Daniel Jacobs: Caleb Plant Has A Lot Of Flaws; He Hasn’t Been Tested

Daniel Jacobs has altered his rankings of super middleweight champions.

After more consideration, the former IBF/WBA middleweight champ has listed WBO title-holder Billy Joe Saunders last among boxing’s four super middleweight champions. Jacobs initially called Caleb Plant the most beatable of those four champions during an Instagram Live interview with promoter Eddie Hearn late in March.

The unbeaten Plant, who owns the IBF super middleweight title, took offense to the comments Jacobs made to Hearn. Plant dubbed Jacobs “old” and “on his way out” during a subsequent interview with FightHype.com.

Jacobs isn’t bothered by Plant’s trash talk, but the Brooklyn native gladly would fight for Plant’s 168-pound crown.

“Obviously, a boxer wants to get [under] another boxer’s skin,” Jacobs said during a recent appearance on “The Ak And Barak Show” on SiriusXM. “He wants to say things. I was only being honest when someone asked me who I thought was the weakest link [among the super middleweight champions]. But I did forget about B.J. Saunders. And I would like to say B.J. Saunders, out of the champions, is the weakest link.

“But I don’t take back my statements, as far as what I said about Caleb Plant. He does have a lot of flaws. I think he hasn’t been tested. I think he’s still kinda fresh, he’s still kinda green, and if he wanna get it on, he already know. And I’m the type of fighter, I can go. I have opportunities to work for other, different promotions. If that fight wants to be made, we can do it. You know, I’m his big brother. He know what’s up.”

Jacobs considers David Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs), who owns the WBC title, the best among the super middleweight champions. Plant and Benavidez have become bitter rivals.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Plant (20-0, 12 KOs), of Ashland City, Tennessee, contended during the aforementioned FightHype interview that a bout between him and Jacobs is unlikely because Plant is part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions organization and Jacobs is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA. Jacobs has just one fight remaining on his Matchroom contract, though, and still is advised by Haymon.

The 33-year-old Jacobs could make more money to fight Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) or WBA champ Callum Smith (27-0, 19 KOs), but he says a fight with Plant can be arranged.

“Danny Jacobs is a good fighter, and he’s been around for a while,” Plant said. “But he’s more of an athletic fighter. You know, he fights more off his athletic ability. … I don’t think Danny Jacobs is the man for the job. You know what I’m saying? He’s been beat, he’s been in some tough fights, and I just don’t think that he’s an A-class fighter.”

Nevertheless, the thought of boxing Jacobs appeals to Plant.

“I would love to fight him,” Plant said. “I would put a boxing lesson on him.”

Jacobs (36-3, 30 KOs) also mentioned that he would like to settle a personal score with Gabe Rosado. A fight with Philadelphia’s Rosado (25-12-1, 14 KOs, 1 NC) appears much more likely to happen next for Jacobs than super middleweight title fights against Plant, Saunders or Smith. 

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.