Cameron Vuong welcomes the pressure against Gavin Gwynne

Cameron Vuong has been touted as one of British boxing’s future stars since before he made his debut last October.

You might assume that a 22-year-old novice would be weighed down by the amount of pressure that has been placed on his shoulders. After all, expectations bring criticism, and it can’t be easy performing when you are aware that every punch, every step and every mistake will be scrutinized and overanalyzed by people who don’t see the day-to-day work that goes on in the gym.

You only have to spend a couple of minutes in the junior welterweight’s company to realize that he loves the attention.

On November 30, Vuong, 6-0 (3 KOs), will take an ambitious step when he fights former British and European lightweight titleholder Gavin Gwynne in Birmingham, England, and he can’t wait to show what he can do.

“Any pressure that anyone put on me, I put more pressure than that on myself,” he told BoxingScene. “I expect a lot of myself. I’ve been saying I want to be world level, and taking these fights this early is only going to ensure that I do that. So there’s no pressure. I love it.

“This is my job. This is what I’ve been wanting to do since I was a nine- or 10-year-old kid. So I’m here now and I’m ready to show what’s what.”

Although he has only been a professional for a year, Vuong has shown plenty.

Apart from his debut, all of his opponents have had winning records, and he has already passed one genuine test by outpointing the tough, determined Jeff Ofori over 10 rounds.

Vuong is a confident livewire, but he has had to grow up since joining Jamie Moore’s gym. Every young fighter wants to stay busy, but this will be his seventh fight in 13 months, and the constant schedule of training, making weight and fighting does become grueling.

Vuong has endured a real crash course in professional boxing over the past year, but, providing things go to plan against Gwynne, he will have time to breathe and enter 2025 fire-tested and in a far better position than most young prospects. 

There is no sense of him coasting over the finish line. Vuong is adopting a siege mentality ahead of his fight with Wales’ Gwynne.

“I’m a different person than I was a year ago,” he said. ”It’s just gone a year since I’ve had my pro debut and I feel like I’m a different fighter since then. We’ve seen a bit of the flash and the things I can do against lesser opponents, and I’ve been saying the better the opponents get, the better I’ll get, and that I want to be in real fights.

“I believe my back’s against the wall in this fight, and I think a lot of people are picking us to get beat. But, listen, that’s what’s going to bring the best out of me. When my back’s against the wall and people are doubting us and saying he’s gone up the levels too quick?

“Good. Tune in to watch us get beat then, and we’ll see.

“What’s he going to do? He’s going to apply pressure. He’s going to be Gavin Gwynne.

“Everyone that gets in with me, they’re in to apply pressure; they’ve been doing it my whole life. I’ve had, what, 12 years of dealing with people trying to put pressure on me.”

There comes a time in every prospect’s career when they are matched with an opponent who not only has the ability to pose them some serious questions but, crucially, ducks between the ropes with the belief that they will beat them. 

Some dazzle and pass their first real test with flying colors whilst some come unstuck. They all learn valuable lessons. Vuong’s test came in just his fifth fight.

In June, Ofori stepped in as a late replacement when Vuong’s original opponent, Jordan Flynn, withdrew because of an injury.

Vuong was able to showcase his skills and outbox the tough Londoner over the first half of the fight, but things got progressively harder as the rounds passed. Vuong made it through the 10 rounds and deserved the unanimous decision he was awarded, but he will have learned plenty about the stamina, strength and concentration required to be successful at the highest level.

It was the type of experience that he believes will benefit him for years to come.

“You’ve seen Ofori put pressure on in my first 10-rounder, and I was a bit gassed,” he said. “He still couldn’t put a dent in us. It is what it is, but come put pressure on then, and see what happens.

“That’s paying me dividends now. Look at who my next fight is. That was the turning point, I think, and I realized in that fight, it’s not about the flash. You don’t get points for that. You get points for punching the other man square in the face. That’s what I’m looking to do November 30. I’m going to make a big statement.

“I know Gwynne’s going to be ready. He’s going to be fit and he’s proven at that level. But I’m also trying to earn my stripes.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79