IBF super middleweight champion Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant 21-0 (12) believe Avni Yildirim 21-3 (12) quit against WBC and WBA 168-pound champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 55-1-2 (37) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida on Saturday night.
WBC mandatory contender Yildirim, who reportedly earned around $2 million for his effort, retired on his stool after three frames.
“Canelo did what he had to do and he got the job done, unfortunately, and I’ve been doing this for a long time and know what I’m looking at, but (Yildirim) really didn’t come to win,” Plant said to The Ring.
“Maybe a part of him came to win, but when he got in front of (Canelo), he laid down. Then, he quit on his stool.
“It was pretty disappointing. Canelo’s dance partner sat on his stool. He got star-struck and gave Canelo too much respect.
“I saw some things there in Canelo that I can exploit. But we’ll have to wait until the bell rings. In September, we’ll make this fight happen. It’s what I want. It’s what he wants. Soon enough, I’ll get in there and show you all.”
Alvarez, 30, is scheduled to face WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders 30-0 (14) on May 8 before meeting Plant in September in his ambitious bid to unify all four of the major world title belts.
The 28-year-old Plant from Nashville, Tennessee, is coming off a dominating 12-round points win over Caleb Truax 31-5-2 (19) in Los Angeles in January.
He does not expect to fight again before getting his crack at Alvarez in six months’ time.
“As of now, I’m aiming for September and I got some rounds in in January. I had a great camp going into the fight, so September looks like the date,” Plant said. “I’ve had some injuries here and there, but I’m feeling good right now.”
Plant will enter the fight against Mexican superstar Alvarez as a substantial underdog.
“It doesn’t really bother me, because I’ve heard it my whole life,” Plant said. “People said before I turned pro, I heard I couldn’t do this and that. Then I would go out and accomplish it. When I told people, I would be a national amateur champion, they wouldn’t believe me.
“When I told people, I’m going to the Olympics, and I wound being an Olympic alternate in London, they wouldn’t believe me. When I said one day that I would become a world champion, they wouldn’t believe me. I’m not looking to be believed. I’m not looking at having a believable career. I’m looking at having an unbelievable career.”
Plant says the fight isn’t about the money, it’s all about history and respect.
“I want to give fans the fights that they want and make history,” Plant said. “I respect Canelo as a man. But if he wants me to respect his boxing skills, he’s going to have to make me do that. I don’t care what he respects. Come September, he’ll find out firsthand. I’ll make him respect me.”
