Caleb Plant is one of the most highly touted boxers from the United States. A former super middleweight champion, Plant defied a lot of expectations at a very young age. That said, many may not know about the tough losses and sacrifices that he has made along the way.
For those unaware, Caleb Plant is the former IBF super middleweight champion, hailing from Ashland City, Tennessee. Having taken up combat sports at a relatively young age, Plant trained in his father’s shoddy gym with minimal facilities. Although he initially had a lot of interest in kickboxing, competing at numerous tournaments as well, Plant found his true calling in boxing.
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Thus, after making his professional debut in 2014, Plant went on a dominant run, disposing of tough fighters as if they were light work. Throughout his career, Caleb Plant’s only losses have come against Canelo Alvarez and most recently, David Benavidez. That said, the two losses on his record are not even the most important or devastating ones that he has faced in his life.
Caleb Plant speaks on his daughter’s passing
For those unaware, Caleb Plant has faced difficult losses on his personal end throughout his life. Having already grown up in harsh conditions, Plant had to deal with his mother’s drug addiction. Often being forced to feed his mother’s addiction, Caleb found out about the harsh realities of life at a very young age.
Not only that, but the most tragic story is that of his daughter, Alia Jean Plant. Owing to an unknown medical condition, Alia would often suffer seizures. Thereafter, it became clear that the infant, born in 2013 to Caleb and his then-partner, Carman Jean Briscoe-Lee, was suffering from a life-threatening problem. After 19 months of fighting valiantly, Plant bid farewell to his brave daughter as she passed away on January 29, 2015.
In a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru & Henry, Caleb Plant spoke about the heart-wrenching ordeal:
“She had a lot of grey matter in her mind, like 150- 200 seizures every single day. She had brain damage, she couldn’t sit up, she didn’t have any motor skills, she couldn’t eat, and she had to eat through a Mic-Key tube in her stomach. Eight medicines, twice a day, doctor’s appointments every week, on life support like 5 different times.”
“Just an uphill battle for 19 months really, she was struggling and I think it just became to be too much on her. The last time she was on life support, understanding that this time may be different, ( I went) to her bedside just letting her know like, ‘If this is too much for you, if this is not something you want to do anymore, I don’t want you to think Dad’s going to be mad at you or upset.’
“Shortly after, she started going downhill, and that wound up being that moment (she passed away).”
Along with managing her daughter’s needs and medical expenses, Plant would also need to keep up with his training. With his daughter admitted to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Plant would need to go to and fro from his house, to the hospital, and then training. Thus, it was a very difficult circumstance and a truly punishing ordeal for him to eventually overcome.
Caleb Plant’s daughter inspired him to become a champion
For the most part, the loss of one’s young one is a loss that is often unbearable for many. However, Caleb Plant, who had made a promise to his daughter, displayed tremendous heart and carried on with his goal of becoming a champion. Only weeks after his daughter’s passing, Caleb would beat Daniel Henry via first-round TKO. Not only that, but he would go on to fight five more times that year.
Eventually, ‘Sweet Hands’ realized his lifelong goal of becoming a champion when he defeated José Uzcátegui in January 2019. Following the monumental victory, the fighter laid down his IBF super middleweight title at his late daughter’s grave, dedicating the win to her. After all, young Alia was the reason behind Plant’s perseverance and undying resolve to keep fighting, no matter what.
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Currently, Caleb Plant is a married man, having tied the knot with his longtime partner, Jordan Plant in 2019. Since then, Caleb has also welcomed a second daughter named Charly in 2022. All things considered, the 31-year-old has faced some harsh tribulations in his time, and come out a stronger man in the process. With news of his next fight soon to come, Plant will be determined to once again beat the very best of the best.