By Moses Ochieng

Plant and McCumby are set to square off in a 12-round bout for the interim WBA super middleweight title as part of the PPV event headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 14.

Former IBF super middleweight champion Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) looked uncertain as he delivered a seemingly rehearsed speech at the press conference, attempting to bolster his credibility with words rather than actions. This comes after defeats to elite opponents David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez over the past three years.

The 32-year-old Plant returns to the ring after an 18-month layoff and a 12-round punishment in his previous fight against David Benavidez in March 2023. Meanwhile, McCumby (28-0, 21 KOs), who made his comeback last year after a five-year layoff, enters the fight riding a three-fight win streak.

During the final press conference ahead of their showdown on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Caleb Plant stated emphatically that he is “not a bum” but a “real fighter” as he prepares to face the undefeated Trevor McCumby.

“Trevor himself knows that I’m not a bum, and that’s why he wants to fight me. He wants to be on the big stage, and that means he’s going to fight a real fighter. He’s only ever fought bums, but now he’s not going to fight a bum. I’m going to get that belt around my waist on Saturday night. I’m not looking any further than that,” Caleb Plant told the press.

McCumby, 31, was hand-picked by Plant for a reason. If Plant thought McCumby was too dangerous, he probably would have passed on the fight and gone for a more beatable opponent. At 32, Plant is clearly past his prime and vulnerable to top contenders, but it’s still uncertain whether McCumby has the skill to take advantage of him and beat him.

“Caleb is emotional and lets people get inside his head too easily. On Saturday you’ll see what I can do in the ring. You’ve got to tune in because it’s going to steal the show,” Trevor McCumby said of Plant.

This marks a pivotal point in McCumby’s 14-year career, where he gets the chance to prove he belongs among the elite fighters. A win for McCumby could be the decisive blow to Plant’s career, signaling that it’s time for him to hang up the gloves.