Reminder: Plant is a Frontrunner

Plant WILL have the speed advantage and will seek to establish his lead hand early. It would not surprise me at all to see Plant win the first three rounds. I think this fight has the potential for championship round drama if Canelo struggles to slow Plant down by the half way point.

We have to assume Plant has at least a decent chin. He doesn't react very well when hit, but he doesn't panic either. His stamina overall does not seem great for a top fighter. I think he has plenty of heart and I believe him when he says he'll die in there.

While Canelo is certainly a power puncher, there's some unrealistic mystique built around him since the Saunders fight. The idea that he can break an orbital bone or rupture a bicep at will is wrong. The fact is he never wobbled Jacobs and never seriously hurt Callum. I fully expect there to be a tide turning moment in Canelo's favor in rounds 7-9, but I think Plant could very well be ahead at that point.

I don't think we've seen the best of Plant, I don't think many people have. He's choosing to go through growing pains sparring in the dark. Certainly him fighting the subway guy and fighters of that level are not improving him. Ultimately I think people are underestimating the danger a frontrunner with heart poses to a lower volume champion.

edit: please bump this should Canelo KO2 occur

 

Canelo was never a true front runner, he just had issues gassing. That's why they called him Gasnelo. He's learned to pace himself quite well, but that leaves the door open for front running.

 

Exactly what makes this fight intriguing. On paper Plant gets steamrolled, but I don't think that will actually happen. He's got a lot more to give than a shot to **** Kovalev. I don't think Plant is as good as Saunders, but Saunders was in a bad way by the time Canelo got to him (he looked like absolute dog against Coceres).