Plant (23-3, 14 KOs) has lost his last five fights dating back to 2021 and will complete a year without a fight in May. Victory in that category came from the aging Anthony Dirrell and Trevor McCumby, who did little to hold onto his position.
At 33, Plant is no longer being talked about as part of the elite super middleweight division the way he used to be, and the momentum that got him into the Canelo fight has waned.
If the goal is to keep Sheeraz’s momentum moving closer to a big payday, like the Canelo or Crawford fights Turki Alalshikh has been teasing for late 2026, Plant is the last “safe” word.
Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) is going in the opposite direction. Edgar Berlanga’s stoppage pushed him up to 168, and he is now scheduled to face Alem Begic for the vacant WBO belt, with his name sitting high in the rankings. The focus, at least publicly, on that title path is on voluntary battles.
The truth is that Plant has become a bit of a “gateway to a name brand.” He has enough pedigree to make wins look impressive on paper, but his actual losing record against top-level talent is slim. His stock took a big hit in May 2025 when he lost a split decision to Armando Resendiz, a fight that was considered a huge upset.
Plant brings name value and tournament pedigree, but without the same level of threat as some of the division’s regulars. Fighters like Christian Mbilli, Osleys Iglesias, and Lester Martinez represented a tough night, built on a strong result and pressure that Sheeraz has yet to face with a full fight.
Like the Berlanga battle, Plant presents a high-profile target in a style Sheeraz is equipped to take down. Sheeraz proved that he can handle what many fans see as a “hype job” by walking Berlanga in five rounds; The plant offers more technical ability but less durability in this category.
“I think he’s a good fighter,” Plant said of Sheeraz. “I think he hits a lot, I think he has a lot of heart, but there are things I’ve seen in his game that I can’t use.”
There are other routes Sheeraz can take. A second fight with Carlos Adames will carry its own appeal after the reaction to their first meeting in Riyadh, where many felt the result should have gone to Adames.
After the Adames draw, Sheeraz’s team may be looking at an opponent that sounds “dangerous” but fades enough to warrant a stop.
With Diego Pacheco recently pulling out of a scheduled WBO title fight against Sheeraz to focus on a new trainer, the way is open for a willing “big name”. Plant fits the Riyadh Season model perfectly: a recognizable American face that can be marketed as a “former world champion” to help build Sheeraz’s brand in the US.
Looking at Plant’s recent form, it’s hard to see him as a significant stepping stone for Hamzah. He hasn’t had a truly outstanding victory against an elite, top opponent in years, and at age 33, his best days are behind him.
