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Undefeated IBF Super Middleweight Champion
Caleb Plant vs. Vincent Feigenbutz Headlines Feb. 15 From
Bridgestone Arena In Nashville, Tennessee
IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb "Sweethands'' Plant
will defend his title in a homecoming bout against mandatory
challenger Vincent Feigenbutz live in primetime in the FOX
PBC Fight Night main event and on FOX Deportes Saturday,
February 15 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
The broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and feature
a clash between welterweight contenders as Bryant "Goodfella"
Perrella and Abel Ramos battle in the 10-round co-feature.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Sweethands
Promotion, TGB Promotions and Sauerland Promotions, are on
sale today at 5 p.m. CT and can be purchased at
ticketmaster.com.
"We're thrilled that championship boxing is back in
Nashville with their homegrown world champion Caleb 'Sweethands'
Plant defending his super middleweight title on February
15," said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. "Caleb
Plant has made a name for himself as one of the sport's
elite fighters and will look to continue solidify his place
in the stacked 168-pound division. He'll be facing a
hard-hitting fighter in Germany's Vincent Feigenbutz, who is
sure to apply the pressure and upset Plant in his hometown.
Expect an all action main event live on FOX from the
Bridgestone Arena in Nashville."
This will be the first time that Plant (19-0, 11 KOs), who
was born in Ashland, Tennessee outside of Nashville, will be
fighting in his hometown as a pro. He will be making the
second defense of the title that he won with a unanimous
decision victory over Venezuelan slugger Jose Uzcategui in
January. His first title defense saw him dominate and stop
then unbeaten Mike Lee in July on FOX.
To win the title, Plant turned the tables on the
hard-hitting Uzcategui in their championship fight on FS1.
Going into the match the consensus was that Uzcategui was
the harder puncher and that Plant would have to withstand
his power to walk away with the belt. It was the 27-year-old
Plant however, who stunned Uzcategui by dropping him to the
canvas twice on the way to a convincing unanimous decision.
It was an emotional night for Plant, who now lives and
trains in Las Vegas. He had dedicated his championship
victory to the memory of his late daughter Alia, who
suffered from a rare disorder that caused seizures.
"I'm very excited to bring my world title home to Nashville
in my second title defense," said Plant. "It'll be in front
of all of my family and friends and I plan to put on a
spectacular performance. Vincent Feigenbutz is a very tough,
rugged European fighter. He's got a big knockout ratio, but
this is my backyard and I will not let any man come in here
and rain on my parade. On February 15, I'm representing my
hometown and my home city with pride. I believe this will be
the first of many fights that we hold at The Bridgestone in
Nashville. This fight isn't going 12-rounds. Nashville,
stand up!"
The 24-year-old Feigenbutz (31-2, 28 KOs) is known as "The
KO King'' and he has been able to live up to that name with
a 90% knockout ratio. The German slugger from Karlsruhe,
Baden-Wurttemberg will be fighting in the United States for
the first time on February 15. He became the youngest German
champion ever when he defeated Giovanni de Carolis for the
Interim WBA Super Middleweight title at the age of 20 in
2015. He lost the world title rematch with De Carolis, but
recovered to win 10 straight since the loss - including nine
via stoppage. He is coming in off of an eighth round TKO of
previously undefeated over César Núñez in August.
"It has always been my goal to have a big fight like this in
the U.S.," said Feigenbutz. "I am not going there to lose. I
am coming over to become only the second German boxer, after
the legendary Max Schmeling, to win the world title in the
U.S. and bring the belt back home to Germany. I hope
everyone in my home country will have my back and support me
on this journey. For me, Plant is the strongest of all super
middleweight world champions. We are the underdog, but we
won't make it as easy for Caleb, like in his last fight. We
know how difficult a fight on American soil is, so there is
only one strategy: Get the knockout!"
The 30-year-old Perrella (17-2, 14 KOs) scored a decision
victory over Breidis Prescott and most recently a stoppage
of Domonique Dolton in his 2019 campaign, bouncing back from
a majority decision loss to former champion Luis Collazo in
2018. Fighting out of Fort Myers, Florida, Perella turned
pro in 2012 after an impressive amateur career that included
victories over Regis Prograis, Miguel Cruz and Sammy Vásquez.
Perrella suffered a 2016 loss to top welterweight Yordenis
Ugás that was sandwiched by victories over Alex Martin and
then unbeaten David Grayton.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to showcase my talent,"
said Perrella. "I have a quality opponent in front of me in
Abel Ramos and I'm looking to make a statement on February
15. I'm going to show everyone once again that I'm a serious
threat to anyone in the welterweight division.
Fighting out of Casa Grande, Arizona, Ramos (25-3-2, 19 KOs)
picked up two victories in 2019, most recently stopping
Jimmy Williams in July after defeating veteran contender
Francisco Santana on FOX in March. The 28-year-old
previously challenged former champions Regis Prograis and
Ivan Baranchyk while campaigning at 140-pounds. He brings a
seven-fight winning streak into February 15 since a close
decision loss in 2018 to contender Jamal James.
"I can't wait to start my year off fight a great fight on
FOX," said Ramos. "I know that I have a tough opponent
across from me on February 15. I'm here to give a
performance that makes me standout in this division. I know
that after this fight, everyone will see I'm one of the best
welterweights and that I'm going to have a huge 2020."
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