Boxing
Exclusive: Rotherham’s Rising Star Junaid Bostan Gets Dream Training with Caleb Plant
Rotherham’s Junaid Bostan shares his dream training experience with Caleb Plant in Las Vegas. Learn how the WBA interim champ’s tips are shaping the future of this rising boxing star
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One of America's finest boxers has been providing an up-and-coming fighter from Rotherham with tailor-made advice about how to reach the very top of his profession.
Caleb Plant, the WBA’s interim super-middleweight champion, personally tutored Junaid Bostan following a sparring session in Las Vegas; where the 22-year-old, known as ‘Star Boy’ had travelled for a fortnight long training camp.
For the unbeaten Bostan, who recorded his 10th straight victory as a professional by beating Maico Sommariva last month, the opportunity to share a ring with Plant proved to be a dream come true with ‘Sweethands’ also choosing to pass on some of the tricks of the trade after their workout together.
“I found out that Caleb Plant was training at the gym I was at,” Bostan told SportBoom.com.
“So, I said I want to spar him if I can?”
“He’s been the guy I’ve been watching since I was a kid, because of his punching and his footwork.”
“To get in there with the likes of him can only do me good and it’s definitely a story for the grandkids - sparring the guy that I watched growing up.”
One thing I’ll say about Caleb, all the Americans actually, is that they’re calm before a spar, they talk the utmost s**t to you during it and then they’re totally sweet with you afterwards.
Junaid Bostan
“Caleb was so friendly and gracious.”
“Afterwards, he gave me more than enough of his time. Just talking and trading thoughts.
“I asked him what he found difficult and spoke about what I should do outside of the ring as well as in it. That’s one of the many things Caleb is great at - bringing it together inside and outside.”
Plant, aged 32, received the latest honour of his long and storied career with a ninth round TKO of Trevor McCumby at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena in September.
Originally hailing from Tennessee, Plant held the IBF title between 2019 and 2021 before surrendering that belt during a bout with the legendary Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Bostan, who is viewed by his promoter Eddie Hearn as one of the most exciting young talents in the Matchroom stable, now appears on a collision course with fellow Yorkshireman Ishmael Davis after stopping Sommariva with a brutal body shot.
It was his first outing for six months after defeating Jack Martin in April, with Bostan blaming “politics” for his inactivity.
Although he is not scheduled to compete again this year, Bostan looks set for a big 2025 after “praying to God” that he is shortly granted a shot at either the English super welterweight crown or a Lonsdale belt.
Davis, from Leeds, was last in action on the undercard of Anthony Joshua versus Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Despite finding himself on the wrong end of a majority points decision, Davis impressed against former British champion and European title contender Josh Kelly after accepting the bout at short notice.
Predicting why his sessions with Plant will prove invaluable to his development, Bostan said: “What he’s done is give me the opportunity to see what I need to do to become a better fighter, because ultimately it’s me that has to go in there and do the work.”
“For the first 30 seconds of the spar I thought ‘Oh, okay, alright’ then all of that was out the window. I was there to work and learn and that’s what I did.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.