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Caleb Plant stunned by unheralded Armando Reséndiz in massive upset

Armando Reséndiz pulled off a massive upset on Saturday night, defeating former world champion Caleb Plant by split decision to capture the interim WBA super middleweight title at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Reséndiz (16-2, 11 KOs) won on two judges’ scorecards by identical 116-112 scores, overruling one card that had Plant ahead 115-113. The 25-year-old Mexican outworked and outlanded Plant over 12 rounds, handing the American his second straight loss and third in his last five fights.

“I knew that everybody was going to be against me, because on paper of course he was the favorite,” Reséndiz said. “But I believed in myself. My corner believed in me. And then we did exactly what we came to do.”

Reséndiz pressed the action from the opening bell, walking down Plant and scoring with heavy right hands and left hooks. He had a strong third round and broke through again in the seventh, wobbling Plant with a counter right and a left hook. According to CompuBox, Reséndiz outlanded Plant 186 to 108 and landed 31% of his punches to Plant’s 21%.

“I knew I was going to win,” Reséndiz said. “I didn’t worry at all. I knew it was going to be a tough fight and we gave them a great fight. I’m ready to fight anyone. Whoever the public wants.”

Plant (23-3, 14 KOs) relied on movement and the jab but struggled to keep Reséndiz off of him. Two judges gave Reséndiz each of the final seven rounds.

“I felt like it was close and in a close fight, sometimes it switches the other way,” Plant said. “I feel like I was in control enough and using the whole ring, using my jab, but the judges saw it the other way.”

Plant insisted he was never seriously hurt.

“It wasn’t that he was putting so much pressure on me,” he said. “He caught me with one overhand right. That was pretty good. But other than that, nothing really hurt me or stunned me.”

The 31-year-old former IBF titleholder said he plans to regroup and return.

“I felt like I did good,” he said. “I used my jab, I used the whole ring and was patient, but I wasn’t the better man tonight. I’ll just get back with my team. Go home to my family, spend time with my daughter. My son’s on the way and you know we’ll regroup and we’ll be back.”

Charlo scores TKO in comeback fight

In the co-main event, unbeaten two-division champion Jermall Charlo made a successful return to the ring, stopping Thomas LaManna after five one-sided rounds.

Charlo (34-0, 23 KOs) dropped LaManna three times, scoring knockdowns in the third, fourth and fifth rounds before the bout was stopped at the start of round six on the advice of the ringside physician.

“It feels good to be back,” Charlo said. “I’m thankful to everyone who stood by me. I love y’all. I’m back. You know you gotta go through things to get better.”

Charlo, fighting for the first time since June 2021, looked sharp behind a heavy jab and clean combinations. He landed 44 jabs and repeatedly hurt LaManna (39-6-1, 18 KOs) with straight rights and left hooks. A left hook in the third round sent LaManna down for the first time. Another left in the fourth forced LaManna to take a knee, and a video review between rounds overturned the referee’s initial no-knockdown ruling.

In the fifth, Charlo landed a flush right hand that dropped LaManna for a third time. Although LaManna made it to the bell, the doctor waved off the fight before the sixth round began.

“I’m just looking to stay well-known and relevant,” Charlo said. “No more dark places and keep my head straight. I just want to encourage everyone in the world, keep God first, keep God first.”

LaManna said Charlo’s timing and jab were better than expected.

“It is what it is, I did the best I could,” LaManna said. “The doctors are here for a reason and they made their decision. I’m disappointed, but it’s boxing. Charlo was sharper than I expected. He’s a two-time world champion for a reason.”

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