GARY LOCKETT is cautiously optimistic that a rematch between Gavin Gwynne and Cameron Vuong will take place later this year.
The rumour mill suggests a return bout sometime in 2025 after their first encounter in Birmingham last November. On that occasion, Vuong won a unanimous decision with scorecards of 96-95, 97-94, and 96-94 from judges Lee Every, Victor Loughlin, and Mark Lyson, respectively. However, the decision sparked controversy, with many observers believing Gwynne had done enough to win, having seemingly outworked Vuong over the 10 rounds.
After the fight, Vuong’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, shared his reaction on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel: “I think it was a very close fight. I gotta be honest, I always back my fighters but I thought Gavin Gwynne edged the fight 6-4.”
Gwynne, 35, hasn’t fought since the defeat to Vuong, but his trainer, Gary Lockett, revealed tentative plans to Boxing News.
“There’s a potential rematch on the table against Vuong. That’s what we’re told. I think the plan is that he and Vuong fight on the same promotion, or within a week of each other, in six-round fights. Then they announce the rematch in the ring and do it towards the end of the year,” Lockett said.
He added: “I’m sceptical, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it does happen.”
After their November fight, Lockett believed his fighter had done enough to win but sensed the decision would not go their way. When ring announcer David Diamante read out the scores, Vuong, who preserved his unbeaten record, dropped to his knees, roaring in delight at the victory. A chorus of boos from the crowd echoed their disapproval of the result.
Recalling that moment, Lockett said: “Gavin said, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I had you winning seven rounds, but you ain’t going to get it.’
“He went, ‘What? What do you mean?’ I said, ‘You’re not going to get this decision. Believe me.’ Afterwards, he said, ‘How did you know?’ I said, ‘Gavin, you’re an experienced guy. How many times have we seen this happen?’”
Scoring in boxing has long been a contentious issue. British boxing has seen its fair share of questionable decisions from ringside judges, and the fear of another controversial call looms every week. Lockett, 48, a former professional with 32 fights and a seasoned trainer, has witnessed plenty of unfair scoring that leaves a bitter taste.
“It’s just unfair. Why can’t they be a little bit fairer? Plenty of people like me have thought this in the past, and nothing ever seems to change. I don’t know if there’s a foolproof solution – I seriously doubt it because this has gone on forever,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Lockett remains dedicated to his fighters, including Gwynne, Rhys Edwards, and Joe Cordina. Looking ahead to a potential Vuong-Gwynne rematch, Lockett is confident in Gwynne’s abilities but acknowledges that Vuong – who has since left trainer Jamie Moore to work with Ben Davison – will likely improve from the experience of their first fight.
“Cameron will probably be better with a bit more experience next time. But I can guarantee you Gavin will be better too, because he’s getting better and better. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but this guy’s a machine. He’s absolutely relentless, and you can’t keep him off,” Lockett said.
