Caleb Plant vs Jose Armando Resendiz Predictions: Is Resendiz about to get these ‘SweetHands’?

WBA interim super middleweight champion Caleb Plant defends his title against Jose Armando Resendiz this Saturday, May 31. The Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas hosts the card, which also features the return of Jermall Charlo. The show will be screened live on Prime Video

Here are my Caleb Plant vs Jose Armando Resendiz predictions ahead of this super middleweight scrap.

Caleb Plant vs Jose Armando Resendiz Odds

Plant is 1/33 to take the victory here while Resendiz is the clear underdog at 10/1. You can back the draw at 20/1.

Caleb Plant vs Jose Armando Resendiz Fight Preview

‘SweetHands’ might not thank me for the designation, but he might just be the “best of the rest” at super middleweight. Plant is 23-2 with his defeats coming against the division’s undisputed champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and the unbeaten David Benavidez, who now holds the WBC and WBA ‘regular’ belts up at light heavyweight. 

But short of those defeats at the very top of elite level, Plant has acquitted himself very well indeed. He knocked out Jose Uzcategui to win the IBF title in 2019. The Nashville puncher made three defences of the crown, knocking out the undefeated Mike Lee and ex-WBA boss Vincent Feigenbutz before out-scoring former IBF king Caleb Truax. British fight fans will remember the latter from the night he shocked James DeGale to win that crown.

These impressive displays earned Plant his date with Canelo, who was on his initial mission to unify the 168-pound class. Plant was determined not to be just the final stop on the road to undisputed and he fought his heart out for the four-belt prize. Canelo had rolled over other fighters on his quest, but Plant gave him, if not problems, then at least a stubborn target.

But make no mistake, when Canelo lowered the boom in the 11th round it was a finish that had been coming. Plant came up short against the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet at that stage in 2021. But only one man can be the best, after all.

‘SweetHands’ rebuilt the only way he knew how. Scoring a spectacular, highlight-reel finish over two-time world champion Anthony Dirrell. The short left hook that separated ‘The Dog’ from his sense won almost every Knockout of the Year gong going. The power of virality in modern sport cannot be underestimated and the Dirrell KO did much to rehab the post-Canelo Plant.

Plant’s dubious reward was a crack at Benavidez for the WBC interim strap. The unbeaten monster was circling a fight that would never come with Canelo. The Plant fight was a chance for Benavidez to set out his stall and he did just that, winning a deserved unanimous decision in a competitive fight. The Canelo fight never came and Benavidez departed for light heavyweight. Plant was left to pick up the pieces.

Trevor McCumby was 28-0 with 21 knockouts coming in against Plant last September. A fine record on paper, but ‘SweetHands’ proved the game is not played on paper, stopping his man in nine rounds to get back in the mix.

For a fighter who is considered a top super middleweight name and a fairly big attraction, it is wild to think that a victory on Saturday would mark the first time Plant has won consecutive fights since 2020/21. Still only 32, that fact is not borne from decline. Rather it is simply evidence to support the idea that Plant might be the best non-elite fighter at 168lb.

Resendiz is unlikely to test that theory too much. Upsets do happen in boxing but the 15-2 Mexican is ill-equipped to score one. His best win is a 10th-round doctor stoppage over former world champ Jarrett Hurd. The American pulled up with a severe lip laceration but, in fairness to Resendiz, he was leading heavily on the scorecards at the time. It should be noted that Hurd has been in wretched form, winning just two of his last seven fights.

But then Resendiz has not really been brought in to upset the Plant applecart. ‘SweetHands’ is eyeing a Canelo rematch. An unlikely goal at this stage, with the Mexican legend facing super welterweight king Terence Crawford in a superfight in September. But Alvarez is usually fairly active and he will need foes when he inevitably proves a great big man always beats a great little one. 

Plant could get that chance. Equally, if Alvarez ever vacates his WBA gong then Plant will ascend to full championship status, sealing his second official world title. But Plant has never ducked anyone. ‘SweetHands’ would rather clinch that title, and the other three that his old foe holds, in the ring. Plant can make the first step on that road by knocking out one of Canelo’s countrymen in Resendiz.

Caleb Plant vs Jose Armando Resendiz Full Card

Caleb Plant vs. Jose Armando Resendiz

Jermall Charlo vs. Thomas LaManna

Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez vs. Kyrone Davis

Isaac Lucero vs. Omar Valenzuela

Caleb Plant vs Jose Armando Resendiz Prediction

I think Plant cruises this one, bar a complete dereliction of duty. Any fighter can beat another, no matter how accomplished, if one has prepared well and the other has not. But I do not believe Plant will have taken his foot off the gas. 

Elijah Garcia wrapped Resendiz up in eight rounds. He can bang, but has not competed at as high a level as Plant. I’ll use him as my benchmark. I reckon Plant does this in rounds 4-6 at 9/2.

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