Retired two-weight unified world champion Andre Ward is tipping Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant 21-0 (12) to knockout Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 56-1-2 (38) in their rare four-belt unification bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 6.
Mexican superstar Alvarez, 31, is staking his WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight titles against the 29-year-old Plant’s IBF strap.
Alvarez is a short-priced favourite paying just $1.10 to win head-to-head. But Ward thinks the $6.00 Plant can spring the upset.
“This is a great fight and a great opportunity for a fighter like Caleb Plant. I love this moment in his career where he’s fought solid competition and he has the look and makings of a fighter that can go to the next level,” said Andre Ward to Max On Boxing.
“He has to prove it. I love these proving moments, and he’s getting that opportunity against Canelo on November 6th. Trust me, it’s not going 12.
“The thing about Caleb Plant, he couldn’t land a sucker punch on Canelo in the press conference. Canelo’s defense is real. He’s got to hit him in the ring now and Canelo knows it’s coming. Who do you like in that fight? Canelo or Caleb Plant?
“I’m going to go with Caleb Plant. That’s my brother, so I’m going to support him all the way, but he’s got to prove it. He’s got the ability, he’s got the skills, but he’s got to turn up.”
Meanwhile, WBO welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 37-0 (28) has offered his perspective on the fight. He believes Plant needs to mimic some of Gennadiy Golovkin’s tactics in his two fights against Alvarez.
“It’s going to be a good fight. I’m excited to see it. I’m excited to see what Caleb Plant does,” Crawford told Fight Hub TV.
“If he’s going to come in there and stand in front of Canelo, I think that would be a bad game plan. I think that he should utilize his skills and look at the GGG first fight and take bits and pieces of that fight and put it in his arsenal.”
The undefeated Crawford, 34, is deep in camp for his title defence against former two-time welterweight champion Shawn ‘Showtime’ Porter 31-3-1 (17) at the Mandaly Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 20.
The 33-year-old Porter will be returning from a 15-month layoff following his points win over Sebastian Formella in Los Angeles in August last year.
“Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter, this is a can’t-miss fight,” Ward said. “Shawn Porter, he’s going to be out of the ring by the time he gets in the ring, and he’s trying to prove that he’s not just a guy that is trying to be a part of the event but that he can actually win the big fight.
“For Terence Crawford, who I have as my best fighter in the world, every now and again, you have to remind them because fighters, media and the fans, they forget how bad you really are. This is Terence Crawford’s opportunity.”
