The imperious march of Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez continues as, in the 60th fight of his long and illustrious career, he became the undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world after a devastating stoppage of Caleb Plant in the 11th round on Saturday night in Las Vegas. In a typically patient yet dominant display Álvarez dispatched Plant with a brutal series of blows as he added the American’s IBF title to the WBA, WBC and WBO belts he already owns.
The end was as ferocious as it was clinical. A shuddering left hook from Álvarez made Plant sag like a suddenly stricken tree hit by lightning. He began to totter forward but Álvarez pushed him back to find the space to then uncork a vicious uppercut. Plant went down heavily but, being such a brave and defiant fallen champion, he rose to his feet and made a curious little jog to the opposite corner. He could not escape Álvarez for long because, as soon as the standing count of eight was over, Plant was again battered by a sustained series of clubbing combinations. The American crashed down against the ropes before hitting the canvas. He rolled over on his back, his arms spread wide in barely conscious surrender, and the fight was over.
Álvarez peeled away and climbed the ropes to celebrate with the capacity crowd of 16,586 spectators, which had risen in foot-stomping, whooping unison as soon as the end became inevitable. While the 31-year-old Mexican was then carried around the ring on his trainer Eddy Reynoso’s shoulders, a doctor paid careful attention to Plant – who fought courageously and skillfully while never really threatening Álvarez.
When a crown was placed on the head of Álvarez it was acknowledgement of a small slice of modern boxing history. Across the weight divisions, only five other male fighters have held all four belts at the same time and been recognised as the undisputed champion of the world. Álvarez had been emphatic all week in Vegas that, despite the frequent absurdities of the titles peddled by the competing sanctioning bodies, he had this vision of history in mind.
Even before the fighters reached the ring the odds against Plant were evident. Every clip of him in his dressing room unleashed a cascade of booing which rolled down the steep banks of seating and all the way into the basement where the fighters readied themselves for their ring walks. In contrast, the adoration of Álvarez boomed around the seething arena and chants of “Can-e-lo, Can-e-lo, Can-e-lo” grew in intensity – until the MGM Grand was rocking after a passionate rendition of the Mexican national anthem folded into another homage to“Can-e-lo, Can-e-lo, Can-e-lo.”
Plant cut a lonely, if stoic, figure as he walked to the ring. Álvarez, in contrast, looked as if he was already embracing victory as he fed the raucous delirium of his fevered supporters. It was easy to feel sympathy for Plant – who resembled a lost stranger in his own country.
From the outset, Álvarez stalked Plant who was the busier of the two fighters. Plant has an effective jab and he won a couple of early rounds simply by being the more active boxer. But Álvarez is always ready to bide his time and wait for the openings to come. His far heavier punches began to take their toll on Plant. Álvarez closed down the distance effectively and, with methodical venom, set about his destructive work.
The pressure Álvarez exerted on Plant was suffocating and he went to the head and the body as the rounds progressed. But his 29-year-old opponent should be commended for his slick boxing and resolve even if he could not do much to stem the heavy tide of punching from a marauding Álvarez. Slowly, inexorably, Plant began to wilt and yet more body punches landed with damaging force in round 10. The savage conclusion was soon completed by the new undisputed champion.
There were touching scenes in the ring afterwards when Álvarez and Plant met and embraced. They spoke intently and respectfully to each other and all the bad blood of the build-up drained away. There was nothing left for either man to dispute.
The Mexican star is on a mission to cement his place among the greatest fighters who have ever lived. His most serious problem will be to find enough new opponents who can offer the serious test he needs. The best way for him to burnish his growing status as a fighter who transcends the limitations of contemporary boxing is to move up to light-heavyweight and sweep through that division of much bigger and more dangerous men.
Artur Beterbiev is the most formidable champion in this weight category and the Russian would offer the kind of exacting challenge that Álvarez loves to pursue. That enticing prospect could become reality next year but, for now, we should pause to consider the latest achievement of Álvarez. In the space of 11 months he has had four world title fights and taken the gaudy alphabet belts from three talented champions in Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and now Plant.
His supremacy among the super-middleweights has long been an easy assumption. But after another masterful performance on the glittering Vegas Strip, Álvarez is now the undisputed ruler of his division. The fevered response of his vast army of supporters, who filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena with the noise and colour of Mexico, confirmed another obvious truth. His domination cannot be limited to one division. Canelo Álvarez is simply the best fighter in the world by some distance – with his authority and popularity unmatched by any other current world champion.