In an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions, undefeated former two-time WBC Super Middleweight Champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavdez and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant will face off in a high-stakes, 12-round fight to end their long-running rivalry live on SHOWTIME PPV on March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
In their bid to become the division’s next kingpin, these assertive and hungry super middleweights will bring their years-long verbal conflict into the ring. In their fight for Benavdez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight title, both have held titles at 168 pounds and are eager to return to the top of the weight class.
WHAT TIME IS BENAVIDEZ VS. PLANT?
Date: Saturday, March 25
Start time: 1 a.m. GMT / 9 p.m. ET
Showtime will carry the fight live on SHOWTIME PPV for $74.99.
Main event ringwalks (approx): 3 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m. ET
The fight takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The event is set to get underway at 1 a.m. GMT / 9 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 3 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m. ET
“David Benavadez vs. Caleb Plant will see two fighters in the prime of their careers take on the biggest challenge they can as they look to leave no doubt about their legacy in the ring,” stated Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. The event is scheduled to begin at 1 a.m. GMT / 9 p.m. ET. The main event ringwalks are scheduled for 3 a.m. GMT / 11 p.m. ET. While Plant is best known for his exceptional boxing acumen and Benavdez for his power, both fighters have demonstrated their versatility in recent bouts. A night not to be missed on SHOWTIME PPV on March 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is the result of all of this.
“Sometimes in this business, people say it’s bad blood to sell a fight,” stated Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. I personally guarantee that there will be genuine animosity and an incredible fight in this one. Don’t pass it up!
Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., stated, “This is one of the biggest and potentially most explosive fights that can be made in boxing, not just in the super middleweight division.” “It pits two fighters at the peak of their athletic primes, both with prodigious skill-sets and contrasting styles, both of whom take great pride in the way they perform.” The matchup is intriguing, and there is no way to know what will happen. We have a volatile, 50-50 matchup and a potential candidate for fight of the year when we factor in their genuine and mutual dislike for one another. As we close out our 2023 schedule, SHOWTIME is pleased to present this event, which marks yet another compelling and significant main event.”
When he defeated Ronald Gavril by split decision for the vacant WBC title on SHOWTIME in 2017, the 25-year-old undefeated Benavadez (26-0, 23 KOs) became the youngest-ever 168-pound world champion at just 20 years old. Benavdez, who was born in Phoenix but now lives and trains in Seattle, has established himself as a contender in the super middleweight division with his knockout power and growing ring savvy with each fight.
Under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, Jose, Sr., Benavdez went from weighing 250 pounds to being a boxing prodigy when he was 15 years old. what’s more, his sibling and veteran competitor Jose Jr., as he broadly stood his ground in fighting against middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin. Benavídez is riding a line of six straight knockout triumphs heading into the session against Plant, having most as of late scored a resonating third-round stoppage of previous hero David Lemieux in his last battle in May. “I can hardly hold on until they put me in the ring with him so I can beat his butt,” said Benavídez. ” Boxing fans are going to have a great time tonight. I am eager to enter the room and deliver the assault that they are expecting.
Plant, who has a record of 22-2 with 13 knockouts, has used his exceptional boxing skills to become a world champion. In his most recent fight, he defeated Anthony Dirrell with a big knockout and was named Knockout of the Year for 2022 by CBS Sports, Boxing Scene. One of the most memorable finishes of 2022 came during Plant’s October debut with new trainer Stephen Edwards, when he ended a heated rivalry with Dirrell by knocking him out with a single punch.
In 2019, the 30-year-old Las Vegas resident and Nashville, Tenn., native Plant defeated Jose Uzcategui by unanimous decision to win the IBF title. Plant won the championship by knocking out Uzcategui in the second and fourth rounds. He successfully defended his title three times, defeating Mike Lee, Vincent Feigenbutz, and former champion Caleb Truax by unanimous decision. He lost the title to Canelo Alvarez in an undisputed championship match in November 2021. Alvarez was frustrated at times by his smooth boxing skills, but he beat Dirrell to set up this much-anticipated matchup with Benavidez.
Plant stated, “I made it clear I wanted to go after the biggest fight that could be made in the division after I knocked out Dirrell.” I’m back to show the world why I’m one of the most popular boxers in this one of the most anticipated matches.
I’m focused and sharp. I’m looking forward to March 25 not only to demonstrate who the superior man is but also to provide the fans with what they’ve been waiting for.
BENAVIDEZ VS. PLANT CARD
David Benavidez vs. Caleb Plant; For Benavidez’s WBC interim super middleweight title
Jesus Ramos vs. Joey Spencer; Super lightweight
Chris Colbert vs. Jose Valenzuela; Lightweight
Cody Crowley vs. Abel Ramos; Welterweight
Kevin Gonzalez vs. Jose Sanmartin; Super bantamweight
Orestes Velasquez vs. Marcelino Nicolas Lopez; Super lightweight
Demler Zamora vs. Jesus Abel Ibarra; Super featherweight
Daniel Blancas vs. Nicholas Molina; Super middleweight
Dorian Mark Khan Jr. vs. TBA; Super featherweight
Robert Meriwether III vs. Jesus Ramon Perez; Super featherweight
