The boxing world was left in shock when a video of Caleb Plant slapping Jermall Charlo went viral. The incident unfolded backstage at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the weigh-in for the highly anticipated fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford. As tensions reached a boiling point, Plant delivered a left slap to Charlo before being swiftly restrained by security.
In a recent Instagram Live post, Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) addressed the incident publicly for the first time. According to him, Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) had provoked the situation by berating him and repeatedly tugging on his beard. Plant claimed that he had issued a stern warning to Charlo, but the provocations continued. Faced with the need to defend himself, Plant felt he had no other choice but to resort to violence.
Contrary to rumors, Plant clarified that his actions were not related to the ongoing conflict between Jermall and his twin brother Jermell, who is set to face Canelo Alvarez in September. This was a personal altercation between Plant and Charlo, unrelated to any other boxing feuds.
The intensity escalated as Charlo continued to touch Plant’s face, even harder than before. With his wife and friends present, Plant found himself backed into a corner. He pleaded with Charlo to stop, but the warnings fell on deaf ears. The situation became untenable, and Plant made the difficult decision to defend himself.
The boxer emphasized that the incident had nothing to do with his daughter or any other external factors. It was solely about Charlo repeatedly crossing personal boundaries and disregarding Plant’s requests for respect. Plant expressed his desire for peace and to be left alone, but his pleas went unanswered.
Both Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo are under the guidance of Al Haymon, which raises the intriguing possibility of a future showdown between the two fighters. Although Plant is coming off a points loss to David Benavidez in March and Charlo has been dealing with personal issues, a clash between these two talented athletes could be on the horizon.
As the dust settles from this backstage altercation, the boxing world eagerly awaits news of any potential clashes in the ring between Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo. This incident serves as a reminder that even outside the ropes, the intensity and passion of boxing can spill over, creating moments that capture the public’s attention.
Note: The original article includes a mention of the author’s book, which has been omitted in this adaptation.
