IBF super middleweight champion Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant 21-0 (12) has revealed he has been vaccinated against Covid-19 to avoid missing out on a massive payday against WBC, WBA and WBO 168-pound champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 56-1-2 (38).
The 29-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee who fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada was in talks to face Mexican superstar Alvarez in Las Vegas on September 18 but the protracted negotiations meant the date had to be scrapped. The deal was sealed last week with the fight to take place in Las Vegas on November 6.
Many fights have fallen through over the past 18 months due to boxer testing positive for Covid. One of the more recent examples is the postponement of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s title defence against old rival Deontay Wilder.
Plant says he has done his bit to ensure the fight goes ahead but isn’t sure if Alvarez has received his jab.
“I don’t know specifically what he had to sign up for,” Plant said over the weekend. “You know, no one has put a gun to my head and said, ‘You have to sign this for the vaccination,’ or anything like that. But to be honest, not for any political reason, but I haven’t been a big fan of the vaccination.
“But I’m not opposed to people getting the vaccination, but I feel like if you’re healthy and you’re young and you’re strong, like I am, the long-term effects, I’m not exactly sure what they are.
“But I feel like if I got Covid I could get through it just fine. But I did get the vaccination and I’m vaccinated because I don’t want this moment to slip by. And I’ve already sacrificed so much for the sport.
“Like I talked about, I’m not gonna let something like Covid get in the way of stopping me from obtaining my destiny.”
Meanwhile, all-time Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez says Alvarez will have his work cut out for him against Plant, but he expects his countryman to ultimately come out on top.
“It’s a fight where the early rounds are going to be difficult, but I think Canelo is going to prevail with his boxing, his strength and he is going to end up beating Caleb Plant,” Chavez told Little Giant Boxing.
“I don’t know if he’s going to do it by knockout or by decision, but he is going to win.
“I’ve seen Caleb Plant fight and he’s a good fighter, but he’s not a fighter who can beat Canelo. Canelo is in his prime and nobody beats him right now, so he is going to retain his titles.”
