The supporting cast is set as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez embarks on a two-city press tour for his next outing.
Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) revealed the full lineup for the September 14 Prime Video Pay-Per-View event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 knockouts) will defend his RING/WBC/WBA/WBO 168-pound championship versus Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KO).
As previously reported by The Ring, former IBF super middleweight titlist Caleb Plant will face unbeaten Trevor McCumby. Their PPV preliminary bout will come with the interim WBA 168-pound title at stake.
Also on the show, former WBA 140-pound titleholder Rolando Romero faces California’s Manuel Jaimes. Their scheduled ten-round bout opens the four-fight PPV telecast.
Erislandy Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs) defends his WBA middleweight title versus former two-division champ Danny Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs). Their scheduled 12-round contest was already confirmed when Alvarez-Berlanga was first announced.
Plant-McCumby was previously budgeted to headline an Aug. 17 PBC on Prime Video event in Orlando, Florida.
The free-to-air show was canceled when McCumby suffered a cut during training camp. An agreement was made to preserve the bout, with a home secured now that both fighters are fighting fit.
Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) has not fought since his hard-fought defeat to David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) last March in Las Vegas. Benavidez, No. 1 at 168, remains the top contender to Alvarez’s undisputed championship but will instead campaign at 175.
The same goes for David Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), who fought and won at light heavyweight over the weekend. It opens the door for Plant to re-enter the title picture with a win in September.
“It feels good to be back. I’ve had some time away from the ring but I’ve used it wisely,” said Plant, a middle Tennessee native now based in Vegas. “I have been in the gym since last June… sparred over 220 rounds in the past year. So, I’m feeling sharper than ever. I’ve been smoothing the edges of my game. This the best I’ve ever looked and the most complete my game has been.
“I think that speaks volumes to what I have left in me to prove. I guarantee that on September 14 you guys will see the best Caleb Plant yet. All I can say is, he’s going to get his ass whooped.”
McCumby (28-0, 21 KOs) holds an unblemished record but versus limited opposition.
The unbeaten 31-year-old from Glendale, Arizona previously recorded a career-best first-round knockout of Donovan George. It was converted to a No-Contest, however, when McCumby tested positive for a banned substance following their Nov. 2016 meeting. The matter was under litigation, which pushed out the ruling until the following September.
A nine-month suspension followed, during which time McCumby strongly considered retirement. He had a change of heart and has won five in a row since his 2018 return. The biggest was in his most recent outing, a ten-round decision over Chris Pearson on a Jan. 31 ProBox show in Plant City, Florida.
“Sports mirrors life,” noted McCumby of his desire to take this fight. “I see Caleb Plant as the symbol for those who are keeping so many down, and now it’s my job to fight back,” said McCumby. “No matter what resources you have to use against me, I won’t be kept down. I’m inspired by everyone who fights back, and that’s the mentality I’m bringing into this matchup on September 14.”
Las Vegas’ Romero (15-2, 13 KOs) gets a third straight home game. The last one didn’t work out too well for the charismatic figure, who was knocked out in the eighth round by Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. Their pre-Easter affair at T-Mobile Arena ended Romero’s ten-month WBA 140-pound title reign.
“Happy Easter, everyone,” said Romero, picking up exactly where he left off in March.
Jaimes (16-1-1, 11 KOs), who hails from California’s Central Valley, has won four straight. The 24-year-old from Stockton turned away former titlist Jonathan Romero on July 13, four months after he outpointed Belmar Precario.
The bout will be his first outside of Tijuana or California, though he is eager to tap into his roots given the Mexican Independence Day theme.
“I’m very excited to be part of this great event on Mexican Independence Weekend,” stated Jaimes. It’s an honor to represent my parents’ homeland of Michoacan, Mexico as well as my fans in the 209 Stockton. Rolly will be the third former world champion I have faced, so I feel I’m ready for this stage.
I have already worn the WBC Youth World Championship belt around my waist. This fight will get me closer to my goal of being a world champion.”
Alvarez, Berlanga, Lara and Garcia will be in New York on Monday and Los Angeles on Tuesday to formally announce the event.
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