Boxing
Caleb Plant targets Hamzah Sheeraz despite the slip
Plant (23-3, 14 KO) has lost three of his last five fights since 2021 and will have gone a full year without a fight by May. The victories in this stretch went to the aging Anthony Dirrell and Trevor McCumby, who did little to maintain their position.
The 33-year-old Plant is no longer talked about as part of the top super middleweight division he once was, and the momentum that led him to fight Canelo has waned.
If the goal is to maintain Sheeraz’s momentum toward a massive payday like the Canelo or Crawford fights Turki Alalshikh teased for behind schedule 2026, Plant is the best “secure” name.
Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KO) is heading in the opposite direction. Edgar Berlanga’s stoppage pushed him into a 168-pound title fight, and now he’s been ordered to fight Al Begic for the vacant WBO belt, with his name at the top of the rankings. The focus, at least publicly, is on the title track, not on voluntary fights.
The reality is that Plant has become a bit of a “brand guardian”. He has enough pedigree to make the win look impressive on paper, but his actual win-loss record against top-shelf talent is slim. His stock took a huge hit in May 2025 when he lost a split decision to Armando Resendiz. This fight was widely considered to be a major upset.
Plant brings the value of his name and pedigree from previous championships, but without the same level of threat as some of the more consistent fighters in the division. Fighters like Christian Mbilli, Osleys Iglesias and Lester Martinez represent a tougher night, built on consistent performance and pressure that Sheeraz has yet to face throughout the fight.
Much like the Berlanga fight, Plant offers a high-profile target with a style that Sheeraz is physically prepared to dismantle. Sheeraz proved he could handle what many fans considered a “shit job” by going through Berlanga in five rounds; The plant offers greater technical ability, but at this stage much less durability.
“I think he’s a good fighter,” Plant said of Sheeraz. “I think he hits strenuous, I think he has a lot of heart, but I saw some things in his game that I can employ.”
There are other routes Sheeraz could go down. A second fight with Carlos Adames would have its charm after the reaction to their first meeting in Riyad, where many felt the result should have been a win for Adames.
With Adames drawing, Sheeraz’s team will likely look for an opponent who is technically proficient enough to look “risky” but physically weakens enough to warrant a stoppage.
With Diego Pacheco recently withdrawing from his booked WBO title fight against Sheeraz to focus on a fresh trainer, the path is wide open for a “substantial name” volunteer. Plant fits the Riyad Season model perfectly: a recognizable American face who can be marketed as a “former world champion” to facilitate build the Sheeraz brand in the US
Looking at Plant’s recent form, it’s strenuous to see him as anything more than a strategic springboard for Hamzah. He hasn’t had a truly dominant victory over an elite, major opponent in years, and at age 33, his best days are clearly in the rearview.
Chris Billam-Smith believes Ryan Rozicki is taking his opportunity seriously, but he doesn’t think a single training camp will make up for the years spent competing at the next level.
The former WBO cruiserweight champion will return against Rozicki in Bournemouth on Saturday, with the winner moving closer to a major fight in the division led by Jai Opetai.
Billam-Smith was asked if Rozicki truly believed he belonged at this level.
“I believe he thinks he’s been given an opportunity. He takes it very seriously and does everything he has to do. But sometimes it’s just not enough. Sometimes you’re just not good enough,” Billiam-Smith told ProBox TV.
“I think he is what he is in terms of his punching power, his physique and what he does. But sometimes there are things you can’t just incorporate in training camp. When I’ve been doing it for so long and been at the next level for so long, you can’t just make up for it in one training camp.”
Rozicki comes into the fight with a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the division and has repeatedly talked about ending the fight by knockout. Billam-Smith acknowledged the threat but believes experience will be a factor when they meet.
“He’s talked about it before: ‘I win by knockout or I get knocked out.’ So there’s no doubt in my mind that he knows he can get beat.
“But I think he thinks it’s a good opportunity.”
Saturday’s fight is Billam-Smith’s first appearance since his points win over Brandon Glanton in April 2025. A victory will put him in top cruiserweight fights, including a potential clash with Ring magazine champion Jai Opetaia.
“For me, I think he believes he has a chance and will give it his all. But the Jai Opetaia fight is the one I want at the moment. It’s the next step, but I have to take care of things on Saturday first.”
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Last update: 2026/06/04 at 11:24
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