+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

Saul Alvarez finishes Caleb Plant in historic fight to become boxing's undisputed super middleweight champion

Nov 7, 2021, 22:28 IST
Insider
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez celebrates his brilliant 11th round finish of Caleb Plant. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
  • Boxing's No.1 fighter has done it again.
  • Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez won another world championship belt with a knockout performance Saturday.
Advertisement

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez finished Caleb Plant in a historic fight Saturday to become boxing's undisputed super middleweight champion at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

It puts a punctuation mark on an extraordinary run at 168-pounds for the sport's No.1 boxer, as he won his first two titles in the division 11 months ago, before adding another just five months later.

Having beaten Callum Smith, Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders, and now Plant, Alvarez wraps all four of the major championship belts around his body.

He's cleared out the entire division, but what's more - he's done it in style, as he's made defeating title holders look easy when, it practise, it is anything but for most fighters.

Alvarez, though, is not like most fighters. This is a boxer who is different. His activity alone is a throwback as he competes frequently, and he appears in the midst of a quest to secure an extraordinary legacy.

Advertisement

He's already established himself as the pound-for-pound king in the post-Floyd Mayweather era. And he's arguably the greatest boxer Mexico has ever produced.

Yet, at 31, he is young enough to achieve even more as combat sports history continues to write itself before our eyes.

Body-punching key for 'Canelo'

Canelo put power behind his punches to put Plant away for good. Photo by Getty Images

Plant began the fight well, out-landing Alvarez in rounds one to three - dictating the ebb and flow with his lead jab.

Alvarez's strategy was a long-term one as his meticulous body-punching took hold as he amped his attack in the mid to late stages of the bout.

In total, of the 117 punches Alvarez landed in the entire fight, 53 were thrown to the body (and 52 of those 53 were all power shots), according to Compubox data sent to Insider.

Advertisement

Alvarez increased his output as Plant appeared to fade and like the stories from many of Canelo's recent wins, the finish seemed a foregone conclusion.

Plant was tough but Alvarez is tougher, and he put him down twice in the 11th round, making the American try to balance on wobbly legs, as he battered him around the ring.

Watch Canelo close the show right there:

"Caleb is a good fighter," said Canelo after his win. "I have a lot of respect for Caleb Plant. He was a difficult opponent with a lot of ability and I do respect him.

"We are both men at the end of the day. He wanted to fight me and still continue. I told him there's no shame. We had a great fight tonight."

Advertisement

Victory advanced Alvarez's pro boxing record 57 wins (39 knockouts) against one loss and two draws.

It is unclear who Alvarez will fight next, or when he will return, but if he does return to fight on Showtime pay-per-view like he did Saturday, then big-name opponents like Jermall Charlo or David Benavidez could be next.

You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article