Via Showtime
Former two-division world champion Danny Garcia returned with a vengeance, knocking out Brandon Rios in a WBC Welterweight Title Eliminator in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday on SHOWTIME from Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Read MoreBy Kevin Iolen- Via Yahoo Sports
Fighting for a world title for the first time can be overwhelming for a boxer, even an experienced one. There are more demands on your time. The stakes are the highest. The opponent is elite.
For a 20-year-old who has never been through anything remotely like it, it can be a career-killer.
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Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton
Caleb Plant (16-0) may only be 16 fights into his pro career but he feels that he is ready for the big fights.
In his last fight he dominated Andrew Hernandez over 10 rounds at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The fight was televised by Showtime.
The Tennessee native who is now based in Sin City has called out newly crowned WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez and several other top fighters and prospects in the division with no success.
He is very confident in his skills and his ability to adapt but knows that he needs a bigger name opponent to really make a statement in the division
"I have been calling people out. The way to move up the ladder is to either fight an old big name or a new prospect. Those are the two ways to get your foot in the door. I tried to fight Julian Jackson, I tried to fight Dominic Wade, I tried to fight Jose Uzcategui. The list goes on and on," revealed Plant.
"It is because I want to be great and there is only one way to do that and that is to fight tough opposition. There is no other way to do that. I can't show the world what I want to be until I get that opportunity but I can't do it alone. It takes two people to make a fight. It takes two people to make a good fight. If I am in there trying and someone else is just surviving that isn't a good fight. I want to make a good fight."
As for what is next, this writer asked Plant if he planned on returning to the ring before the end of the year.
"That is the plan. We are working on something big, a name everyone knows, a tough fighter. That is what my team is working on," Plant told BoxingScene.com.
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter
Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton
Up and coming super middleweight prospect Caleb "Sweet Hands" Plant (16-0) is yearning for a title shot.
At the top of the Tennessee native's wish list is newly crowned WBC champion David Benavidez who captured the title in September when he beat Ronald Gavril via split decision. Most observers thought the fight was nip and tuck and some believed that Gavril deserved the nod after he floored Benavidez in the final round.
Plant, who also fought on the card, was in agreement that the fight was close and is very confident that he can do much better than Gavril.
"I thought Ronald did great. That night after my fight I just wanted to be a fan. I am not saying that I am a fan of them but I just wanted to enjoy the fight. I wasn't trying to score it or anything like that. I thought Ronald did really well and at times he was out boxing David Benavidez," Plant told BoxingScene.com.
"I will be honest, Ronald is not the best boxer, he's got a ton of heart, good power and is solid all the way around but as far as a skilled boxer, he is not at the top of the list and what was he doing to David?"
The 25-year-old Plant feels that his skill set is vastly superior to that of Gavril and said that he hasn't yet been pushed to put his full arsenal on display.
"No one has seen everything I have. No one has seen everything I can do. They have seen spurts. People say I can cut the ring off and move forward. They know I can throw combinations and break people down. They know I can stick and move and box and that I am good on my feet and my toes. They know I can pick and roll. It is about being well rounded. People who are well rounded make it the farthest because at some point you are going to have to pull a different aspect out (to win the fight)," Plant stated.
Benavidez will likely return to the ring in January in a rematch against Gavril so Plant will likely have at least one interim fight before he gets a crack at the title. Both fighters are advised by Al Haymon so a future showdown is very likely as long as they both keep winning.
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter
Boxing Scene - By Boxing Clever
Earlier this month, David Benavidez (19-0, 17 KOs), 20 years old, became the youngest world champion in the sport he won a twelve round split decision over tough as nails Ronald Gavril in The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The victory gave him the vacant WBC super middleweight title, which was vacated by Badou Jack when he moved up to 175-pounds.
According to Benavidez, during the fight with Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs) he overcame an injured left knuckle on his left hand in the fourth round, and he also suffered a knockdown in the twelfth and final round.
“Every jab caused sharp pain in my fist, but champions push through obstacles finding ways to win. I gave up the knockdown going for the kill, but I got up and came out on top,” said Benavidez to Premier Boxing Champions. “I can attack the body more, use more head movement, work more combinations, but the crowd was going crazy after every round. I gave an exciting fight showing I’m a champion they want to see.”
After the fight with Gavril was over, Benavidez was confronted by undefeated Caleb Plant.
Plant (16-0, 10 KOs) saw action on the undercard of the Hard Rock event, winning a ten round decision over Andrew Hernandez (19-7-1, 9 KOs).
“He said, ‘Get ready, I’m coming after you,’ and if Caleb wants it, he can get it," said Benavidez. “Caleb couldn't stop a guy with six losses. Hernandez is a friend, but I’ve knocked out Hernandez a couple of times [during sparring sessions]. Trust me, Caleb’s not ready for me.”
Although he considers him to be a friend, Benavidez would love a unification with WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez (36-0, 24 KOs), who last week retained his world title with a hard fought decision over Jesse Hart (22-1, 18 KOs).
“He’s a native Mexican and I’m a Mexican-American, and sometimes the Mexican-Americans are considered fake Mexicans by the [native] Mexicans,” said Benavidez. “We’re friends, but if we ever fight it’ll be a spectacular brawl since I know his style and he knows mine."
