In this Q&A, top trainer and BoxingScene.com contributor Stephen "Breadman" Edwards discusses the upcoming showdown pitting his charge, Caleb "Sweet Hands" Plant against David "El Bandera Roja" Benavidez and also reflects on Plant's recent highlight reel knockout victory over Anthony Dirrell.

BoxingScene.com: First off congrats on the big win over Anthony Dirrell.  It is hard to top the result of that fight, especially with it being your first fight in Caleb's corner.  Now that a few weeks have passed, what are your thoughts on his performance? 

Stephen Edwards: I thought Caleb performed really well. I'm very proud of him. He fought with his emotions in check. He overcame a tough start to camp. He caught the covid this summer. He lost a close a family member. He had a new child. And he was rusty at the beginning of camp as far as sparring because he had not sparred since the Canelo fight. So we had a great camp but it wasn't perfect. He overcame all of that and he was locked in on the game plan and he performed. I would've been proud of him if he won or lost honestly because this was a hard camp. But the performance was the icing on the cake.

BoxingScene.com: A lot of people were surprised by Plant's power. Is it just one of those things where it was always there but just hadn't been brought out?

Stephen Edwards: He's always been fast and explosive, he just wasn't applying it in real fights. We worked on getting the same punches off that he gets off on the bag, pads and in sparring, in real fights. Caleb picks up on things really fast. His IQ is off the charts.

BoxingScene.com:  There was obviously bad blood between Caleb and Anthony and there is even more between him and Benavidez.  Do you think that type of bitter rivalry pushes Plant to raise his game to an even higher level? 

Stephen Edwards: You would have to ask him that. He told me he trains 100% every fight so I have no reason to not believe him. But from my perspective, I think Anthony really motivated him with the trash talk. I also think people doubting Caleb and not viewing him as high as he thinks he should be viewed also really pushes him. But Caleb is also disciplined. And when you're disciplined you don't exactly need motivation. You just do what you're supposed to do all of the time because you're supposed to do it.

BoxingScene.com: The WBC just announced that the winner will become the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez. Of course Canelo is in a position where he doesn't always follow sanctioning body mandates, but is the goal to get the rematch with Canelo? 

Stephen Edwards: Caleb wants to fight Canelo again. So he's earning it by fighting a fighter that Canelo doesn't seem to want to fight. This was a power move and a chess move on Caleb's part. I really respect him for taking this fight. He didn't have to take it regardless of what you may hear.

BoxingScene.com: Speaking of Canelo, what did you think of his third bout with Gennadiy Golovkin?

Stephen Edwards: I respect both great fighters. Both are Hall of Famers. I think Golovkin has really slowed down at 40 years old. And I think although Canelo won, he didn't have his best night either. But both have been performing at such a high level for such a long time, it's expected to not always have your best night every time out.

BoxingScene.com:  Is there any other fight or fighter you would like to mention before I let you go? 

Stephen Edwards: I am glad Julian Williams got back in the win column. He worked off of a little rust and I expect his next fight to be sharper. I'm also hoping to get some big fights for Kyrone Davis and Zachary Ochoa before I start camp with Caleb again. Davis and Ochoa have taken some tough fights in the past and both are ready to take on anyone at middleweight and lightweight respectively, with proper time. I want to give them both their best chance to win and 2 and 3 week camps are tough on me and on them. So hopefully I can get them both going over the next 2 or 3 months, neither is picky as to who they will fight.

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