On May 31, 2025, Armando Resendiz achieved a major upset by defeating Caleb Plant via split decision to capture the interim WBA super middleweight title. The 12-round bout, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) event at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, saw Resendiz overpower the favored Plant, altering the division’s landscape and halting a potential clash with Jermall Charlo.
A Commanding Performance
Resendiz, a 26-year-old Mexican fighter with a 15-2 record, entered as a heavy underdog against Plant, a former IBF super middleweight champion. Plant started strong, using his jab and body shots to take early rounds. By round three, Resendiz shifted the fight with a powerful left hook that bloodied Plant’s face, followed by a strong sixth round that rocked his opponent.
Resendiz’s relentless pressure and precise combinations dominated the later rounds. CompuBox recorded him landing 186 punches to Plant’s 109. The judges scored it 116-112 for Resendiz, 115-113 for Plant, and 116-112 for Resendiz, securing the split-decision win.
Caleb Plant, with a 23-2 record before the fight, held the IBF super middleweight title from 2019 to 2021 until losing to Canelo Alvarez. His only other defeat was against David Benavidez in 2023. As a -2500 favorite, Plant’s technical prowess was expected to set up a high-profile fight with Charlo.
Resendiz, nicknamed “El Toro,” brought a 15-2 record with 11 knockouts. His aggressive style shone in his previous unanimous decision win over Fernando Paliza in February 2025. Despite his underdog status, Resendiz’s power and resilience proved too much for Plant, earning him the interim title.
Resendiz’s victory reshaped the super middleweight division. Plant was poised to face Jermall Charlo in 2025, fueled by a 2023 weigh-in altercation where Plant slapped Charlo. Charlo, who secured a sixth-round TKO over Thomas LaManna on the same card, now faces uncertainty. Resendiz’s win positions him as a potential opponent for Charlo, upending the anticipated Plant-Charlo matchup.
Post-fight, Plant admitted, “He caught me with one overhand right that was pretty good. But other than that, nothing really hurt me or stopped me. Disappointed, obviously.” Resendiz, speaking in Spanish, celebrated with a broad smile, his face unmarked compared to Plant’s bloodied eye.
Plant, now 23-3, must regroup after this setback to stay in the title race. His passive approach in later rounds drew scrutiny, and he’ll likely need a strong performance against another contender to regain momentum.
Resendiz, now 16-2, has emerged as a serious threat. His upset victory opens opportunities for fights against top names like Charlo, positioning him as a rising star in the division.
The PBC event, streamed on Prime Video, featured other notable fights, including Charlo’s TKO over LaManna after three knockdowns, Yoenli Hernandez’s decision win over Kyrone Davis, and Isaac Lucero’s second-round TKO against Omar Valenzuela. Resendiz’s triumph stood out, echoing recent upsets like Rolando Romero’s win over Ryan Garcia in May 2025, proving boxing’s unpredictable nature.
