Caleb Plant: I Want To Inspire Others

By Jake Donovan

Caleb Plant is enjoying his rise in the pro ranks, but cautions against anyone who views his career and sees riches and glory. The undefeated knockout artist looks to add the 10th win of his career as he faces Jamar Freeman in a bout that—time permitting—could make its way to the latest installment of 'PBC Toe-to-Toe Tuesday' tonight on Fox Sports 1.

Whether or not the bout is granted airtime, Plant is confident that whatever awaits him in the ring tonight cannot compare to what he's already been through in life. That's the side he would like people to understand before being quick to glorify his current status. 

“I want to inspire others. I want them to say “If he can do it, I can do it.” But at the same time, they shouldn't be quick to want to walk in my shoes without knowing my journey,” Plant (9-0, 8KOs) says of the road that has so far lead to this point. “To be in the same exact shoes, they have to understand that there's a lot of nails in those shoes.”

Any parent will tell you there is no greater challenge than the thought of losing your own child. That nightmare became a reality that Plant and his fiancée Carmen were forced to endure when their daughter Alia passed away in January after bravely fighting for all 19 months of her precious life. 

Alia was born in May ’13 with Aicar Transformylase Imp Cyclohydrolase Deficiency, an extremely rare condition with only two known cases. No matter the progress she showed at times, she was literally forced to fight for her life – and for Plant to fight the good fight both in and out of the ring. 

Knowing each day could be her last weighed on his mind during his final amateur days and even upon turning pro last May. His pro debut came on the undercard of Bermane Stiverne’s heavyweight title winning effort in a 6th round knockout of Chris Arreola in their ESPN-televised rematch. 

Plant also scored a knockout that night, needing just 47 seconds to record his first win, his way of showing gratitude to a team that continues to believe in him, including his longtime trainer Justin Gamber, high-powered adviser Al Haymon and manager Luis DeCubas. He ran his record to 5-0 by the end of 2014, and was preparing for a quick ring return in late January. Those plans were naturally put on hold with Alia’s passing. 

First try to imagine the loss of a close loved one. Then, imagine it being your child. Once that processes, envision still having to go to work every day, where your job requires the utmost attention to detail as you’re trying to punch a moving target all while having to worry about not getting caught in return.

This is the life that Plant lives these days. 

It’s a far cry from his childhood, where he dreamt of making it big out of Ashland City. The town is roughly 30 minutes northwest of Nashville and even through modern advancements is still best known for three things these days: headquarters to A. O. Smith, the largest water heater manufacturer in North America; the “new” Walmart supercenter; and now, an unbeaten middleweight on the rise.

Plant continues to carry that honor with utmost pride. He is 4-0 (4KOs) upon returning to the ring in March, undoubtedly strengthened by the guardian angel forever over his shoulder.

“I know Alia's looking down on us, keeping a close eye on Carmen and I, looking down every day,” Plant acknowledges. 

 

His first fight back was a 1st round stoppage of Daniel Henry, which made ESPN2’s highlight reel in a video compilation of the best knockouts through nearly two decades of the network’s Friday Night Fight series. 

A second televised appearance came in his most recent bout, knocking out Zoltan Sera inside of a round just over a month ago in Montreal, Canada. The feat served as the televised swing bout in the August edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC Sports Network. 

Whether or not he gets to co-star in a PBC broadcast, the game plan will remain the same even versus arguably his toughest test to date in Freeman (13-4-2, 7KO).

“Same as always, going in slick, trying to finesse and remain as composed as always,” insists Plant, although his boxing intentions and “Sweethands” nickname don’t quite jive with what usually evolves into a knockout performance. “If I hurt him early, I'm gonna jump on him and finish him.”

If that doesn’t work, then it’s onto Plans B, C, D and running through the entire alphabet if necessary. Given all that he’s already been through, Plant remains forever confident that there isn’t anything in the ring that he can’t handle.

“For a lot of fighters, the toughest thing they do is box,” Plant states in pointing out the difference between himself and most other fighters. “That's not even close to the toughest thing I've had to do. “Even when I'm running low, whether it’s in the ring, running that last hill sprint, or whatever, I think about Alia. I think that if she can do all that she’d done, fighting to stay alive for 19 months, then this should be a breeze for me.”

It’s what allows Plant to be who he is today. It’s a story he doesn’t wish on anyone else, but rather that his journey inspires around him to maximize their own talents.

“I know what people mean when they say they want to be just like me, with my success so far in boxing and what not,” Plant acknowledges before offering advice to the contrary. “The thing is, when you wish to be me, you're limiting your own potential. I don't want to be LeBron, I don't want to be Michael Jordan. I just wanted to be the best I can be and becoming so at what I do best. 

“That’s what others should strive for. If what I’ve done and can still do will encourage those to push to the limit to reach their own dreams… that’s really the legacy I want to leave behind in the ring.”