David Benavidez comes on strong to defeat Caleb Plant

David Benavidez chugged along a train for 20 minutes or so against Caleb Plant Saturday night at the Garden Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV. But when the train found his rhythm halfway through the fight, he dominated.

The result was Benavidez winning by unanimous decision.

Scores were 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111. 

In round one, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) jabbed. Plant feinted and fired lefts to the body. Benavidez clipped Plant with a hook off the top of the head. Plant fired a combo in round two.

Both fighters connected with left hooks. Plant moved to his left and let fly with a right. Plant used his legs to stay out of danger.

Benavidez fired the first punch in round three. Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) landed a left but ate a return shot. Benavidez stalked–landing a combination. Plant fought back – connecting with a sweeping left to the jaw. Plant flashed fast hands in round four. Benavidez looked to counter. Plant bounced and moved. And clinched when close. And clinched some more. A left hook scored. 

Plant went to the body in round five and grabbed when close. Benavidez landed a left. Plant worked up and down. Benavidez was missing. Plant, the matador did well. His jab was scoring.

Benavidez upped the ante in round six. Plant moved and fired. Benavidez finally landed a couple of body shots. He also clipped Plant with a right. 

Halfway thru the fight, Plant unofficially with the edge, but the sense is Benavidez was coming. 

He was. 

Plant fired a long right in round seven. Benavidez unloaded. Plant scored with a counter right. His speed was key. But the stronger Benavidez walked after him. He tagged Plant with a hook. Plant fought back–scoring with a combination. Plant landed a short right in round eight. Benavidez cuffed Plant with a left. A right might have hurt Plant. He was bleeding from a cut on his nose.

Benavidez’s bodywork had slowed him down. Plant fired combinations in round nine. Benavidez landed a heavy right. He scored with an uppercut. Plant was bleeding but active. Benavidez clipped Plant with an inside right.

Plant got off first in round 1o. Gutsy. Benavidez scored with uppercuts and short shots. He was chopping Plant down. Several body shots had to hurt. Benavidez looked to end things in round 11. Plant fought back, but Benavidez landed a huge left hook. Benavidez let fly–scoring with big hooks. Plant somehow stayed upright. 

In the 12^th and final round, Plant tried to rally but ran into a right. Benavidez dug to the belly. Plant fought back, but couldn’t hurt Benavidez.