The final part of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's history-making plan is now in sight.
Fresh off of a suspected fracture of Billy Joe Saunders' orbital bone and adding the WBO super middleweight title to his hardware Saturday night, Alvarez didn't waste time in calling out Caleb Plant. After all, Plant, the IBF super-middleweight titleholder, represents the final piece of Canelo's goal to become the first undisputed 168-pound champ in boxing history.
"That's the plan," Alvarez told DAZN's Chris Mannix about facing Plant after making Saunders quit on his stool following the eighth round. "That's the plan to go for the belt and ... I'm coming, man. I'm coming, my friend!"
Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) calling out Plant isn't surprising, considering he had laid out this blueprint of defeating Saunders and then Plant after dominating Callum Smith to become the unified world super-middleweight champion in December. In ownership of the WBA (Super), WBC, The Ring, and now WBO titles, capturing Plant's IBF is only logical.
Like Saunders, who was dealt his first pro loss, Plant would enter a clash with Canelo undefeated. Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) last beat Caleb Truax by unanimous decision in January.
While Mexican Independence Day weekend in September would seemingly mark an ideal time to decide an undisputed king of the division, we'll have to see how soon the bout can come to fruition.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn wants to do his part to make the fight happen in September.
"It's the only fight," Hearn told Mannix. "Hopefully, Caleb Plant feels the same way."