David Benavidez secures dominant win over Caleb Plant

David Benavidez beat Caleb Plant by unanimous decision on Saturday night in Las Vegas to become Canelo Alvarez’s mandatory challenger for the super middleweight championship.

The WBC interim champion overcome a slow start to pummel his opponent in the second-half of the fight to earn a clear win on the judges’ scorecards at 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111.

Plant remarkably refused to go down despite the late onslaught as Benavidez looked to knockout his rival – in a fight which was years in the making.

The pair embraced following the bout, after they had previously refused to touch gloves before the fight got underway at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Following the fight, Benavidez criticised the fight’s referee Kenny Bayless for his inconsistency in holding calls, while also sent out a message to Alvarez.

David Benavidez beat Caleb Plant in dominant fashion in Las Vegas on Saturday night

Benavidez recovered from a slow start to dominate the second half of the 12-round contest

Benavidez knew he had the win secured after the final round, though Plant did well to stay on his feet

As per Fox Sports, Benavidez said: ‘He didn’t give Caleb Plant no warnings the whole fight but it is what it is.

‘I have a lot of respect for Canelo Alvarez but he has to give me that shot now.

‘That’s what everybody wants to see in September. I don’t think he’s trying to avoid me, I just believe he has a lot of options.’

It was Plant who got off the blocks quickest, using his jab effectively in the opening round and continuing to outbox his opponent going into the second.

Plant continued to look good in the third and fourth round, despite leaving himself open to counters from Benavidez who began to have more success with his punches. 

Plant looked to be ahead at the half-way stage despite his opponent having more success with his pressure in round six. 

Benavidez dominated the second half of the fight but he was frustrated with the referee after Plant continually held onto his opponent when Benavidez worked his way onto the inside.

This was something Benavidez was given a warning about for doing the same thing in the mid-way stage of the fight. 

There was some controversy during the fight over Plant’s consistent holding of Benavidez

Benavidez has put himself in line for a shot against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez

There was further controversy when Bayless stopped the fight as Benavidez looked to be putting Plant under pressure, with the referee checking a cut on the latter in the middle of the eighth round.

By the end of the tenth, Plant looked close to finished following a relentless assault from Benavidez, but somehow remained on his feet.

It seemed to be a matter of how long Plant would last as Benavidez continued to unload with a flurry of head shots in the 10th round.

Plant was somehow able to hang on until the end but Benavidez’s domination in the second-half of the fight was too much. 

‘David’s a hell of a fighter,’ said Plant after the fight. ‘It’s a big rivalry, but we got in here and settled it like men. I’ve got in there and I’ve rumbled with the best in the world; I haven’t ducked anybody.’

‘There’s no excuse,” Plant added. ‘David was the better man tonight.’

Floyd Mayweather Jr was in attendance to watch Benavidez secure victory over Plant