As per David Benavidez, Caleb Plant’s recent unexpected setback against Jose Armando Resendiz occurred because he may have thought the contest would be “less challenging.”
Identical Strategy, Divergent Outcome
It appeared Plant committed the error of reusing the same strategy that proved effective in his prior engagement against Trevor McCumby. He engaged the Mexican Resendiz in close-quarters combat and learned the difficult lesson that this approach was a misjudgment.
The former IBF super middleweight titleholder ‘Sweethands’ Plant (23-3, 14 KOs) suffered a defeat via a 12-round split decision to Resendiz (16-2, 11 KOs) earlier in the year on May 31st. The judges’ scores were 116-112, 116-112 in favor of Resendiz, and 115-113 for Plant.
Benavidez Rationalizes Plant’s Mentality
“He likely lacked the necessary motivation for that fight or anticipated it being simpler,” David Benavidez remarked to Ring Magazine on X, regarding Caleb Plant’s recent 12-round split decision loss to Jose Armando Resendiz on May 31. “Caleb Plant is a formidable fighter. He will return more resilient,” Benavidez stated.
Benavidez Safeguarding His Achievement
It seems Benavidez is providing justifications for Plant to maintain his reputation artificially elevated, ensuring his victory over him from 2023 continues to be viewed favorably by enthusiasts. This tactic is unlikely to succeed. Observers of Plant’s bouts against Resendiz, McCumby, and Canelo Alvarez have recognized his limitations as a fighter. He sustained damage from McCumby on two occasions and is not regarded as a top-tier super middleweight competitor.
Plant’s Neglected Deficiencies
- Subpar Endurance
- Questionable Resilience
- Limited Offensive Capabilities
- Susceptibility to Body Shots
Plant, aged 33, entered the contest as a substantial -2000 to -2500 favorite to overcome the 26-year-old Resendiz, who was selected as a preparatory opponent for Caleb to facilitate a potentially lucrative encounter against Jermall Charlo. The two shared the event, and it was projected to be a straightforward task for Plant.
Resendiz capitalized on Plant’s strategy of engaging in close-range combat and inflicted significant damage. He destabilized Plant on multiple occasions during the fight. In the sixth round, Resendiz visibly hurt Caleb with an overhand right.
Statistical Data Reveals the Narrative
- Resendiz – 186 successful strikes out of 600 attempts, resulting in a 31% accuracy rate
- Plant – 108 successful strikes out of 509 attempts, resulting in a 21% accuracy rate
Plant likely selected Resendiz based on his relatively recent eighth-round knockout defeat to Elijah Garcia on September 30, 2023. Upon reviewing that fight, it is understandable why Plant chose Resendiz, as he did not exhibit exceptional qualities.
Jeepers Isaac has been covering boxing since 2020, bringing readers sharp ringside insights and timely analysis on the sport’s biggest moments
