IBF super middleweight titleholder Caleb Plant returns home for a rare world title fight in Nashville on Feb. 15, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions card on FOX against mandatory challenger Vincent Feigenbutz.
On Wednesday, Plant (19-0, 11 KO) held a press conference to talk about the upcoming fight, and expressed how excited he was to be fighting at home and fulfilling a dream.
“It’s great to be back in my hometown and my home city,” he said. “I’m even more excited to be bringing home a world title and to defend it February 15 at Bridgestone Arena. It’s been a dream of mine since as long as I could remember. Since I was a little kid.
“I’m working harder than ever to make sure that I have my hand raised on Feb. 15. I’m looking to do it in spectacular fashion, before the 12th round. This fight is going to end in a knockout on my behalf. I want everyone who’s going to be in the building and tuned in to know that this world title is staying right here in Tennessee.”
Plant, 27, won his title in Jan. 2019 over Jose Uzcategui in Los Angeles, and made his first defense against a grossly overmatched Mike Lee on July 20 in Las Vegas. This matchup with Feigenbutz (31-2, 28 KO) also isn’t exactly what anyone was clamoring to see, but it’s a mandatory as ordered by a sanctioning body that takes mandatories seriously, and Plant is just planning to keep moving forward.
“It was a goal to become world champion, but it wasn’t the only goal. I think people tend to forget I only have 19 fights,” he said. “I feel like I just made it to the base of the mountain. Some people when they become champion, they feel like they become the hunted, but that’s not the case with me. I’m still hungry. If you’re in my way, I suggest you get out of it. Because I won’t miss you.
And, he says, he’s not looking past Feigenbutz, who does have power, but Plant also says he’s prepared for that.
“I’ve heard Feigenbutz is strong and physical and he thinks he’s going to come in and knock me out,” Plant said. “Mike Lee thought he was going to knock me out and Jose Uzcategui said he was going to knock me out, but how’d that go for them?
“At the end of the day, boxing is hit and do not get hit. I have plenty of skills to spare. On Feb. 15, I’m not playing with this guy. All of these guys think they’re going to walk me down and throw more punches than me. But I throw more and land more punches than them. If he thinks he’s going to come in here and spoil my plans, I promise you that he’s got another thing coming.”