Caleb Plant Looks To Remind McCumby That Ain’t Shit “Sweet” About Him

Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant is set to return to the ring on September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will face super middleweight contender Trevor McCumby for the WBA Interim Super Middleweight Championship. The highly anticipated bout is one of the featured matchups on the star-studded PBC on Prime PPV event, headlined by the clash between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga. While many viewed this fight as a tune-up for Plant, the stakes have heightened for Plant thanks to some disrespectful remarks from McCumby.

During a press conference in Los Angeles to promote the event, McCumby questioned Plant’s heart and dedication to the sport, even going so far as to call him a quitter. For most fighters, these comments would simply be dismissed as typical pre-fight trash talk. But Caleb Plant isn’t wired that way. For him, McCumby’s words were a personal attack.

Plant’s intense response to McCumby’s remarks stems from his upbringing. Growing up in the tough, drug-ridden streets of Ashland City, Tennessee, Plant didn’t have an easy path to success. Boxing was his way out, and as one of the few white fighters in predominantly Black and Latino gyms, he had to fight tooth and nail for every ounce of respect he earned. He learned early that survival in this sport meant standing his ground and never tolerating disrespect.

As Plant once told The Sporting News, “I’m just trying to paint the prettiest picture I can with the colors I have.” In the ring, his fists serve as his brushes, his opponents as his canvas. It’s not just about winning for Caleb Plant; it’s about making sure that win leaves a lasting impression, especially for those who dare question him. And throughout his career, win, lose, or draw, Plant has made sure to teach his opponents in and out of the ring one lesson—disrespect him at your peril.

Plant’s career has been punctuated by intense rivalries and confrontations, where respect—or the lack of it—has always been at the core.

David Benavidez is perhaps Plant’s most bitter rival. For years, the two circled each other as champions in the super middleweight division, stoking a fierce rivalry that culminated in a now-infamous encounter in a boxing gym. Plant, never one to shy away, got into a heated argument with the entire Benavidez family, which eventually escalated into a brawl. It wasn’t just about titles; it was personal.

When Plant faced Canelo Alvarez to unify the super middleweight division, tensions were palpable. During their face-off at the kickoff press conference, Plant hurled an insult at Canelo that led to a physical altercation. Canelo shoved Plant, who retaliated with a left hook. In that moment, Plant’s defiance and refusal to back down became clear to the boxing world.

The buildup to Plant’s fight with Anthony Dirrell turned into bad blood between the two, after Dirrell quipped, “Caleb hasn’t shown me anything special.” When the two fighters finally stepped into the ring, Plant delivered a left hook that turned into the knockout of the year. After the highlight reel knockout over Dirrell, Plant celebrated by pretending to shovel dirt over his unconscious opponent. When asked about his celebration, Plant responded, “I just buried the beef between us. That’s all.”

Plant’s run-ins haven’t just been limited to his opponents inside the ring. At the weigh-in for Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., Jermall Charlo inexplicably touched Plant’s beard—a gesture Plant did not appreciate. In classic Caleb fashion, he slapped Charlo hard across the face, inducting him into the Stay Slapped Club and sending the message that touching him without respect is a dangerous game.

Then there’s the situation with Ryan García, who crossed the line when he made vulgar comments about Plant’s wife, Jordan. Plant was quick to shut down García, stating, “When you start talking about somebody’s wife, it makes it different.” Then, in a line right out of the book of Charlie Murphy to Rick James, after James grounded his muddy boots into Eddie Murphy’s couch, Plant continued, “I know he needs a lot of help, and if he keeps it up, I think he’s going to get the help he’s looking for.” When the two crossed paths at the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin fight, Plant attempted to give García that help. Plant hurled a beer at García, ready to back up his words with action.

Lastly, Ahmed Elbiali, a lesser-known light heavyweight, tried to make a name for himself by provoking Plant at the August 3 Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov event. The result? Elbiali ended up in the fetal position, “getting beat like a drum” as Plant’s crew delivered a beating. Plant later remarked, “One day they’ll learn that I don’t want problems, but you don’t either.”

Which brings us back to Trevor McCumby. What many thought would be a simple comeback fight for Plant has now turned personal. With McCumby’s words activating the chip on Plant’s shoulder, the former IBF super middleweight champion is primed to remind his opponent—and the world—that he’s no quitter.

In response to McCumby’s insults, Plant delivered an ominous message: “For him to say that, it’s like what? We’ll see who quits on the 14th. It sounds good on social media, but when the bell rings and it’s time to be about it, we’ll see who quits. I’m gettin’ my hand raised on the 14th in fashion. No matter what, knockout, decision, whatever it is, it will be in fashion. So if you wanna see some good old-fashioned ass-whooping, tune in.”

Caleb Plant is determined to make sure McCumby—and anyone else watching—understands that there’s nothing “sweet” about him inside or outside of the ring. This isn’t just a fight for Plant; it’s another chance for the “white boy” to prove that disrespect has a price.