In a fight as evenly matched as the one between David Benavidez and Caleb Plant, the intangibles could be the thing that sets one man apart from the other.
It is clear that David Benavidez is the big strong man who overwhelms his opponents and throws killer combinations, and that Caleb Plant is the boxer who will use his footwork and slickness to try to frustrate Benavidez.
Additionally, both men are talented, former title holders who will be able to make adjustments as the fight progresses. So it is quite possible that this one may come down to the intangibles. Here are a few things to consider that may be the difference maker in this fight:
- Emotions
While David Benavidez is as mean as they come inside the ring, typically, he is a cool, mild-mannered guy outside the ring. Easy to talk to, kind and humble. However, David Benavidez has made it clear that he does not like Caleb Plant and that this fight is personal for him. We have seen an angry David Benavidez in the lead up to this fight. Sometimes, emotions can bring the best out of a fighter. If David Benavidez can harness his anger and channel, it into the ring, he could use it to propel his game to the next level. On the other hand, boxing is a sport of intelligence, and emotion can sometimes get in the way of a fighter’s ability to think clearly. If Benavidez comes into the fight angry, wild and reckless, a fighter as talented as Caleb Plant will capitalize on that. How David Benavidez handles his emotions on fight night could very well be the difference maker in this one.
- The insight of Stephen “Breadman” Edwards
After his loss to Canelo Alvarez, Caleb Plant ditched his long-time trainer and hired Stephen “Breadman” Edwards. In his single fight with Breadman in his corner, Plant scored a highlight reel knockout over Anthony Dirrell. Plant is not known for his power, or for knockouts. But Breadman may have unlocked another aspect of Plant’s game.
It is worth a note that this is not the first time that Breadman has faced David Benavidez. Breadman trained Kyrone Davis when he faced David Benavidez in November 2021. While Benavidez proved to be entirely too much in that fight, getting a 7th round stoppage over Davis, Davis gave a valiant effort that earned the respect of many fight fans that evening.
Breadman should be able to provide Caleb Plant with some detailed insight based on what he saw when his fighter Davis faced Benavidez. A trainer as intelligent as Breadman certainly has some takeaways from facing Benavidez, and these could prove to be the difference maker in this fight.
- Experience
Many have said that experience is the best teacher. While neither David Benavidez nor Caleb Plant have particularly impressive resumes, there is one big name that cannot be ignored. Canelo Alvarez. Caleb Plant’s singular loss comes to Canelo Alvarez. While a fighter learns something every time he steps in the ring, there is a level of skill, knowledge and understanding that comes from challenging one of the best fighters in the world. Without a doubt, Caleb Plant is a better fighter for having fought Canelo Alvarez. If he is able to apply the lessons that he learned from that fight to this matchup, he may emerge victorious versus David Benavidez on March 25.