Caleb Plant's Grave-Digging Celebration Causes Controversy After KO Win

Photo: Caleb Plant (Instagram)

Caleb Plant caused a stir after knocking out Anthony Dirrell in October 2022. Plant, coming off his first career loss to Canelo Alvarez, was determined to make a statement. After a heated buildup filled with trash talk, Plant delivered a brutal knockout in the ninth round.

As Dirrell lay on the canvas, Plant pretended to dig his grave with an imaginary shovel—a celebration inspired by a video game. The act upset many in the boxing world because of the dangers fighters face in the ring. Even the referee tried to stop him, but Plant kept going. Commentators on the fight expressed concern, saying, "Oh no, don't do that."

In his post-fight interview, Plant explained the gesture. He referenced Dirrell's comments about not losing to a "white boy" and said, "Skin color doesn’t win fights, skills do."

Photo: Caleb Plant (Instagram)

After the fight, Plant took things further by releasing an action figure of himself, complete with shovels, to mark the moment. He later said he knew it would go viral.

Despite the controversial celebration, Plant's win helped him bounce back. However, five months later, in March 2023, he lost to David Benavidez. Though he hasn't held a title since, Plant remains a prominent figure in boxing, with several high-profile incidents, including a scuffle with Jermall Charlo and throwing a drink at Ryan Garcia.


Plant's next fight is against Trevor McCumby, where he hopes to make another statement with a knockout.

Read Next: Dan Hurley Explains Why He Turned Down Lakers Coaching Job

Source: Talk Sports 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Chris Martin Falls Through Stage Hole During Coldplay Concert In Melbourne

Image
Photo: Chris Martin/Instagram   Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin , had an unexpected fall during the band’s final show in Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.  Martin was interacting with the crowd, pointing to posters, when he accidentally stepped backwards into a large hole on the stage. Fans caught the moment on video, showing someone inside the hole who managed to catch Martin and cushion his fall. The crowd gasped, but Martin quickly reassured them, saying, “That’s uh, not planned, thank you for catching me.” He joked that he had "the jitters" but confirmed he was okay after being checked by a staff member.  Photo: Chris Martin/Instagram He then continued with the show. This incident happened just weeks after U.S. pop star Olivia Rodrigo had a similar fall at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.  Rodrigo, performing on the final night of her Guts tour, also fell into a hole while running across the stage. Like Martin, she was unhurt and continued with her performance, joking with f
Read More

LeBron James Backs Kamala Harris For 2024 Election

Image
Photo: LeBron James, Kamala Harris (Instagram) Basketball star LeBron James has announced his support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Known as the NBA’s all-time top scorer, James has supported Democratic candidates in the past, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He has often been open about his disagreements with former President Donald Trump . James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, shared his endorsement on Thursday, saying that when he thinks about the future for his family, “the choice is clear.” Along with his endorsement, James posted a video showing civil rights protests and moments from Trump’s rallies, hinting at his concerns over Trump’s stance on race. The video ended with the message: “Hate takes us back.” Over the summer, James met with Harris when the U.S. men’s basketball team was in Las Vegas preparing for the Paris Olympics, where the team went on to win the gold medal . Photo: LeBron James, Kamala Harris (Instagram) James’s sup
Read More

Khalil Rountree Shows Facial Scars From UFC 307 Loss, Opponent Alex Pereira Says His Hand Still Hurts

Image
Photo: Khalil Rountree Jr/Instagram   Khalil Rountree Jr. recently shared photos of his facial scars after a tough fight with Alex Pereira at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.  The battle left Rountree with noticeable marks, but fans online say he’s healing well—some even comparing him to “Wolverine” from the X-Men. Pereira admitted in a recent interview that he hurt his hand during the fight, especially in the fourth round when he was landing jabs. “I thought my hand might be broken,” Pereira said. “It still hurts when I press it in certain spots.” Photo: Khalil Rountree Jr/Instagram   Despite the pain, Pereira pushed through, aiming to land powerful shots, but hitting Rountree’s forehead—a particularly tough area—made his hand ache even more. Fans on Khalil Rountree's Instagram page suggest "War Horse" is "recovering like a prime Wolverine" after UFC 307 loss to Alex Pereira. pic.twitter.com/wnTB931ql6 — MMA Mania (@mmamania) November 4, 2024 Pereira, the curre
Read More

NBA Star J.R. Smith Praises Bronny James' Humble Attitude After Lakers-Cavs Game

Image
Photo: J.R. Smith, Bronny James (Instagram) The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough night on Wednesday, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-110 in Ohio. But one bright spot in the game was Lakers rookie Bronny James , who scored his first NBA points .  Bronny, the 20-year-old son of superstar LeBron James , put up two points, two assists, and one steal, shooting 1/2 from the field in just five minutes. After the game, former NBA champion J.R. Smith shared his thoughts on Bronny.  Smith, who won titles with LeBron on both the Cavaliers and Lakers, praised Bronny for being down-to-earth. “You hear about a lot of kids with famous parents who can be arrogant, but Bronny is the complete opposite,” Smith said. “He’s really grateful for this chance.” Photo: J.R. Smith (Instagram) The Lakers are now 3-2 this season, with LeBron James leading the team in Wednesday’s game. LeBron scored 26 points, adding six rebounds and three assists, in his 29 minutes on the court. Bronny James scores his first
Read More

Trump Praises Caitlin Clark, Talks Pay In Women’s Sports

Image
Photo: Donald Trump, Caitlin Clark/Instagram   Former President Donald Trump recently praised WNBA star Caitlin Clark and discussed pay equity in women’s sports during an interview on the "Let’s Go!" podcast with sportscaster Jim Gray and legendary coach Bill Belichick . Trump called Clark "incredible," saying he was impressed by her shooting skills. "She’s unbelievable," he said. "I watch her shot go in, and it’s amazing." During their talk, the focus turned to pay in women’s sports, especially in the WNBA. Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, earns a base salary of $76,000 a year. While she also makes money from endorsements, her pay is far below that of top NBA players, who earn millions. Photo: Donald Trump/Instagram   Trump admitted that equal pay in sports is "a very complicated thing." He said that while the league could consider giving standout players like Clark a bonus, it’s hard to change the market. "You can’t go i
Read More

LeBron James’ Incredible NBA Longevity Stuns Joakim Noah

Image
Photo: Joakim Noah, LeBron James/Instagram Former NBA player Joakim Noah is in awe of LeBron James ' amazing longevity. LeBron, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, has been playing in the NBA since 2003, when he was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. More than 20 years later, he's still competing at the top level, which has left many, including Noah, speechless. On a recent episode of The Young Man and The Three  podcast, Noah joked about how LeBron’s skills have barely slowed down even as he approaches 40. "To be dominant at 40 years old is pretty crazy. I can barely walk to the bathroom, and this guy is still dominating,” said Noah. He added that LeBron deserves a lot of respect for staying so dedicated to the game. Noah and LeBron met many times on the court, especially during intense battles between Noah's Chicago Bulls and LeBron's teams with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Noah retired in 2021, finishing with career averages of 8.8 points
Read More

Police Officers Dance To 'Shake It Off' at Taylor Swift Concert

Image
Photo: Taylor Swift/Instagram   At a recent Taylor Swift concert, the singer wasn’t the only one catching the crowd's eye. Two on-duty police officers at the show joined in on the fun, showing they’re Swifties too. As Swift performed her hit song "Shake It Off," the officers started dancing, pointing at each other, shaking their hips, and jumping with excitement. A video shared by a TikToker captured the officers’ dance, which quickly gained attention online. Many fans praised the light-hearted moment, with one person commenting, “Imagine an entire arena behaving so well that even the officers can relax and have fun.” Another joked, “The captain: we need someone to work the TS concert. This officer: I volunteer!” In another Swiftie-inspired moment, the Indianapolis Police Department decorated its horses with friendship bracelets before Swift’s concert, a nod to her song “White Horse.” Fans loved the gesture, calling it another way the concert felt like a safe, happy plac
Read More

Director Todd Phillips Calls On Theaters To Cut Pre-Movie Commercials

Image
Photo: Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix (Instagram) “Joker” director Todd Phillips wants theaters to stop playing commercials before movies. In a recent survey by Empire magazine about the future of movie theaters, Phillips shared his thoughts on making the movie-watching experience better. Phillips believes that commercials before a film “take the air out of the room.” He says that people are excited to see the movie they paid for, not watch ads. Phillips isn’t alone in thinking that theaters should improve the experience, especially as more people choose to stream movies at home. Many filmmakers in the poll, including “Mad Max” director George Miller, think movie theaters will always be popular because people enjoy watching movies together. Miller said that humans are “hard-wired to gather” and share stories. Photo: Joaquin Phoenix, Todd Phillips (Instagram) Daniel Scheinert, co-director of “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” agreed. He believes theaters are places for “community” an
Read More

Fans Tease Bronny James For Celebrating First NBA Basket

Image
Photo: Bronny James (Instagram) Bronny James had his first NBA game in his hometown, Cleveland, but it didn’t go quite as hoped for the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost 134-110 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking their second loss in a row. In the final minutes of the game, with Cleveland already leading by a lot, Bronny scored his first NBA points with a 15-foot jump shot. To remember this big moment, he took the net from the rim where he scored his first basket. However, not everyone was impressed. Many fans on social media joked about the special treatment Bronny seemed to receive. Some wondered if any other rookie would get to take home a net after their first basket. Others thought it was just because he’s LeBron James’ son, with some calling it "special treatment." Photo: Bronny James (Instagram) Despite the criticism, it’s clear that Cleveland fans have a soft spot for Bronny, as many of them remember him from when LeBron first played for the Cavaliers. Bronny’s NBA jou
Read More

Jennifer Lopez Criticizes Trump Rally, Says Latinos Are Offended

Image
Photo: Jennifer Lopez (Instagram) Jennifer Lopez , the famous singer and actress, spoke out against a recent rally held by Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden. Campaigning with Vice President Kamala Harris in Nevada, Lopez said the rally had offended “every Latino in this country.” At Trump’s event, a comedian made a joke about Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating island of garbage.” Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and both of Lopez’s parents are from there. The comment has sparked anger, especially among Puerto Ricans. During her speech in Las Vegas, Lopez said, “It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans who were offended that day. It was every Latino in this country, it was humanity and anyone of decent character.” Photo: Jennifer Lopez (Instagram) Harris’s visit to Nevada is part of her campaign’s push in key battleground states. To reach more voters, Harris’s team has brought in big names, from Stevie Wonder to actors from the Marvel movies. Many, like Lopez, are speaking out more as the el
Read More