Caleb Plant has managed to remain unbeaten and off the canvas through more than seven years as a pro.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has every intention of removing both of those claims upon the conclusion of their forthcoming undisputed super middleweight championship showdown.

“I hope he has a good chin, because he’s going to need it,” Alvarez quipped during a recent Zoom media conference call to discuss their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event November 6 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Plant (21-0, 12KOs)—a native of Ashland City, Tennessee who now lives and trains in Las Vegas—won the IBF title in a twelve-round decision over Jose Uzcategui nearly three years ago, having barely lost a minute of any given round in three subsequent title defenses while enjoying a significant size and natural weight advantage in this matchup. 

However, Guadalajara’s Alvarez (56-1-2, 38KOs) is a significant favorite to prevail in a fight to crown the first-ever undisputed champion in the 37-year history of the super middleweight division. The four-division champ currently reigns as the WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight titlist, having collected the three belts in a span of just three fights and versus unbeaten opposition.

The breakneck tour began last December with a virtual shutout of England’s Callium Smith (27-0 at the time) in their WBA title consolidation clash which also came with the vacant WBC super middleweight title at stake. A third-round knockout of WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in February helped clear the way for a three-belt showdown with England’s Billy Joe Saunders (30-0 and the WBO titlist at the time), which Alvarez won by eighth-round stoppage.

Alvarez—a former lineal champion at junior middleweight and middleweight, and WBO light heavyweight titlist—gave away seven inches in height to Smith and was suggested to be presented with a slick, crafty boxing style in Saunders. The Mexican superstar rose to the occasion on both nights and doesn’t expect anything from Plant that he hasn’t already seen through 16 years as a pro. 

“He has boxing skills,” Alvarez said of his bitter adversary. “He has good movement and a good jab. It’s nothing new to me.

“I know what to do. I need to be patient like Eddy says. I need to be patient for the first few rounds and then do my job.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox