Caleb Plant and Edgar Berlanga have engaged in a heated exchange on social media, both publicly and through direct messages that were later made public. This intense back-and-forth initially ignited after Plant called for a fight against Berlanga, following his victory over Trevor McCumby, and Berlanga’s subsequent loss to the undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez. While the rivalry has simmered, the highly anticipated clash between Plant and Berlanga has yet to materialize, with both fighters navigating challenging paths in the super middleweight division since their initial confrontation.
Divergent Paths: Recent Bouts and Shifting Fortunes
Caleb Plant’s last fight before the social media dust-up occurred in September 2024, on the undercard of the Canelo vs. Edgar Berlanga event. He faced the then-undefeated Trevor McCumby, who boasted a formidable record of 28-0 with 21 knockouts entering the bout. Despite some early adversity, including a fourth-round knockdown that Plant protested was a push, the former IBF champion showcased his resilience and skill. Plant recovered quickly, utilizing his jab, footwork, and precise combinations to regain control. He systematically broke down McCumby, eventually stopping him in the ninth round via TKO at 2:59, capturing the Interim WBA Super Middleweight Title and improving his record to 23-2. Plant’s only previous losses had come at the hands of Canelo Alvarez, who stopped him in Round 11 of their undisputed title clash in November 2021, and David Benavidez, whom he lost to via unanimous decision in a hard-fought battle in March 2023.
However, Plant’s reign as interim champion was short-lived. On May 31, 2025, Plant suffered a split decision loss to Jose Armando Resendiz for the WBA Interim World Super Middleweight championship at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. This unexpected defeat marked Plant’s third professional loss and raised questions about his trajectory in the division. His current professional record stands at 23-3 (14 KOs).
Edgar Berlanga also faced Canelo Alvarez in September 2024, headlining the event where Plant fought McCumby. Berlanga suffered his first professional loss to the pound-for-pound king, with Canelo winning by unanimous decision with scores of 118-109 twice and 117-110. While Plant was stopped in Round 11 by Canelo, Berlanga managed to go the distance with the Mexican superstar, despite being dropped in Round 3 by a brutal left hook. Many observers felt Berlanga fought conservatively, aiming to survive rather than aggressively pursue a victory, a sentiment reflected in the wide scorecards.
Following his loss to Canelo, Berlanga sought to rebuild his momentum. He secured a sixth-round knockout victory over Padraig McCrory on February 24, 2024, in a WBA final eliminator bout. Berlanga then fought Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz on March 15, 2025, winning by TKO in the first round. However, Berlanga missed weight for the Gonzalez-Ortiz fight, preventing him from claiming the NABO WBO super middleweight championship. His most recent outing, on July 11, 2025, saw him suffer a significant setback, losing by fifth-round knockout to Hamzah Sheeraz. Berlanga’s professional record now stands at 23-2 (18 KOs).
Caleb Plant & Edgar Berlanga Exchange Words: The Lingering Animosity
The animosity between Plant and Berlanga has been a consistent storyline in the super middleweight division. Caleb Plant initially fueled the rivalry by taking to social media in November 2024, posting a fictional fight poster featuring himself and Berlanga. In a swift response, Berlanga publicly shared private direct messages between the two, though he deleted the post shortly after. This public display of their private exchanges highlighted the genuine disdain between the fighters.
Even after Plant’s upset loss to Jose Armando Resendiz in May 2025, Berlanga maintained his desire to fight “SweetHands.” In July 2025, Berlanga stated, “I still wanna fight him. He’s still a name in the sport. I still wanna f— him up. All that s— he was talking, still wanna beat the s— outta him”. This indicates that despite both fighters experiencing recent defeats, the personal grudge remains a powerful motivator for Berlanga. Plant, however, expressed skepticism about Berlanga’s sincerity, particularly after criticizing Berlanga’s choice of opponent (Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz) in February 2025, suggesting Berlanga was not truly seeking a challenging fight against him. Promoter Eddie Hearn has also publicly backed a potential Plant-Berlanga matchup, recognizing its appeal to fans.
Implications for the Super Middleweight Division and Future Prospects
The super middleweight division remains highly competitive, and both Caleb Plant and Edgar Berlanga are at critical junctures in their careers. Plant’s recent loss to Resendiz means he is no longer an interim titleholder and must now rebuild his standing. His technical boxing style, combined with his proven ability to compete at the elite level, still makes him a dangerous opponent for many in the division. However, the back-to-back losses to Benavidez and Resendiz suggest a need for strategic opponent selection to regain championship contention.
For Berlanga, the knockout loss to Hamzah Sheeraz is a significant setback, marking his second professional defeat and the first by stoppage. Known for his power, Berlanga’s recent performances have shown flashes of brilliance but also vulnerabilities. His path to a world title shot will likely require a dominant victory over a highly-ranked contender to erase the memory of his recent losses. The WBA has named Edgar Berlanga as the mandatory challenger for the super middleweight division, indicating his continued relevance despite recent setbacks.
The proposed fight between Plant and Berlanga, while highly anticipated, has been complicated by their respective recent results. While the personal rivalry persists, the timing and perceived market value of the fight may have shifted. Both fighters are on a redemption path, and a clash between them would undoubtedly offer significant drama and a
