Caleb Plant officially fought once in 2023 and suffered a unanimous decision defeat to David Benavidez Jr.
The former super middleweight titleholder also had an unsanctioned fight against Jermall Charlo in September during the fight week of the Canelo Alvarez–Jermell Charlo fight in Las Vegas.
Footage showed Plant slapping Jermall with a leaping left hand.
The scuffle left the boxing public clamoring for more, but the WBC’s middleweight titleholder Charlo was inactive at the time.
Charlo has since returned from a 29-month layoff, scoring a unanimous decision against Jose Benavidez Jr. in November.
A natural next step would have been for the PBC-affiliated Plant and Charlo to finally fight in the first half of 2024, but a matchup doesn’t appear to be imminent.
“I’m focused on getting that Charlo fight,” Plant told BoxingScene.com and other media in an interview. “It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen next.”
“You have to talk to [Charlo] about that,” Plant said about why the fight is not happening next. “You guys may see me in a tune-up staying busy. Hopefully, we can make that happen soon, in the summertime.”
When Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) was asked if Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) was ducking the fight, Plant again said, “You have to talk to him about that. … That was the fight that I was looking to hopefully get next, but it’s not always up to me. There’s a lot that goes into making a big fight like that. It takes two to dance and two to tango. … If he wants it, we can make it happen.”
Plant said he plans on continuing his career at 168 pounds and is campaigning for a rematch against Alvarez after suffering a knockout loss against the current undisputed super middleweight champion in 2021.
“I’m looking to get a rematch with Canelo myself,” Plant said. “If that means having to get another big fight and work my way back, I’ve done it before. If that means getting a win over Charlo, that’s what I want. Another fight that I like is the [Edgar] Berlanga fight. I want all of the big guys. I’m willing to get in there and scrap with anybody.”
Plant also recalled the incident with Charlo that ignited the beef.
“It’s unfortunate,” he said. “You don’t ever step out of the crib looking to have to put hands on somebody because they won’t act right. But when I say enough is enough, that’s what that means. I absolutely did [handle it well]. I’m not to be bullied or harassed by anybody.”