Caleb Plant: 2016 Will Be My Breakout Year

By Jake Donovan

The news came after the winter holidays, but it felt like Christmas all over again for Caleb "Sweet Hands" Plant. The unbeaten middleweight was already in training for a January 19 fight in Los Angeles, when he received the news on January 7 of a confirmed opponent in Adasat Rodriguez.

“12 days in advance,” Plant (11-0, 8KOs) said through a facial expression the equivalent of a child tearing open gifts on Christmas Day. “Man, some fights it felt like we didn’t find out our opponent until 12 hours beforehand. But it’s just part of it at this stage of our career. We find out about opponents late, just like my opponent found out late that he’s fighting me. It is what it is.”

The bout will air live on Fox Sports 1 as part of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series, live from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. Headlining the show, Jamal James puts his unbeaten record on the line as he faces Javier Molina in a welterweight matchup.

More so than advanced knowledge of his opponent, Tuesday’s televised showdown marks the start of what Plant believes will be a breakout campaign in 2016 despite his two-year anniversary in the sport still four months away. The charismatic middleweight from Ashland City, Tennessee – roughly 30 minutes northwest of Nashville – managed to get in six fights in 2015, despite the year beginning with personal tragedy with the death of his infant daughter, Alia.

The one-year anniversary of Alia’s passing comes later this month, with Plant’s pro career resuming last March. His ring return came on the eve of the official launch of the Premier Boxing Chapions (PBC) model, scoring a 1st round knockout of Daniel Henry in March.

It was literally a highlight reel moment, included in a final ESPN2 Friday Night Fights package of the long running series’ best knockouts. It also served as one of four televised fights in the year, including each of his last three starts. A 1st round knockout of Zoltan Sera played to an NBC Sports Network audience in August, which decision wins over Jamar Freeman (UD8 in September) and Tyrone Brunson (UD8 on Halloween) airing on Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network, respectively.

Plant is back on Fox Sports 1 in his latest adventure, a rare trip outside the middleweight division. Fighting above the limit was part of the terms in securing the services of Rodriguez (11-4-2, 7KOs) a stocky boxer from Spain who is actually coming down from light heavyweight.

“It’s no big deal to me to come in a bit heavy for this one fight,” notes Plant. “It made it easier to get an opponent in advance and be ready for this opportunity, instead of having to get ready. We know he’s short and thickly built, he comes to fight.

“Fighting a bigger guy gives up a chance to work on our defense and movement, as well as gauge our punching power. The competition level will continue to get tougher, so now it’s about taking fights that will help add to our arsenal.”

Plant accomplished that in each of his last two fights, showing he can box after having racked up eight knockouts in his first nine fights, none of which lasted longer than four rounds.

“It was great to get those rounds in the bag. Don't get me wrong, if we can get a 1st round knockout I snatch that opportunity because you know we don't get paid overtime,” Plant admits. “But as we move up (in competition level), we also have to be realistic that we won't get everyone out of there in the first round. It’s good to get that late round experience, where you have to stay focused.

“I've never thought of myself as a knockout puncher. I always thought of myself as a boxer with a high ring IQ, who can stick and move well and is multidimensional. We showed that last year which was our introduction year. 2016 is the breakout year. This year I plant my flag in the ground and let people know I'm here to stay.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox