Will Caleb Plant be a harder or easier opponent for Canelo than Saunders?

Marginally easier. Plant is a decision fighter and he knows he can't win a decision against Canelo. After seeing what happened to BJS's eye, he will want to get his $8 million without taking a trip to ICU, so he will spend more of the fight running. He will also let Canelo have it all his own way when the terms of the fight are outlined. Canelo will be the aggressor, land far more power punches and have the Mexican crowd cheering when he lands anything, which would be a significant advantage with the judges if they were not already in his pocket. Plant has never fought at elite level before so this will be a huge step up for him and the pressure will be enormous, draining his gas tank. Plant doesn't have a good gas tank at the best of times: in the Uzcategui fight he gassed late, lost the last 4 rounds and was even hurt at one point. He also doesn't have nearly enough power to knock Canelo down and had Uzcategui stayed on his feet, one of the judges would have had it just 115-113 Plant. Granted this will be just over 2.5 years ago when they fight but I don't see Plant being all that better. Canelo can have a slow start, conserve his energy and still get given the early rounds.

BJS is a blown-up middleweight whereas Plant is more natural at 168 and it would be almost impossible for him to be less disciplined. Plant is also a couple of inches taller and has several inches more reach. On the other hand I don't think he's quite as naturally talented as BJS, he's beaten lower quality opposition and he's orthodox. But none of this is relevant. They are not going to disrupt Canelo's timetable for undisputed and whatever he has going on after that by letting Plant retain his belt. This is a belt sale. Even if Plant pitched a shut-out (and he's nowhere near good enough to do so) the scores would read: 115-113 Plant, 115-113 Canelo, 118-110 Canelo. Fortunately there are many people who take these fights seriously and bet on Canelo's wide underdog opponent, which creates an opportunity to bet on Canelo and make bank. Try it sometime.

 

Plant's chances are better. He has looked impressive in most of his outings while BJS have looked bad in his outings at 168. He's longer and taller than BJS and I've always thought he was a better boxer than BJS. He doesn't need power, he just need to control distance and land his shots.

Plant can move and movers give Canelo problems. Planet can win a decision and can get robbed, but that doesn't mean he can't be a winner even if he gets robbed.

 

Plant is naturally bigger and stronger than Bjs but like him does not have the pop to keep Clenelo off him. That will be his downfall.

 

A blown up inactive 160lb Saunders (who looked **** in his last fights) is still better than Plant lmao... I really have no idea how people think Plant is a great fighter he's nowhere near as slick as people imagine he is

 

I think Plant will want to prove he is not like Saunders - or everything he perceives Saunders to be.

Meaning, a quitter, all talk, who isn't confident enough to stand in the pocket, who lacks power etc...

These are the a lot of the criticisms regarding Billy Joe at the moment.

It's possible Caleb will want to show everyone he is none of those things, that he is legitimate, snd not there just to go through the motions.

I say this from a psychological perspective, and through the lens of public opinion and among boxing analysts, commentators etc...not purely from a sporting one.

Will it matter?

Will it be enough?

The gut says, no, probably not.

But, he has a chance...albeit a very small one.

The question is, will the occasion get to him, will he be able to make adjustments if they are needed, does he have the power to gain Canelo's respect, can he take a shot?

That's what I mean by the psychology, as a lot of those issues are about mental strength, belief, confidence etc...

You see it all the time - where someone has lost the fight before it even starts.

 

Plant has more power but his movement is not as slick as BJS.

Canelo will land easier with Plant but will also take his fair share of power shots.

I think Canelo will finish him before the 11th

 

I think Plant fights a bit too ''upright'' to win the fight. Plant might be more durable than Saunders which will make him last longer.

Plant may win a couple of close rounds but ultimately come undone because how ''upright'' and stationary he can look at times.

 

I really, really don't like Caleb Plant at all...................but I'll be objective.

Based upon how Canelo ultimately caught up to and detonated Saunders (who I believe is tougher and has better reflexes than Plant), I think Canelo dispatches him after a few awkward moments. Canelo is always going to look precarious against twitch fiber quick movers but Plant really isn't at the level of the other guys that would give Canelo real trouble over 12. This would've already been proven if Plant had actually fought anyone in the top tier of his respective division.

 

canelo is like mike tyson,feared until he`s exposed

 

Saunders punches had zero effect on Canelo, I doubt Plant could fare any worse.

 

I'm hoping Plant had a bad night against Traux - on that showing I'd say Canelo has it easier than Saunders.

But Plant could make it harder for Canelo if he's shoeshines less than Saunders and uses his height and reach advantage effectively.

1) Plant MUST disrupt Canelo's rythym and that means running and potshoting won't be enough. He has to get Canelo's respect and throw often.
2) He must use effective footwork to keep the distance optimum, with an in/out flow. This is why I think Bivol can do well against Canelo as he is great at this.
3) He cannot get gunshy and let Canelo feint him to death
4) He must VISIBLY demonstrate being able to back Canelo up.

Saunders did better in rounds 5-7 because he made Canelo obviously miss more, and had some success in connecting. But this was still few and far between, and did not at any point look like Saunders was in control.

What I want to see a fighter do against Canelo (and only GGG and Floyd have done so thus far - maybe Kov to an extent), is command the centre of the ring, and give the perception of being the ring general / the boss.

Keeping the centre of the ring is tricky though as distance has to be perfect, and it leaves more openings for Canelo's counters.

But staying on the outside and being backed up is just going to play into Canelo's current narrative that
1) He walks fighers down and makes them gunshy
2) Fighters only way to win iis with 'excessive/running' movement

Ignoring the whole decision / judges conundrum, that's what I want to see.

Does Plant have what it takes to execute? Not from what I've seen, but I think he has the natural ingredients, he needs to focus more, and avoid lapses and lazy spells. Force Canelo out of his comfort zone.

Let's face it, Saunders did NOT make Canelo fight at a pace he didn't like.

 

Plant is also more diverse offensively than Saunders. Additionally the kid is mentally tough and will absolutely come to win. Nevertheless, I see Canelo winning a decision in an entertaining fight.

 

Plant is most likely going to get stopped in the later rounds. We will really see what his heart is made of

 

Didn't like how he was being caught by Truax at times... He definitely has the style to cause problems but I question his ability to be able to maintain the game plan without unraveling. Who knows if he'll do as good as BJS - I don't think he'll win either way.