For years on end, both David Benavidez and Caleb Plant have fulminated in the public eye. But while it appeared as though their careers would continue to head in opposite directions, the two placed their differences aside and immured themselves in a negotiating room. After haggling back and forth over minute details, the pair emerged from those talks with a signed contract in hand.

Officially, the two will tango on March 25th, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. During much of their lead-up, Benavidez has attempted to intimidate Plant. However, regardless of his menacing words, Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) views his threats as innocuous. Although the Mexican native has racked up 23 stoppage victories in his 26 ring appearances, Plant points to a specific night where his upcoming foe appeared vulnerable.

Back on September 9th, 2017, Benavidez was given his first crack at a super middleweight title against Ronald Gavril. While he would go on to pick up the victory, the fringe contender dropped Benavidez in the final frame.

Jose Benavidez Sr., David’s father and trainer, believes that Plant is paying a bit too much attention to his son’s relatively bad outing. From Jose’s point of view, since sharing the ring with his boy on back-to-back occasions, Gavril has essentially been a shell of his former self.

“People can say David was dropped by Gavril,” said Jose to FightHype.com. “Ok, what happened to Gavril after he fought David Benavidez? Every fighter if you look back, every fighter that fought David, they’re not the same. Their career, it’s over. And this is what we’re trying to do with Caleb Plant.”

The career of Gavril, subsequently, has been relegated to journeymen status. Although he has registered five consecutive victories, four of which came before the sound of the final bell, he hasn't taken on an elite fighter since swapping fists with David.

Plant, 30, is still of the belief that there are several holes in David’s armor. But while the former IBF trinket holder plans on exposing those alleged weaknesses, team Benavidez has opposing game plans set on the night of the fight.

As David continues to pound the heavy bag and apply perpetual pressure during an arduous training camp, the current WBC interim super middleweight titlist is extremely confident that he’ll end their rivalry well within the distance. Jose, on the other hand, isn’t against his son going balls to the wall and going for the knockout. Nonetheless, if he could script the perfect ending to how March 25th will play out, Jose would much rather witness his son pounding Plant for 36 violent minutes.

“After he fights David, he’s gonna be so beat that he’s not gonna be the same guy. If the knockout comes, I’ll be super happy but we’re not trying to do that. We’re trying to give him the beating of his life.”