Gilberto Ramirez Views Caleb Plant as a ‘Tough Fight’ For Canelo

Former WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez expects Caleb Plan to present a tough challenge for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez – if the two beltholders meet in the ring this fall.

Canelo, who holds the WBC, WBA, WBO super middleweight titles, would like to face Plant, who holds the IBF’s title, in a unification showdown in September.

The Mexican star is the solid favorite to win, but the unbeaten Plant is viewed as the darkhorse of the division.

“I think he’s a tough fight for Canelo. But he can take the fight and as a Mexican, I want [Canelo to] win the fight. Plant, he’s skillful, he moves around. But I like Canelo [to win],” Ramirez told the DAZN Boxing Show.

Ramirez currently competes in the light heavyweight division. He returned to the ring last Friday night and knocked out division veteran Sullivan Barrera in four rounds.

Canelo captured the WBO title at 175 back in 2019, with a knockout of Sergey Kovalev. In the aftermath, he vacated the belt and dropped down to 168.

If he unifies the entire division by beating Plant in September, then a return to 175 is a serious option.

And Ramirez would love to fight him at the weight.

“I mean it’s good, it’s exciting for another Mexican to try to conquer the 175 pounds. But, that’s my division, I wanna take over this division.  And if [Canelo] wants to do it, let’s do it. Because always two great fighters in the ring is guaranteed an explosive fight and people want to see the fight and why not? Maybe they can make it in the near future,” Ramirez said.

“To become pound-for-pound I need to beat Bivol, Beterbiev, Joe Smith – and get all the belts to become pound-for pound.”