Caleb Plant will fight for the first time as a professional in Tennessee on Feb. 15, when he will defend his super middleweight title against Vincent Feigenbutz of Germany.
The Premier Boxing Champions bout on Fox will be broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Plant, 27, who is from Ashland City, held a news conference at the arena Wednesday and talked about how important it is for him not to suffer his first defeat in his home state.
He also promised a knockout win.
“It’s great to be back in my hometown and my home city,” said Plant (19-0, 11 KOs). “I’m even more excited to be bringing home a world title and to defend it at Bridgestone Arena. It’s been a dream of mine since as long as I could remember. Since I was a little kid.”
Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Plant winning the IBF 168-pound title in a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Uzcategui in Los Angeles.
Plant defended his title in July in Las Vegas with a third-round technical knockout of previously unbeaten Mike Lee.
The nearest to Nashville that Plant ever has fought as a pro was in Birmingham, Alabama.
“I’m working harder than ever to make sure that I have my hand raised on February 15,” he said. “I’m looking to do it in spectacular fashion, before the 12th round. This fight is going to end in a knockout on my behalf. I want everyone who’s going to be in the building and tuned in to know that this world title is staying right here in Tennessee.”
Feigenbutz (31-2, 28 KOs) will be fighting for the first time in the United States. He has won 10 consecutive fights after losing an 11th-round technical knockout to Giovanni De Carolis in the 2015 world title bout.
“I’ve heard Feigenbutz is strong and physical and he thinks he’s going to come in and knock me out,” Plant said. “Mike Lee thought he was going to knock me out, and Jose Uzcategui said he was going to knock me out, but how’d that go for them? At the end of the day, boxing is hit and do not get hit. I have plenty of skills to spare. I’m not playing with this guy.