Caleb Plant has vowed he will not underestimate Jose Armando Resendiz, despite declaring himself "the best super middleweight in the world".
Former IBF super middleweight champion Plant will defend his WBA interim belt against Mexican knockout artist Resendiz in Las Vegas on Saturday 31st May.
Plant, now 32, was hurt and dropped by Trevor McCumby during his last bout in September but recovered impressively before eventually stopping his opponent in the ninth round.
It wasn't a performance befitting of a rematch against unified super middleweight champion Alvarez, which is why Plant is eager to prove to everyone that he is the man to beat when he takes on Resendiz.
Speaking during Wednesday’s promotional press conference at The Mayan in Los Angeles, Plant said: “I feel like I am the man in the division.
Obviously, Canelo is still active and I have a lot of respect for him, but I still feel like I’m the best super middleweight in the world.
"That’s just my mentality. May 31, I take another step toward proving that."
The subplot to the May 31 showdown is that, providing Jermall Charlo conquers Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna on the same night, Plant will clash with the unbeaten former two-division titlist Charlo at the end of the year.
That's not to suggest Plant will be taking Resendiz lightly.
Plant is the overwhelming 1/20 favourite to prevail at the Michelob Ultra Arena but 15-2 Resendiz packs a punch, with 11 of his victories going by the way of knockout.
“Depending who gets their hand raised in the co-main event, I can get it cracking with either one," Plant passionately vowed. "I’m not hard to find and I’m not hard to make a fight with.
"A lot of fighters make the mistake of looking past their opponent and they end up not even winning the fight in front of them. I won’t make the same mistake."
Plant added: “Me and my team have been working very hard to ensure that we step on Armando, get my hand raised and then go on about our business.
"Make sure you tune in. It’s gonna be a show and I’m gonna step on him.”
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