Former super middleweight champion Caleb Plant delivered a knockout of the year candidate, and then was booed heavily and held back by the referee for his celebration.
The 30-year-old Plant (22-1, 13 KOs), in his first fight since losing the IBF title to Canelo Alvarez last November, took down Anthony Dirrell (34-3-2, 25 KOs) after a bad blood-filled lead-up to the bout.
The ninth round KO saw the 38-year-old former two-time WBC champion prone on the mat with referee Harvey Dock immediately waving it off.
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But as Plant celebrated wildly he then mimed digging a grave and pouring the dirt onto his opponent, the referee rushing to hold him back.
“Oh no, don’t do that. Don’t do that,” one commentator said.
Another responded: “Caleb frustrated from the histrionics throughout but you don’t want that.”
The bad blood continued post-fight with an unpleasant racial element coming into it.
“I’m sure all of you heard how he (Dirrell) hates me and how he said he will never let a white boy beat him,” Plant said.
“Let me tell you something – skin doesn’t win fights, skills win fights.”
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He added: “I was in full control the whole time.
“My coach kept telling me to be patient and listen to the game plan and that’s what we did. And then it was boom, baby!”
Plant then called out WBC middleweight champion Jermell Charlo who was sitting at ringside and has considered moving up a weight class.
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