 15,000, with a sell-out expected.
Barak asked if Hearn could deliver Canelo that potential third bout in 2021, Hearn said he is optimistic he can work with the necessary people to get Canelo-Plant done, with Plant being part of Al Haymon’s PBC crew.
Hearn gave his assessment of Plant’s Saturday night showing against Caleb Truax, saying he didn’t think this fight and others before it are really proper prep for Plant for Canelo.
“I think Plant is a fantastic fighter,” Hearn told the hosts. “But let’s be honest, his resume is really, really poor, really poor.”
But that’s not his fault, he said, and he thinks Plant has the capability to beat top names at 168.
“In an ideal world, as a fan, I’d like to see Caleb Plant against David Benavidez in May, and then whoever is the beltholder fights Canelo Alvarez. I hope that Plant doesn’t sit tight until that fight. Because I feel like that’s gonna be a huge fight, but it could be so much bigger if he takes the right steps and fights the right opponents, because he’s a great talent.”
What say you all? Do you think Team Plant would take the risk and look to have a showcase showdown against Benavidez?