Super middleweight interim titleholder Caleb Plant will face Armando Resendiz and two-division champion Jermall Charlo will meet Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna on May 31 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, promoter Premier Boxing Champions announced Wednesday.
The PBC card will be streamed on Prime Video for all Prime members and, according to the announcement press release, will set up a Plant-Charlo “grudge match” to settle their virtual and in-person feud, which included a 2023 backstage confrontation that saw Plant slap Charlo.
Plant, 23-2 (14 KOs), most recently stopped Trevor McCumby last September, shrugging off a knockdown to finish McCumby in nine rounds in his first fight with trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards. Plant, a 32-year-old Nashville native who now fights out of Las Vegas, began his career with 21 straight wins and has still lost only to unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and former super middleweight belt holder David Benavidez.
“I’ve been quietly grinding with my team since my last fight, and just like always, I’ve left no stone unturned in my preparation,” Plant said. “No setback and no amount of money or success can change the love I have for boxing or change my competitive spirit to be a winner. On May 31, I’m coming to put on a show and leave no doubt that I’m one of the best in the world.”
Whether Mexico’s Resendiz, 15-2 (11 KOs), will allow Plant the opportunity to do that in their scheduled 12-rounder is an open question. A 26-year-old with considerable power, Resendiz lost a unanimous decision to Marcos Hernandez in 2021 and was stopped by Elijah Garcia in September 2023, though he bounced back with a fifth-round stoppage of Fernando Paliza in February. He has yet to face an opponent approaching Plant’s caliber.
“I know this is going to be a tough fight, but I will prepare as hard as I possibly can to win and dedicate this win to my beloved Mexico,” Resendiz said.
In the co-main event, Charlo, 33-0 (22 KOs), will end what will be an 18-month absence from the ring in a 10-round bout against LaManna. Houston’s Charlo, 34, is a former titleholder at junior middleweight and middleweight, who made his debut at 168 with a unanimous decision over Jose Benavidez Jnr in November 2023. But he has not fought since.
“I took the time to rebuild myself and I rebuilt my focus,” Charlo said. “I’m locked in with my team and I’m ready for this new chapter at super middleweight. The journey continues. I’m back in full effect and I can’t wait to show my fans what I’ve been working on. It’s time!”
LaManna, 39-5-1 (18 KOs), has built a following as a regional attraction and is currently on a nine-fight winning streak. A 33-year-old from Belleville, New Jersey, LaManna has yet to break through in step-up fights – among his losses are a 2020 unanimous decision defeat against Brian Mendoza and a 2021 knockout by Erislandy Lara. Charlo could be his last chance at signature win – but it would be a commanding one.
“Facing a big name like Jermall Charlo is the kind of challenge I’ve been working for my whole life,” LaManna said. “A win against him on May 31 isn’t just a victory for me, it’s life-changing for my family, a statement to the world, and proof that I belong among the best.”