David Benavidez slugged his way past Caleb Plant this past weekend.
The bout served as the main event on Showtime pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
With the win, Benavidez retained his interim WBC super middleweight title, besting the former champion. Scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.
The highly anticipated showdown between super middleweight rivals turned into the intriguing clash of styles that many predicted it would be, as Plant’s boxing acumen carried the early action until the brute force and high-volume power punching of Benavidez took over.
After 12 grueling rounds in front of a sold-out arena, the two fighters squashed their years-long beef, embracing and expressing their mutual respect.
“I know there was a lot said between us but in the end we settled this like men,” Benavidez said. “I’m happy we gave the fans the best rivalry of the year or the last five years. I’m just very happy.”
According to CompuBox, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) held a large advantage in power punches landed (180-68) but also out-landed Plant in jabs (30-23). Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) was the busier fighter, throwing 624 to Benavidez’s 551, but was unable to deter the late round onslaught from Benavidez.
“It’s a big rivalry but that’s what boxing is all about,” Plant said. “We came here and settled it like men. I take nothing from David. We haven’t been the best of friends but we got into the ring and we settled it like men. That’s what you’re supposed to do. He’s a helluva fighter.”
In the co-main event, Jesus Ramos remained unbeaten with a victory over Joey Spencer in super welterweight action. The bout was stopped in the seventh round.