Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo have the sort of issues that can’t be resolved by simply talking it out. No, if they’re ever going to get on the same page, they’ll need to throw a few fists at one another first.

The storyline behind it still hasn’t been fully explained but for whatever reason, Plant and Charlo got into an altercation back in 2023. Ultimately, it resulted in Plant slapping Charlo across the face.

Since then, Plant has wanted to get it on in the ring. Charlo has also been willing but he hasn’t been as eager as the former super middleweight champ. Now, however, roughly two years since that backstage incident, they’re just one step away from squaring off.

As initially reported by The Ring, Plant and Charlo will return on the same card on May 31st. Plant will be in the headliner spot when he takes on Jose Armando Resendiz. Charlo will grab the co-feature spot against Thomas LaManna. The plan from there would be a PBC pay-per-view later in the year.

The need for separate interim fights didn’t interest Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) initially but considering that Charlo has been on the shelf for years, Plant believes it made sense.

“He’s had some time away from the ring,” said Plant during a self-recorded video. “He wanted a fight to get active. I think that’s reasonable, I can respect that.”

All in all, it’s more than reasonable. Since 2021, Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) has fought just twice. Some of his issues were injury-related but most of his absence came from the personal side of his life.

Plant, ironically, hasn’t been the most active fighter in the world, fighting just once a year since 2022. Still, his annual appearances have been more than enough to keep him relevant.

Ultimately, allowing Charlo to brush off some of the dust was more of a strategic move. If Plant got what he originally wanted, which was an immediate fight against the Houston native, he knew that if he won, credit would have been taken away.

“When I do beat Charlo, I don’t wanna hear about how he’s been inactive or hasn’t fought in x amount of time,” continued Plant. “You know, let’s get 'em a fight, stay busy, stay active, and then make a big fight happen for the fans later this year.”