Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo are set to compete in separate bouts this Saturday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, as part of a Prime Video event.
In the main event, Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) will defend his WBA super middleweight interim title against Armando Resendiz (15-2, 11 KOs). In the co-main, Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) makes his return after an 18-month layoff to face Thomas LaManna (39-5-1, 18 KOs).
Should both fighters emerge victorious, a highly anticipated clash between them is reportedly planned for later this year. A potential Plant-Charlo fight holds significant interest, partly fueled by their history outside the ring.
Plant is a former IBF super middleweight champion who last fought in September, securing a ninth-round stoppage win over Trevor McCumby. Charlo has held world titles at junior middleweight and middleweight and is now aiming for a championship in a third division at 168 pounds.
There are considerable stakes for both fighters in their respective matchups. Let`s take a closer look at the path that has led them to this point.
What`s at Stake?
Plant and Charlo find themselves at different junctures in their careers, each facing questions about their future paths.
Charlo, 35, boasts an unblemished professional record, but his periods of inactivity have become a notable concern for the former two-division champion.
His fight against LaManna will provide a gauge for fans to see if he retains the form he displayed during his successful WBC middleweight title run, when he was considered a pound-for-pound contender. A win could set the stage for a major showdown with Plant, while a loss, or even a lackluster performance, might cool enthusiasm for that potential fight.
“I think the fight with Plant is just as big as a fight with Canelo [Alvarez],” Charlo stated. “Every fight is a big fight but that is a fight that needs to take place … we just have to take care of business first.”
Unlike Charlo, the 32-year-old Plant has been consistently active throughout his career, facing top-tier opponents like Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez in recent years. While he fell short in both high-profile encounters, Plant solidified his position as a significant player in the division, though a defining “big win” still eludes him.
The Charlo-Plant Rivalry
The animosity between Plant and Charlo dates back to July 2023, when a video surfaced capturing an altercation between the two fighters backstage at the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. weigh-in in Las Vegas. Plant stated that he retaliated after Charlo allegedly disrespected his wife and repeatedly grabbed his beard.
“A man has a right to defend himself,” Plant commented on Instagram Live after the incident. “A grown man touched another grown man in his face, pulling on his beard really hard. I had the decency to tell you not to do it again … and you immediately grabbed my face even harder after I just asked you not to … you made it real hard on a guy when you do that in front of his wife and his peers.”
This public clash immediately fueled speculation about a future fight where they could settle their differences. The primary obstacle was their differing weight classes, a hurdle removed when Charlo moved up to compete in the super middleweight division.
Charlo later told ESPN that he has spoken with Plant since the incident, indicating that while a fight between them is still a possibility, the immediate bad blood has subsided for now.
“What we said to each I`ll keep between me and him, but I respect him as a fighter and a father,” Charlo said. “But we want to fight each other.”
Plant, however, was less inclined to declare the rivalry “squashed,” stating that any hard feelings are secondary as he focuses on his upcoming opponent, Resendiz.
“First things first and that`s handling business on May 31,” Plant said at a recent workout. “If Charlo can handle his business, or whatever happens in the co-main event, I`m looking for that winner. … If he`s able to handle business, me and Charlo can run it.”
Charlo`s Long Layoff
Jermall Charlo`s career, which began with an impressive 30-0 start from 2008 to 2019 and included winning world titles in two weight classes, saw its momentum disrupted by a series of injuries and legal issues.
In August 2021, he was charged with felony robbery in Texas, although he was later cleared of those charges. He faced another arrest in February 2022 for alleged assault on a family member stemming from a 2021 incident involving his nephew; that case was also dismissed. More recently, in May 2024, he was arrested following a traffic accident and cited for DUI, fleeing from a police officer, and leaving the scene.
He expressed hope of breaking this trend of inactivity with his fight against LaManna this weekend.
“I want to be busier,” Charlo said. “I want to fight three times this year. Maybe fight again in August or September and one more time in December.”
Charlo`s last appearance in the ring was in November 2023, where he secured a unanimous decision victory. Prior to that, his previous fight was in June 2021, defending his WBC middleweight title against Juan Macias Montiel. Various rumored fights against opponents like Jaime Munguia, Maciej Sulecki, Carlos Adames, and Canelo Alvarez never materialized, with the highly sought-after Canelo bout ultimately going to his twin brother, Jermell Charlo, in September 2023.
“It feels good to be back,” Charlo commented. “I`m surprised everybody thinks that I`m about to be a different fighter now. Even though I`ve been away, I`ve been working in the gym. I don`t understand it, but it makes me feel like the underdog heading into this fight.”
Charlo Returning to His Roots
For this fight, Jermall and his twin brother Jermell reunited with their first trainer, Hylon “Big Ced” Williams Sr. Williams was instrumental in teaching them boxing fundamentals from their preteen years and guiding them through their amateur careers and early professional stages.
“I needed to get back to my roots,” Charlo explained, reflecting on years of working with renowned trainer Ronnie Shields. “I needed someone who knew how to push me and bring that energy out of me. I needed someone who knew me.”
Williams` connection to the Charlo family runs deep, predating the twins` birth. He met their father, Kevin, in the 1980s and trained him when they were both in a boxing program in McKinney, Texas. Years later, Kevin sought a productive activity to keep his sons out of trouble and asked Williams to train Jermall and Jermell in boxing.
The brothers amassed a combined amateur record of 121-14 before turning professional (Jermell in 2007, Jermall in 2008). Williams initially coached them before transitioning their training primarily to Ronnie Shields early in their pro careers, although Williams remained involved in a lesser capacity as they rose through the ranks.
Williams stayed in touch with the twins` father. During Jermall`s recent period of inactivity, Williams decided to reach out and check in. Those initial conversations of encouragement eventually led to Williams returning to their corner, as Jermall felt that reconnecting with his original coach would help get his career back on track.
“[Training camp] was like a family reunion,” Williams told ESPN about having Jermall and Jermell back under his guidance. “For this fight, I think you will see a rejuvenated version of Jermall Charlo.”
Plant`s Motivation
While Caleb Plant is an accomplished and financially successful fighter, the fact that he came up short in the biggest fights of his career against Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez remains a significant driving force for him.
“I have a lot on the line,” Plant stated at Thursday`s final news conference. “[Resendiz] may have nothing to lose, but I have everything to lose.”
For Plant, proving himself to be among the world`s elite fighters remains a key priority. A loss to the relatively lesser-known Resendiz would severely jeopardize that goal.
“A lot of athletes care more about the money and the fame and obviously money is important, right? But that`s not what makes me tick,” Plant said at Thursday`s news conference. “I`m a competitor and I`m a winner. I`ve been a winner my whole life and regardless of whatever money I`ve made or accomplishments I`ve done, that`s not what wakes me up in the morning. It`s to continue to add to my legacy and see how much I can run it up until my time expires and it`s time to ride off into the sunset with my family. And that`s not anytime soon.”
After starting his career with 21 consecutive victories, Plant`s record in his last four fights stands at 2-2. While some might view him as having exceeded expectations, he believes he is only just beginning to tap into his full potential and cannot afford a setback this Saturday.
“What I crave is to be a winner and a champion,” Plant said at a media workout earlier this month. “I want to cement my legacy and show my children firsthand what it looks like to work hard at something. Have I fallen short a couple of times? Yeah, but I did it with integrity and the way a warrior would do it. If you fall short, you dust yourself off and you keep going.”
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow