Although newly crowned super middleweight world titleholder Caleb Plant lives in Las Vegas, he grew up in Ashland City, Tennessee, which gave him a hero’s welcome on Thursday and honored him with the key to the city and various proclamations to celebrate his title victory.
Plant (18-0, 10 KOs), 26, scored a mild upset when he pounded his way to a clear unanimous decision win over Jose Uzcategui, whom he knocked down twice, to take his 168-pound world title on Jan. 13 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
He returned home to Ashland City for “Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant Day,” where his father, Richie Plant, who introduced him to boxing as a kid, also received a proclamation for his role in his son’s success and for his dedication to bringing boxing to the community.
“It was a great feeling to be honored by my hometown where it all started,” Plant said. “Watching my father get a proclamation for his hard work as well was incredible. Seeing all the fans and media show up was unbelievable. It was a great day filled with a lot of uplifting emotions, and I’m grateful for the love and support my city showed me today. I’m hoping to bring a big fight out here soon. Jan. 31, 2019 will forever be Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant Day!”
Plant got the king’s treatment, including from Cheatham County Mayor Kerry McCarver, Ashland City Mayor Steve Allen, State Senator Kerry Roberts and State Representative Mary Littleton of the Tennessee General Assembly.
“It was such a pleasure to give the community an opportunity to meet and congratulate the champion in person,” McCarver said. “Caleb makes us all proud in his drive to the top of the boxing world. Cheatham County got to declare Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant Day to truly let him know how special he is to all of us in Cheatham County.”
Said Allen: “In meeting Caleb, I have never been more impressed by a young man than I was with him. He is truly more than a world champion boxer. He is a champion of life, and no one in this world deserves more than Caleb. I hope I can always call Caleb and his family my friends because that would be an honor for me.”