Caleb Plant vs Trevor McCumby Predictions: ‘Sweet Hands’ should shine

Former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant will face unbeaten Trevor McCumby this Saturday, September 14. The 12-round attraction takes place on the undercard of Saul Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga. DAZN PPV will screen the bout, which emanates from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. 

Here are my Plant vs McCumby predictions ahead of this exciting clash of contenders.

Plant was once one of the very best super middleweights on the planet. Had the whirlwind known as Canelo not passed through the division, ‘Sweet Hands’ may still be wearing his old IBF belt. But an 11th-round knockout loss to Saturday’s headliner in 2021 stalled Plant’s rise.

A highlight-reel KO of ex-WBC champion Anthony Dirrell in his next bout seemed to put Plant on track. You have to give him credit for taking on unbeaten phenom David Benavidez after that. Especially considering it is a fight many accuse Canelo of avoiding.

But the gamble did not pay off. Plant fought bravely, becoming the first man in seven fights to take Benavidez the distance. But ultimately he was outgunned as Benavidez took the decision and the door-opening WBC interim belt.

Now Plant aims to rebuild against an ambitious opponent. McCumby is undefeated, which is always a risk. A boxer who has never lost approaches every fight as part of their inexorable rise. Everyone is a champion in their own mind until they are shown their limitations.

McCumby might have an unblemished record, but it is also a moderately unimpressive one. That is not to denigrate his efforts in going 28 fights unbeaten. Rather, it reflects the absence of an established name or signature victory to cling to. Plant has had four less fights than McCumby, but has won a world title and defended it four times in that span.

Whatever you say about McCumby’s risk averse ways thus far, he has certainly not avoided danger in taking this fight. Plant is a firework, capable of outboxing or overpowering a foe. It will be interesting to see how his plan unfolds, given the fact McCumby has never been past 10 rounds. Does ‘Sweet Hands’ get his opponent into the championship rounds and beat him through volume? Or will he take him out sooner with a moment of magic akin to the one that closed the show on Dirrell?

Or perhaps neither of these Plant victory scenarios will play out? Maybe McCumby is taking his first big step at the most opportune time. After all, while Plant used to be a world champion, he has lost two of his last three contests. 

The Canelo and Benavidez losses had positive and negative elements about them. Plant’s performances in each were resolute and, at times, impressive. The 32-year-old proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he belongs at the elite level. But equally, due to the punishing nature of those 23 rounds, it remains unclear how much of Plant actually emerged from them.

It is one month shy of two years since Plant’s win over Dirrell. That bout served to put him back on the map post-Canelo. But the Benavidez loss knocked Plant back among the rank-and-file in the division. Super middleweight is a competitive class and if you’re not winning, you’re nowhere.

A victory on a big pay-per-view card will see Plant once again linked to fights with the biggest names. If he really impresses, perhaps a case could even be made for a Canelo return. But ‘Sweet Hands’ is in there with an opponent who will be eyeing the same outcome. McCumby is looking to make a name for himself here. That makes him dangerous.

Plant vs McCumby Fight Odds

Plant opens as a 1/18 favourite for this one. McCumby’s lack of top-level experience is writ large in his 17/2 price. A draw between these men is available at 18/1.

Plant vs McCumby Full Card

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga; WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight titles Erislandy Lara vs. Danny Garcia; WBA world middleweight title 

Caleb Plant vs. Trevor McCumby; Super middleweight 

Rolando Romero vs. Manuel Jaimes; Super lightweight 

Stephen Fulton vs. Carlos Castro; Featherweight

Plant vs McCumby Prediction

I think Plant will have a relatively easy time, certainly compared to his recent outings. The 32-year-old remains an excellent fighter, even if he is just slightly behind the very best of his era.

I think Plant will close the show late on here, so I’m backing a victory for ‘Sweet Hands’ between rounds 10 and 12. You can back my tip at 18/5.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.