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Mike CoppingerESPN
LAS VEGAS — When Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant faced off in September, the boxers exchanged blows; the latter emerged with a cut under his right eye.
This time, with tensions at a fevered pitch, security ensured the fighters didn’t throw any punches (but still allowed them to be close enough to hurl plenty of insults during a heated stare-down). More importantly, they both made weight ahead of Saturday’s showdown for the undisputed super middleweight championship at MGM Grand (Showtime PPV, 9 p.m. ET).
Alvarez, who holds three titles, weighed in at the division limit of 168 pounds. Plant, owner of the fourth title, was 167.
“You will see something tomorrow; it’s time,” Alvarez, 31, told Plant. “He will feel something different, believe me.”
For the first time since November 2019, Canelo enjoyed a Sin City weigh-in befitting boxing’s top attraction complete with scores of Mexican fans cheering him on.
Plant, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the big stage. The 29-year-old motioned for more boos after stepping off the scale, channeling Hulk Hogan’s patented move.
“I love [being the underdog],” Plant said. “You can cheer for him all you want, you can boo for me all you want. Remember, it’s easy to sit in those seats, it ain’t easy to stand up here.”
Alvarez is ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer (and holds the same ranking at super middleweight). He defeated Billy Joe Saunders in May via TKO to pick up a third title on his quest for undisputed status.
Plant, ESPN’s No. 3 super middleweight, hasn’t competed since a January title defense against Caleb Truax.