Caleb Plant silenced his critics with his resilience, while Canelo Alvarez reaffirmed his status as the premier pound-for-pound boxer in the sport.
Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) delivered two knockdowns in the 11th round to secure a TKO victory over Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, etching his name in history. The 31-year-old phenom became the inaugural boxer to unify all four recognized titles at 168 pounds and the first Mexican fighter to attain undisputed championship status.
The pro-Alvarez audience rose to their feet in applause as referee Russell Mora halted the contest following the second knockdown, despite Plant appearing conscious. Alvarez adorned himself with a golden crown during his post-fight interview, adorned with a multitude of championship belts. "Reaching this milestone wasn't easy. Thanks to your support, my family, and my team, we've come a long way. This victory is for everyone, especially for Mexico," Alvarez stated.
"I have immense respect for Caleb Plant. He's a formidable opponent with considerable talent. He deserves recognition," Alvarez added.
Plant showcased his agility and disciplined defense throughout the bout, pushing Alvarez into the later rounds. However, he struggled to land significant blows beyond counter jabs due to Alvarez's formidable guard.
Alvarez adeptly adjusted to Plant's speed early on, consistently cornering him and targeting the body. Despite Plant's adjustments in the latter half of the fight, Alvarez's relentless pressure continued unabated.
"He made it challenging, but Eddy [Reynoso] advised me to stick to our strategy, and it paid off," Alvarez remarked.
The 11th-round finish was orchestrated by Alvarez's lead left hook, pinning Plant against the ropes before a barrage of uppercuts floored him. Although Plant rose to his feet swiftly, Alvarez's subsequent assault forced the referee's intervention at 1:05 of the round.
"That's how it had to end. I went in for the finish," Alvarez declared.
According to ShoStats, Alvarez outlanded Plant 117 to 101, with a notable advantage in body shots (53-13) and a 41% success rate in power shots.
Following the bout, the two fighters embraced, burying the hatchet after a contentious lead-up that included a physical altercation during a September 22 press conference.
"We're both men at the end of the day," Alvarez reflected. "Despite everything, he wanted to keep competing. There's no shame in that. He apologized for the incident, and I accepted his apology."
Plant, 29, left the ring under his own steam without granting an interview, experiencing the first loss of his career and relinquishing his IBF title reign that began with a victory over Jose Uzcategui in 2019.
Regarding his future plans, the four-division champion Alvarez remained non-committal about returning to the light heavyweight division.
"We'll see," Alvarez said. "First, we need some rest."
All three judges scored the bout in favor of Alvarez at the time of the stoppage, with scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94. CBS Sports also favored Alvarez with a score of 97-93.
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