Gavin Gwynne and Cameron Vuong are just days away from meeting on the undercard of the WBC interim flyweight title fight between Sunny Edwards and Galal Yafai in Birmingham.
The intriguing fight is filled with jeopardy on both sides.
Vuong is taking a calculated gamble by fighting a former British, Commonwealth and European lightweight champion in just his seventh fight whilst Gwynne knows that losing to such an inexperienced prospect would deal a catastrophic blow to his career.
After suffering a disappointing defeat to Mark Chamberlain in March, Gwynne was looking for a way back. He wasn’t expecting it to come against 22-year-old Vuong, 6-0 (3 KOs).
He jumped at the opportunity but, when he put the phone down and sat quietly to think about the fight, was he delighted to have been offered such an attractive route back to prominence, surprised that Vuong’s team had singled him out as the opponent to take their man to the next level or insulted that having accomplished so much, he had been hand picked as a beatable target?
“A little bit of all of them,” Gwynne, 17-3-1 (5 KOs), told BoxingScene. “I just wanted a fight. I wanted to get out. I was speaking with my manager, Lee Eaton, and I could have boxed on a small show, sold tickets and come up against a boy who I knew I was going to beat.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get up for training for that. I said to him ‘Look, I want a 50/50 fight.’
“The last fight [against Chamberlain], I got injured by the first punch. After 40 seconds I couldn’t see a thing so I was just unlucky but I said to him that I didn’t want to go back down the levels. I want a tidy fight. He was just putting the feelers out everywhere and then obviously Cameron Vuong called me out.”
While Gwynne and Vuong are polar opposites in terms of both personality and boxing style, Vuong’s ambition and willingness to test himself have struck a chord with the 34-year-old Welshman.
Although he is the far more accomplished of the two, that admiration has driven Gwynne on in training. Rather than allowing the vast gulf in experience and professional achievements to infiltrate his thinking, Gwynne is well aware that things could quickly run away from him if Vuong is allowed to find his groove.
“You’ve got to respect him because he’s only 6-0 and he’s willing to step up against me. I’ve probably had about 12 or 13 title fights where you’ve only had six fights,” he said.
“He’s young, he’s hungry. It’s a proper 50/50 and that’s the way I’m treating it because I could overlook him and then he could beat me quite easily.
“I’m not overlooking him. He’s young and hungry like I was a few years ago. He’s talented, obviously. I give him my props because not many not many fighters or prospects at 6-0 go in against a fighter of my caliber. I’m a Welsh, British, Commonwealth and European champion. He’s willing to step up and fair play to him but I only can see one winner.”
Gwynne is right to be treating Vuong carefully.
In the past, he has been given trouble by quick sharpshooters and movement. Joe Cordina outpointed him back in 2019 whilst Italian veteran, Emiliano Marsili, outboxed him during the early rounds of their European title fight before running out of steam under Gwynne’s constant pressure. The fast, accurate punching of Chamberlain also gave Gwynne issues he was unable to solve, although the eye damage he picked up during the opening moments of the fight undoubtedly hindered him.
Gwynne has dragged more experienced fighters than Vuong into the trenches and also has first hand evidence that his chosen approach could reap dividends.
In June, Vuong was taken 10 rounds by the gritty, resolute Jeff Ofori and had to bite down on his mouthpiece and battle through a tough final couple of rounds.
Gwynne may have to negotiate some tricky moments but if he can impose himself early enough, he could be able to take Vuong to places he’s never been. The 139lb weight limit could also play into the hands of the 6ft tall veteran.
“100 per cent. I’ve just got to stay switched on. He’s obviously young and he’s sharp but as long as I just stick to the game plan and the things we’ve been working on,” he said.
“Obviously, Jeff Ofori is a decent fighter but he’s gonna be more up for this fight with me because he knows what level of fighter I am and the way I fight. Jeff Ofori’s a lot smaller than me – he’s probably half the size of the man I am – so he’s gonna be more up for the fight. I’m preparing for the best Cameron Vuong.
“I’ve just got to be the ‘Merthyr Mexican’. Maximum violence. I know what his game plan’s gonna be. In the media he’s probably gonna say, ‘I’m gonna stand and trade with him’ but, no, he’s not. When he feels how strong I am inside – I spar welterweights and they can’t keep me off – so he’s not gonna stand and trade with me, that’s one thing for sure. He’s gonna try and keep it long and try and outbox me but that ain’t gonna happen. I’m super confident going into this fight.”
Gwynne still has plenty of ambition left but is acutely aware of the consequences of defeat. He hasn’t banished the thought or attempted to downplay the importance of the fight, he knows exactly what is at stake this weekend.
“All my focus is on Cameron Vuong now because this is a must win fight for me. I’m at the stage in my career now where if I had a loss, I’ve gotta try and build myself back up and it’d take a long time so I need to get this win. It’s a must win fight for myself.”
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
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