"We had a lot of fun," McCumby said in defeat. "It was a great show. I wanted to show him that I was athletic too."

After something of a feel-out first round, McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) landed a big right hand in the second that knocked Plant off-balance, although he promptly shook his head in defiance. McCumby kept pressing, landing a right hand that knocked Plant back and a left hand in the corner that snapped back his head before McCumby wrestled him to the ground.

At this stage, McCumby was physically bullying Plant, as he landed a left and right, and threw Plant to the canvas again. Plant, however, remained composed and compact, staying focused on the task at hand. In the fourth, a McCumby hook landed with enough force on Plant’s shoulder to knock him down, and Plant seemed to be in trouble. That would, however, be McCumby’s high-water mark, as the turning point of the contest came in the next frame.

After being staggered by an explosive right-left from McCumby, Plant turned him around and pushed him against the ropes, smothering his opponent’s punches and working him inside with short, snappy blows to the body and head, highlighted by an uppercut that couldn’t miss.

"He caught me pulling out and hit me in the shoulder, but that's part of the game," Plant said after the fight. "He came in with wild punches and I just had to stay focused. That's what champions do."

Rounds 6 and 7 were much of the same: McCumby launching power shots at Plant in center ring but Plant remaining composed, working McCumby to the ropes and tearing into him for prolonged periods with short hooks and uppercuts. 

The pace slowed a bit in the eighth as Plant caught his breath, but in the ninth he was back on top, once more pinning McCumby to the ropes. An uppercut was followed by a flurry upstairs and then, after pausing to reset, Plant sent a right hand into McCumby’s jaw that landed with punishing effect. McCumby was hurt now and, seeing his opening, Plant unleashed with both hands. A left hand exploded on McCumby’s jaw, and as McCumby sagged on the ropes, referee Alan Huggins stepped in to halt the contest just as the bell rang to end the round. Official time was 2:59 of Round 9.

"I knew I had him hurt and had to go to work," Plant said. "It was time to get my belt. Now I'm ready to go home and play with my daughter."

Kieran Mulvaney has written, broadcast and podcasted about boxing for HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Reuters, among other outlets. He also writes regularly for National Geographic, has written several books on the Arctic and Antarctic, and is at his happiest hanging out with wild polar bears. His website is www.kieranmulvaney.com.