Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Video: Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant had a friendly chat during the action Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Ever wonder what fighters say to each other while they’re engaging in combat?
Check out this clip of a friendly ninth-round chat between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant, who would go on to get knocked out in the 11th round Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Who knew?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWAJix6Fdgh/?utm_medium=copy_link
[lawrence-related id=25771,25767,25718,25660,25663,25666]
Video: Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant had a friendly chat during the action Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Ever wonder what fighters say to each other while they’re engaging in combat?
Check out this clip of a friendly ninth-round chat between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant, who would go on to get knocked out in the 11th round Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Who knew?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWAJix6Fdgh/?utm_medium=copy_link
[lawrence-related id=25771,25767,25718,25660,25663,25666]
A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments. The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s …
GOOD
We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments.
The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s not my favorite, though. Alphabet titles mean little when there are almost 100 of them. And it seems everyone is a multiple-division beltholder these days.
Alvarez became the first undisputed super middleweight champion and sixth male undisputed champ in any division in the four-belt era by stopping Caleb Plant in the 11th round Saturday in Las Vegas.
That’s a heady accomplishment given how rare it is. And in our dreams there would be only one champion in each division, as there once was. This is as close as we’re going to get to that.
“Undisputed” has its limitations, too, though. It’s based on the whims of the sanctioning bodies, who generally rank fighters in manner that benefits them the most in terms of the bottom line. Merit isn’t always the primary factor.
The best approach to appreciate the accomplishments of Alvarez is to simply consider his opponents and the fact he has beaten them consistently.
He has taken down one highly rated foe after another over the past decade, rarely opting for stay-busy or transitional fight against pushovers. That’s what Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio did on the road to greatness.
Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev might be the best of Alvarez’s victims but the list is a lot longer than that. He has by far the best resume in boxing today.
Alvarez failed to have his hand raised only four times, a draw against long-forgotten Jorge Juarez in his fifth fight, a one-sided decision against all-time great Mayweather and a disputed draw in his first fight against Golovkin, a future Hall of Famer.
Becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion is an achievement that should be celebrated but Alvarez has been doing special things for a long time.
***
BAD
There’s nothing “bad” about Alvarez’s victory over Plant but we should keep it in perspective.
Alvarez didn’t just defeat Roy Jones Jr. or Bernard Hopkins. He beat Plant, a good, athletic boxer who had little experience on an elite level and can’t punch, which made his mission almost impossible.
And there’s certainly nothing bad about Alvarez’s pursuit of history. He isn’t satisfied with mundane accomplishments. And there’s nothing mundane about becoming the first undisputed super middleweight champion.
However, we should keep that in perspective, too. We must take into account the fighters he beat to achieve that lofty goal: Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Plant, all three of whom are good, but limited fighters.
Again, I understand why Alvarez choose to fight them; He wanted to make do something that would stand out. None were much of a threat to him, though. And don’t we want the best fighters to face genuine threats as much as possible?
I would rather Alvarez have faced Gennadiy Golovkin a third time, David Benavidez and Jermall Charlo instead. He wouldn’t have become “undisputed” but he would’ve faced more-significant challenges, which is more important to me.
We must appreciate Alvarez’s general approach to selecting opponents. He has faced one ranked foe after another over the past decade. At the same time, his emphasis on collecting titles – which mean less than ever – has its drawbacks.
The good news is that he could still fight Benavidez and Charlo. Golovkin? Not likely.
***
WORSE
Plant has nothing to be ashamed of. He gave a solid performance against one of the best in the business.
The athletic Tennessean frustrated Alvarez in the first half of the fight with his elite level boxing ability, particularly his elusiveness. The winner was still trying to chase him down in the middle rounds.
Alas, Alvarez’s relentless pressure – including damaging body work — gradually broke down Plant and set up the dramatic knockout in the 11th round, a devastating fate for a proud fighter who had such big expectations.
And it wasn’t close on the cards through 10 rounds. Alvarez led 98-92 (eight rounds to two), 97-93 and 96-94. Boxing Junkie had it 98-92 for Alvarez.
A key problem for Plant was his lack of punching power. If you can’t keep Alvarez honest with hard shots (a la Gennadiy Golovkin), you have to be a boxing wizard (a la Floyd Mayweather) to beat him.
Plant is a good boxer but he’s not that good, which is why he was about an 8-1 underdog (average of multiple outlets) going into the fight.
This undoubtedly is a difficult time for Plant, who had never tasted defeat as a professional and genuinely believed he’d have his hand raised. However, the setback isn’t the end of the world for him.
Again, he lost to a truly great fighter. No shame in that. He arguably performed better than super middleweight counterparts Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, which confirmed that he belonged in the ring with Alvarez.
And he isn’t the type to give up. He has overcome some personal tragedies, which tells you something about his mental toughness. He’ll bounce back from Saturday’s setback, too.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) had been away for more than two years before he fought Leonardo Baez (21-5, 12 KOs) on the Alvarez-Plant card. I had forgotten how good he is. The former 122-pound titleholder used his unusual length and ability to pick apart his fellow Mexican and win a near-shutout decision in his first fight as a full-fledged 126-pounder. Vargas is ranked No. 1 by the WBC, whose champion is Gary Russel Jr. I’d pick Russel to win that fight but Vargas would be a live underdog. He’s really good. … Anthony Dirrell (34-3-2, 26 KOs) delivered the punch of the night at the MGM Grand, a monstrous right uppercut that instantaneously destroyed Marcos Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KOs) in the third round of their super middleweight fight. I don’t know whether the 37-year-old former two-time titleholder will get a shot at one more major belt but he made a strong case that he’s a viable option. … Junior welterweight contender Elvis Rodriguez (12-1-1, 11 KOs) bounced back from his upset loss to Kenneth Sims Jr. in May, stopping capable Juan Pablo Romero (14-1, 9 KOs) in five rounds on the Alvarez-Plant card.
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A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments. The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s …
GOOD
We can use different criteria to illustrate the magnitude of Canelo Alvarez’s accomplishments.
The Mexican star has won major titles in four divisions, which is a standard barometer of greatness. It’s not my favorite, though. Alphabet titles mean little when there are almost 100 of them. And it seems everyone is a multiple-division beltholder these days.
Alvarez became the first undisputed super middleweight champion and sixth male undisputed champ in any division in the four-belt era by stopping Caleb Plant in the 11th round Saturday in Las Vegas.
That’s a heady accomplishment given how rare it is. And in our dreams there would be only one champion in each division, as there once was. This is as close as we’re going to get to that.
“Undisputed” has its limitations, too, though. It’s based on the whims of the sanctioning bodies, who generally rank fighters in manner that benefits them the most in terms of the bottom line. Merit isn’t always the primary factor.
The best approach to appreciate the accomplishments of Alvarez is to simply consider his opponents and the fact he has beaten them consistently.
He has taken down one highly rated foe after another over the past decade, rarely opting for stay-busy or transitional fight against pushovers. That’s what Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio did on the road to greatness.
Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev might be the best of Alvarez’s victims but the list is a lot longer than that. He has by far the best resume in boxing today.
Alvarez failed to have his hand raised only four times, a draw against long-forgotten Jorge Juarez in his fifth fight, a one-sided decision against all-time great Mayweather and a disputed draw in his first fight against Golovkin, a future Hall of Famer.
Becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion is an achievement that should be celebrated but Alvarez has been doing special things for a long time.
***
BAD
There’s nothing “bad” about Alvarez’s victory over Plant but we should keep it in perspective.
Alvarez didn’t just defeat Roy Jones Jr. or Bernard Hopkins. He beat Plant, a good, athletic boxer who had little experience on an elite level and can’t punch, which made his mission almost impossible.
And there’s certainly nothing bad about Alvarez’s pursuit of history. He isn’t satisfied with mundane accomplishments. And there’s nothing mundane about becoming the first undisputed super middleweight champion.
However, we should keep that in perspective, too. We must take into account the fighters he beat to achieve that lofty goal: Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Plant, all three of whom are good, but limited fighters.
Again, I understand why Alvarez choose to fight them; He wanted to make do something that would stand out. None were much of a threat to him, though. And don’t we want the best fighters to face genuine threats as much as possible?
I would rather Alvarez have faced Gennadiy Golovkin a third time, David Benavidez and Jermall Charlo instead. He wouldn’t have become “undisputed” but he would’ve faced more-significant challenges, which is more important to me.
We must appreciate Alvarez’s general approach to selecting opponents. He has faced one ranked foe after another over the past decade. At the same time, his emphasis on collecting titles – which mean less than ever – has its drawbacks.
The good news is that he could still fight Benavidez and Charlo. Golovkin? Not likely.
***
WORSE
Plant has nothing to be ashamed of. He gave a solid performance against one of the best in the business.
The athletic Tennessean frustrated Alvarez in the first half of the fight with his elite level boxing ability, particularly his elusiveness. The winner was still trying to chase him down in the middle rounds.
Alas, Alvarez’s relentless pressure – including damaging body work — gradually broke down Plant and set up the dramatic knockout in the 11th round, a devastating fate for a proud fighter who had such big expectations.
And it wasn’t close on the cards through 10 rounds. Alvarez led 98-92 (eight rounds to two), 97-93 and 96-94. Boxing Junkie had it 98-92 for Alvarez.
A key problem for Plant was his lack of punching power. If you can’t keep Alvarez honest with hard shots (a la Gennadiy Golovkin), you have to be a boxing wizard (a la Floyd Mayweather) to beat him.
Plant is a good boxer but he’s not that good, which is why he was about an 8-1 underdog (average of multiple outlets) going into the fight.
This undoubtedly is a difficult time for Plant, who had never tasted defeat as a professional and genuinely believed he’d have his hand raised. However, the setback isn’t the end of the world for him.
Again, he lost to a truly great fighter. No shame in that. He arguably performed better than super middleweight counterparts Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, which confirmed that he belonged in the ring with Alvarez.
And he isn’t the type to give up. He has overcome some personal tragedies, which tells you something about his mental toughness. He’ll bounce back from Saturday’s setback, too.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) had been away for more than two years before he fought Leonardo Baez (21-5, 12 KOs) on the Alvarez-Plant card. I had forgotten how good he is. The former 122-pound titleholder used his unusual length and ability to pick apart his fellow Mexican and win a near-shutout decision in his first fight as a full-fledged 126-pounder. Vargas is ranked No. 1 by the WBC, whose champion is Gary Russel Jr. I’d pick Russel to win that fight but Vargas would be a live underdog. He’s really good. … Anthony Dirrell (34-3-2, 26 KOs) delivered the punch of the night at the MGM Grand, a monstrous right uppercut that instantaneously destroyed Marcos Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KOs) in the third round of their super middleweight fight. I don’t know whether the 37-year-old former two-time titleholder will get a shot at one more major belt but he made a strong case that he’s a viable option. … Junior welterweight contender Elvis Rodriguez (12-1-1, 11 KOs) bounced back from his upset loss to Kenneth Sims Jr. in May, stopping capable Juan Pablo Romero (14-1, 9 KOs) in five rounds on the Alvarez-Plant card.
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Next up for Canelo Alvarez: David Benavidez or Jermall Charlo?
Canelo Alvarez was asked what might follow his history-making 11th-round knockout of Caleb Plant on Saturday and he deflected the question, saying only, “I love challenges. Whatever comes my way, I’ll be ready for it.”
Well, there are potential challenges in front of him and he has already expressed interest in tackling a few of them.
The first undisputed super middleweight champion has said more than once that he likes the idea of fighting two-time 168-pound champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) or current middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs).
Both men could pose a bigger threat than Plant, who boxed well but was gradually worn down and stopped in the 11th round.
Benavidez is a good, quick handed boxer who might have the punching power to slow Alvarez’s charge and perhaps hurt the Mexican superstar. Plant couldn’t do that. And Charlo, while smaller than Alvarez, is an excellent all-around fighter.
Anthony Dirrell, another two-time 168-pound beltholder, is another viable candidate but probably a longshot even after his one-punch, fourth-round knockout of Marco Hernandez on Saturday.
The guess here is that Alvarez will face Benavidez next May. That’s the biggest challenge at super middleweight and would be fully embraced by fans, who understand how dangerous the strapping Phoenix fighter is.
Then there are the light heavyweights.
Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, has said it’s unfair to expect his protégé to fight naturally bigger men at 175 pounds but that argument doesn’t wash. He already stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title in 2019.
The thought of Alvarez facing either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol, both of whom are 175-pound titleholders, is exciting. They both have the ability and physical strength to test Alvarez like no one lighter than them could, Benavidez being the most obvious possible exception.
Beterbiev, who holds the IBF and WBC titles, is a two-time Olympian from Russia who has stopped all 16 of his opponents. The man is imposing. And WBA beltholder Bivol, another former amateur star from Russia, might be a more complete fighter than Beterbiev.
Alvarez would have his hands full with both of them. Hey, he said he loves challenges.
One more possibility is WBO light heavyweight champ Joe Smith Jr., who doesn’t have the boxing skills to keep pace with Alvarez but might punch harder than any of the fighters mentioned above. He would definitely have a puncher’s chance against Alvarez.
Who knows? Maybe Alvarez will target all the 175-pounders in an attempt to become undisputed light heavyweight champion. No one who has followed his remarkable career would put anything past him.
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Next up for Canelo Alvarez: David Benavidez or Jermall Charlo?
Canelo Alvarez was asked what might follow his history-making 11th-round knockout of Caleb Plant on Saturday and he deflected the question, saying only, “I love challenges. Whatever comes my way, I’ll be ready for it.”
Well, there are potential challenges in front of him and he has already expressed interest in tackling a few of them.
The first undisputed super middleweight champion has said more than once that he likes the idea of fighting two-time 168-pound champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) or current middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs).
Both men could pose a bigger threat than Plant, who boxed well but was gradually worn down and stopped in the 11th round.
Benavidez is a good, quick handed boxer who might have the punching power to slow Alvarez’s charge and perhaps hurt the Mexican superstar. Plant couldn’t do that. And Charlo, while smaller than Alvarez, is an excellent all-around fighter.
Anthony Dirrell, another two-time 168-pound beltholder, is another viable candidate but probably a longshot even after his one-punch, fourth-round knockout of Marco Hernandez on Saturday.
The guess here is that Alvarez will face Benavidez next May. That’s the biggest challenge at super middleweight and would be fully embraced by fans, who understand how dangerous the strapping Phoenix fighter is.
Then there are the light heavyweights.
Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, has said it’s unfair to expect his protégé to fight naturally bigger men at 175 pounds but that argument doesn’t wash. He already stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title in 2019.
The thought of Alvarez facing either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol, both of whom are 175-pound titleholders, is exciting. They both have the ability and physical strength to test Alvarez like no one lighter than them could, Benavidez being the most obvious possible exception.
Beterbiev, who holds the IBF and WBC titles, is a two-time Olympian from Russia who has stopped all 16 of his opponents. The man is imposing. And WBA beltholder Bivol, another former amateur star from Russia, might be a more complete fighter than Beterbiev.
Alvarez would have his hands full with both of them. Hey, he said he loves challenges.
One more possibility is WBO light heavyweight champ Joe Smith Jr., who doesn’t have the boxing skills to keep pace with Alvarez but might punch harder than any of the fighters mentioned above. He would definitely have a puncher’s chance against Alvarez.
Who knows? Maybe Alvarez will target all the 175-pounders in an attempt to become undisputed light heavyweight champion. No one who has followed his remarkable career would put anything past him.
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Canelo Alvarez made history by stopping Caleb Plant in Round 11 Saturday in Las Vegas.
In a remarkable career filled with accomplishments Canelo Alvarez topped himself on Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Mexican superstar, a four-division titleholder, knocked out Caleb Plant in the 11th round to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion and only the sixth undisputed champ in the four-title era.
In the process, he might’ve climbed higher on the list of all-time greats.
“It means so much in the history of Mexico to be undisputed champion,” he said. “We’re only six. I’m happy to be only one of six in the world.”
All hail the king 👑@Canelo TKO's Caleb Plant in the 11th round 😳#CaneloPlant pic.twitter.com/y5mXvWafr7
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 7, 2021
It wasn’t easy for Alvarez, who spent the first half of the fight following an elusive Plant around the ring and landing punches only in spurts. Meanwhile, Plant landed his jab fairly consistently and enough power shots to be competitive.
However, Alvarez ultimately closed the distance — in part because Plant didn’t have the power to dissuade him — and he began to inflict more and more damage.
By the 10th round, the punishment seemed to have taken much of the steam out of Plant, who wasn’t throwing as many punches as he had earlier in the fight and whose movement seemed more labored. And Alvarez wasn’t slowing down one iota.
Then, in the 11th, Alvarez finally landed the punch everyone was waiting for, a left hook that turned out to be the beginning of the end for the brave Tennessean. That shot was followed by a hard right and short left, which sent Plant to the canvas on all fours.
He was able to get up but he was easy prey. Alvarez landed a right hand amid a flurry of punches and Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) went down again. This time it was clear he couldn’t continue, prompting referee Russell Mora to stop the fight as the pro-Alvarez crowd roared its approval.
The official time of the stoppage was 1 minute, 5 seconds of Round 11 of the scheduled 12-round fight.
At that moment, a beaming Alvarez (57-2-1, 39 KOs) jumped onto the ropes in a corner of the ring and raised his fist to acknowledge the spectators. And then a member of his team put a gold crown on his head to illustrate his accomplishment.
And why not? He and trainer Eddy Reynoso began speaking years ago about one day becoming an undisputed champion, which, again, is rare in the four-belt era. It meant a lot to Alvarez and his team.
He is, without question, king of both the super middleweight division and, in the eyes of most, the ruler of the sport. Indeed, the legend of Canelo Alvarez continues to grow.
What’s next for the 31-year-old icon? He didn’t want to get into that after the fight, saying he wanted take a break after a long training camp. And you can bet they’ll be a huge celebration, perhaps something resembling a coronation.
[lawrence-related id=25660,25663,25666]
Canelo Alvarez made history by stopping Caleb Plant in Round 11 Saturday in Las Vegas.
In a remarkable career filled with accomplishments Canelo Alvarez topped himself on Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Mexican superstar, a four-division titleholder, knocked out Caleb Plant in the 11th round to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion and only the sixth undisputed champ in the four-title era.
In the process, he might’ve climbed higher on the list of all-time greats.
“It means so much in the history of Mexico to be undisputed champion,” he said. “We’re only six. I’m happy to be only one of six in the world.”
All hail the king 👑@Canelo TKO's Caleb Plant in the 11th round 😳#CaneloPlant pic.twitter.com/y5mXvWafr7
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 7, 2021
It wasn’t easy for Alvarez, who spent the first half of the fight following an elusive Plant around the ring and landing punches only in spurts. Meanwhile, Plant landed his jab fairly consistently and enough power shots to be competitive.
However, Alvarez ultimately closed the distance — in part because Plant didn’t have the power to dissuade him — and he began to inflict more and more damage.
By the 10th round, the punishment seemed to have taken much of the steam out of Plant, who wasn’t throwing as many punches as he had earlier in the fight and whose movement seemed more labored. And Alvarez wasn’t slowing down one iota.
Then, in the 11th, Alvarez finally landed the punch everyone was waiting for, a left hook that turned out to be the beginning of the end for the brave Tennessean. That shot was followed by a hard right and short left, which sent Plant to the canvas on all fours.
He was able to get up but he was easy prey. Alvarez landed a right hand amid a flurry of punches and Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) went down again. This time it was clear he couldn’t continue, prompting referee Russell Mora to stop the fight as the pro-Alvarez crowd roared its approval.
The official time of the stoppage was 1 minute, 5 seconds of Round 11 of the scheduled 12-round fight.
At that moment, a beaming Alvarez (57-2-1, 39 KOs) jumped onto the ropes in a corner of the ring and raised his fist to acknowledge the spectators. And then a member of his team put a gold crown on his head to illustrate his accomplishment.
And why not? He and trainer Eddy Reynoso began speaking years ago about one day becoming an undisputed champion, which, again, is rare in the four-belt era. It meant a lot to Alvarez and his team.
He is, without question, king of both the super middleweight division and, in the eyes of most, the ruler of the sport. Indeed, the legend of Canelo Alvarez continues to grow.
What’s next for the 31-year-old icon? He didn’t want to get into that after the fight, saying he wanted take a break after a long training camp. And you can bet they’ll be a huge celebration, perhaps something resembling a coronation.
[lawrence-related id=25660,25663,25666]
Anthony Dirrell stopped Marcos Hernandez in four rounds with a crushing uppercut on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Anthony Dirrell’s goal was to demonstrate on Saturday night that he remains a worthy title challenger at 168 pounds.
Mission accomplished.
Dirrell stopped Marcos Hernandez with a monstrous right uppercut 22 seconds into Round 4 of a scheduled 10-rounder on the Canelo Alvarez-Caleb Plant card at the MGM Grand.
Dirrell (34-3-2, 26 KOs) is 37 years old and was 0-1-1 in his last two fights, a loss to David Benavidez that cost him his belt and a draw with Kyrone Davis. Thus, the thought of retirement crossed his mind.
Now the former two-time titleholder is back in business.
The fight was competitive for three-plus rounds, although Dirrell was landing heavier punches than Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KOs). That included a number of body shots that might’ve taken some of the fight out Hernandez.
Then came an instantaneous ending to the fight, the result of a perfect uppercut that put Hernandez flat on his back. He was able to beat the count but, unsteady on his feet, referee Celestino Ruiz didn’t hesitate to stop the fight.
The winner of the Alvarez-Plant fight will have many options in his first defense of the undisputed 168-pound title. Dirrell just demonstrated that he’s a viable one.
[lawrence-related id=25663,25666]
Anthony Dirrell stopped Marcos Hernandez in four rounds with a crushing uppercut on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Anthony Dirrell’s goal was to demonstrate on Saturday night that he remains a worthy title challenger at 168 pounds.
Mission accomplished.
Dirrell stopped Marcos Hernandez with a monstrous right uppercut 22 seconds into Round 4 of a scheduled 10-rounder on the Canelo Alvarez-Caleb Plant card at the MGM Grand.
Dirrell (34-3-2, 26 KOs) is 37 years old and was 0-1-1 in his last two fights, a loss to David Benavidez that cost him his belt and a draw with Kyrone Davis. Thus, the thought of retirement crossed his mind.
Now the former two-time titleholder is back in business.
The fight was competitive for three-plus rounds, although Dirrell was landing heavier punches than Hernandez (15-5-2, 3 KOs). That included a number of body shots that might’ve taken some of the fight out Hernandez.
Then came an instantaneous ending to the fight, the result of a perfect uppercut that put Hernandez flat on his back. He was able to beat the count but, unsteady on his feet, referee Celestino Ruiz didn’t hesitate to stop the fight.
The winner of the Alvarez-Plant fight will have many options in his first defense of the undisputed 168-pound title. Dirrell just demonstrated that he’s a viable one.
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