Canelo Alvarez, Caleb Plant throw real punches at press conference

So much for the staged showdown between boxers used to promote an upcoming fight. 

Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant appeared to exchange real punches Tuesday as things turned ugly at the outset of a press conference to promote their fight Nov. 6 for the undisputed super middleweight championship. 

After the event, Plant had a bandage on the right side of the face and said he got scratched by his sunglasses during the altercation. It started after the fighters were introduced and standing face-to-face for the traditional photo opp. As is customary, the boxers wore stern expressions while exchanging words. Then the script gave way to something clearly unplanned. 

Alvarez shoved Plant and barked profanities.  

Plant marched back at Alvarez and swung with a left hand that missed. 

Alvarez responded, landing a right hand with a closed fist near Plant’s neck. 

Moments after a verbal exchange escalated into fisticuffs, the fighters were separated. It took several minutes to restore order and to resume the event at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. 

While Plant dabbed at his right cheek with what looked like a cloth, Alvarez was tending to his left forearm. It was unclear if Alvarez had injured himself during the altercation. 

Plant indicated he was unclear why the verbal exchange led to punches being thrown. 

Explained Alvarez, “He can say whatever he wants to me, but not to my Mom.’’ 

The source of Alvarez’s anger became clearer later in the press conference when Plant said, “So mark my words, November sixth, you will hear the words, ‘The new undisputed middleweight (champion).’ The only difference is right after that you’ll hear the words, ‘and still undefeated.’”