Spoiling a fight: Armando Resendiz tops Caleb Plant

LAS VEGAS – Armando Resendiz once again ruined plans in place for a former full titleholder under the PBC banner.

Resendiz, a fiery Mexican super middleweight, pulled off one of the year’s biggest upsets in a split decision victory over Caleb Plant. Judge David Sutherland (115-113) had Plant winning seven of the 12 rounds, overruled by Steve Weisfeld (116-112) and Max DeLuca (116-112), who rightly awarded the fight to Resendiz in their PBC on Prime main event Saturday evening from Michelob ULTRA Arena.

With the win, Resendiz claimed the interim WBA super middleweight title. More importantly, he helped torch targeted plans for a fall showdown between Plant and Jermall Charlo, 34-0 (23 KOs), the latter who stopped Thomas LaManna early in the sixth round in the evening’s co-feature.

The fight began in typical Plant fashion, some early posturing before the locally based former IBF titleholder opened up his body attack. Resendiz didn’t show any concern for the incoming but didn’t immediately have an answer for Plant’s sharp left.

Plant continued that path in the second round and dared Resendiz to adjust. Resendiz, the 26-year-old challenger from California by way of Nayarit, Mexico, did just that as he began a body attack that ultimately produced severe reddening along Plant’s left side.

Resendiz officially shifted momentum in his favor in the third. Plant was able to land in combination, but Resendiz stormed back with left hooks as well as a right hand to the chin late in the frame.

Both fighters scored with body shots in the fourth, though Plant was able to get the better of such exchanges. Resendiz better asserted himself in the fifth, coming forward while Plant used his slick defense in his best effort to avoid the incoming.

It didn’t work that way in the sixth.

The Mexican fans in attendance were loud and proud in favor of Resendiz, who drew his supporters to their feet when he slammed home a pair of rights. Plant remained upright and was able to catch his breath for a few seconds when Resendiz was warned for leading with his head.

Resendiz kept it clean and cracked Plant with a left hook upstairs and a hard right hand, which was met with booming cheers from the crowd. 

Chants of “Si, se puede” rang out as Resendiz continued his attack. Plant was mildly cautioned for holding but also managed an uppercut at close quarters. Resendiz’s right hand continued to find the mark as the threat of an upset continued to build.

Plant was forced to absorb another right hand early in the eighth. Resendiz made the ring a very small place for Plant, a Tennessee native, but had to pause his attack when time was called to clean up loose tape on his gloves.

Plant enjoyed a better round in the 10th and 11th, when he let his hands go more and held less frequently. Resendiz continued to seek out opportunities for his right hand, but Plant’s stellar defense allowed him to avoid the incoming and return with body shots.

Resendiz sought to close the show in the final three minutes.

Plant employed lateral movement while extending his left. Resendiz didn’t bite as he continued to target Plant’s midsection. Plant threw a pair of right hands on both sides of the 10-second clapper, to which Resendiz responded with a right of his own. The two let the hands go until the bell, after which point they both turned in celebration. 

CompuBox credited Resendiz with landing 186 of 600 total punches (31 percent), compared to 108 of 509 (21.2 percent).

The loss was the third in a five-fight span for Plant, 23-3 (14 KOs), who suddenly finds himself at a career crossroads. The 32-year-old Plant previously lost only to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-2-2 (39 KOs), and David Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), two of the very best in the game.

Alvarez ended Plant’s IBF super middleweight title with an eleventh-round knockout in their November 2021 full unification match. 

Plant rebounded with the 2022 Knockout of the Year when he flattened Anthony Dirrell in the ninth round of their October 2022 clash. He also stopped Trevor McCumby in the ninth round of their interim WBA 168lbs title fight last September at nearby T-Mobile Arena, 18 months after his 12-round decision defeat to Benavidez. 

Saturday’s setback was far more damaging to his brand. Plant was upwards of a -2500 favorite to win, which would have set up a long-awaited grudge match with Charlo.

At the absolute minimum, that matchup is now on hold, if not shredded altogether.

Ruining the best laid plans has become commonplace for Resendiz, 16-2 (11 KOs). 

His biggest win prior to Saturday came in a March 2023 tenth-round stoppage over former unified 154lbs titlist Jarrett Hurd in Ontario, California. Hurd was on course for at least one more big payday with a win but was badly cut along his lip. 

Resendiz was stopped in the eighth round by then-unbeaten Elijah Garcia just six months later but has now rebounded with two wins. 

None was bigger than what he achieved on Saturday, as he honored his word to tear up the script. 

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on and .