Caleb Plant vs. Trevor McCumby undeniably stole the spotlight during last weekend’s Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga card in Las Vegas. While big names like Erislandy Lara and Danny Garcia slowed the event with less exciting performances, and Rolly Romero faded into the background, Plant and McCumby injected much-needed energy and thrill into the night.
However, is their fight the sole reason for the event’s impressive reported numbers—over 750,000 PPV buys and a $22 million gate? While likely not the case, Plant and McCumby believe they were the stars of the show, proudly voicing this on social media after hearing the rumored numbers.
The statistics were shared by an X account, @BOXINGFOTY, which claimed the event was one of the biggest in recent boxing history. If true, the numbers would place it in elite company, with Canelo vs. Jaime Munguia bringing in 500,000–550,000 PPV buys and Canelo vs. Jermell Charlo doing between 650,000 and 700,000. It’s clear that the historic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry, with Canelo headlining, played a massive role in the event’s success.
Nonetheless, after seeing the numbers, McCumby took to X to congratulate Plant, writing, “I think we stole the show. Congrats to @SweetHandsPlant 🤝. Thanks for the opportunity. I’LL BE BACK.” Plant reciprocated the respect, replying, “@T_RevMcCumby I think we did. Best of luck in the future bro 🤝.” Though their exchange was amicable online, the fight itself was anything but gentle.
Caleb Plant revived his iconic ‘gravedigger’ celebration after his thrilling ninth-round stoppage of McCumby. The celebration, made famous during his knockout of Anthony Dirrell in 2022, marked Plant’s victorious capture of the WBA interim super-middleweight title in this high-stakes bout.
Plant faced serious challenges early on. McCumby landed heavy shots in the second round and scored a knockdown with a body shot in the fourth. But ‘Sweethands’ adjusted his game plan, gradually wearing down McCumby and taking control of the fight. By the ninth round, Plant had McCumby pinned against the ropes, forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout.
While Plant and McCumby were likely not the driving force behind the PPV and gate numbers—thanks largely to Canelo’s drawing power—their fight certainly saved the night from being a dull affair. Their electrifying exchange in the ring brought excitement to an otherwise lackluster event.
What did you think of the event? Was Plant vs. McCumby the highlight for you, or did another fight stand out?
