Caleb Plant might yet become a boxing icon of the modern era

Is Caleb Plant inching toward Hall of Fame status? Maybe not, but he’s starting to look like more than just a former titleholder. 

On Saturday night, Caleb Plant stopped Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) with just one second left in the ninth round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, solidifying his status as more than just another name on the card. After appearing hurt in the second round and being dropped in the fourth, Plant rallied back, not just to win, but to secure an emphatic stoppage.

Let’s rewind. Back in 2017-2018, Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) was a regular on FS1 cards, vibing to Don Trip’s music in the gym, flying under the radar, or worse, being laughed at for his unshakable confidence. Fast forward to today, and it seems like Plant, 32, is getting the last laugh.

“They’re all satisfying when you get your hand raised,” Plant said after dispatching McCumby. “I was putting on a show, but my dad and Bread [trainer Stephen Edwards] got on my ass to stay focused and stop fucking around. It’s hard because I’m a showman, and this is something I enjoy.”

Plant is the quintessential “cool fighter” right now. He’s got the swagger, the clothing line, the whole vibe. He’s not just a boxer; he’s a brand. Fans respect his grit, but they love his attitude even more. Remember when he slapped Jermall Charlo? The video went viral faster than you can say “Beetlejuice” three times and in LA, when another fighter tried to stir the pot, fans had Plant’s back. The guy who used to be dismissed as boring? Yeah, he’s anything but that now.

Plant is becoming the story. His knockout of McCumby could steal “Fight of the Year” from Usyk-Fury, which was the biggest heavyweight fight since Lennox Lewis was champ.

Here’s the thing about Hall of Fame status: It’s not just a word or a place in history. You’ve got to have that fan connection, that peer respect. Plant’s checking both boxes. He earned Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s respect in defeat, and after that venomous buildup with David Benavidez, they’ve been nothing but cool to each other post-fight. He might not have Arturo Gatti’s brawler style, but Plant’s resilience and charisma have won over his own set of diehards. He’s one of those guys whose attitude bleeds through the screen, and fight fans can’t get enough.

These days, it’s all about “main character energy.” If that term was invented for anyone, it’s Caleb Plant. The guy’s living like the star of his own movie — and in boxing, where self-belief is half the game, Plant’s storyline is the most authentic form of “main character energy” we’ve got. He never wavered from his destiny of becoming a champ. Now he’s setting his sights higher— he might just become a boxing icon of the modern era. 

“Hopefully, I see y’all soon in a big fight,” Plant said before stepping off stage, and with a performance like this last one, he has to be in a big fight next, right? 

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.