By Jake Donovan
Caleb Plant is still more than a week from his official pro debut, yet already hit the jackpot.
The 21-year old light heavyweight from Ashland City, Tenn. – roughly 30 minutes northwest of Nashville – will appear on the non-televised undercard of the May 10 heavyweight title fight rematch between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. The main event airs live in prime time on ESPN.
The move comes on the heels of becoming one of the latest fighters to sign with high-powered, low-profile adviser Al Haymon.
Plant is also co-managed by Luis DeCubas, whose reputation for developing champions complements Haymon’s knack for maximizing his fighters’ income.
“We’re really excited for Caleb,” states Justin Gamber, Plant’s trainer who heads up Music City Boxing in Nashville. “There aren’t a lot of fighters from (the Nashville area) who go on to accomplish a lot, but unlike most from here, Caleb has a deep amateur background and also the attention of many in the boxing industry.”
Among Plant’s credentials in the amateur ranks include a National Golden Gloves championship and also a 4th place finish in the 2010 USA Boxing Nationals competition. The 6’1” boxer began his amateur career trained by his father and former boxer Richie Plant.
In preparation for his pro debut, Plant stepped out of his comfort zone in traveling to Southern Florida to briefly train at Mike Tyson’s Iron Mike Productions Boxing Gym.
An opponent has yet to be named for Plant’s pro debut.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
