Third time lucky? Flynn & Vuong to end fierce feud
When boxers Cameron Vuong and Jordan Flynn-Dhanjal step into the same room, the tension rises.
In the past, insults and cheap jibes have been thrown and it has even turned physical on occasions with pushes at face-offs.
The two will compete for the vacant WBO European lightweight title on Friday night – the first professional title fight of both men's careers.
The pair have already been scheduled to fight on two other occasions, only for injuries to intervene, so this time they will hope for no last-minute complications.
"We just don't get on," Oxford's Flynn-Dhanjal, 28, told BBC Sport.
"I don't hate him but I dislike him, I don't like how he comes across."
The grudge will finally be settled when the two meet at Planet Ice in Altrincham as chief support to Olympian Pat Brown's professional debut.
"Jordan Flynn's career is coming to a stop after we fight," 22-year-old Vuong, from Blyth, told BBC Sport.
"It's going to be all over for him, he'll be back to small hall boxing shows or maybe not even boxing at all.
"I'm looking forward to just finishing his career to be honest because at his age he hasn't even achieved that much."
The pair were initially scheduled to fight in April 2024 but Vuong pulled out due to a shoulder injury.
The contest was rearranged for two months later but Flynn-Dhanjal suffered a knee injury that needed surgery in what he says was his final sparring session of camp.
"I've been hearing his name for over a year now," Flynn-Dhanjal said. "It's so annoying and I just want to get the fight done and dealt with.
"I just can't wait to be in the ring with him, I think they're looking at me as an easy touch and I quite like that because it is not going to be easy for them."
Flynn-Dhanjal is unbeaten as a professional with 11 wins and one draw, while Vuong has won each of his seven fights.
The two first faced off after Vuong fought and beat Ishmael Ellis in London in February 2024.
That confrontation ended in a push, which became a reoccurring theme when they came face to face in the build-up to their cancelled bouts.
"He's been doing a lot of talking so I'm looking forward to seeing if he can back it up on the night," Vuong added.
"He's going to get dealt [with], there's a dislike there but I try not to take it too personally, this is business for me.
"I feel like the first two times we were meant to fight I was a bit younger and a bit excited but now I've settled in as a professional and matured a bit. I'm looking forward to getting in there on Friday and teaching him a lesson."
A 'controversial' win over Gwynne and sparring with Stevenson
Since those two cancelled fights, Vuong has stayed busy, winning at Wembley Arena against Joe Underwood Hughes and more recently in a step up against Welshman Gavin Gwynne.
Vuong came out of that contest with the win but, as his unanimous decision victory was read out, boos rang out around the arena with many in attendance in disagreement with how the judges scored it.
His promoter Eddie Hearn even admitted on the night he felt Gwynne "edged the fight" and that he would like to "run it back".
"First and foremost it was a great fight," Vuong said.
"I believe I won it six rounds to four, it was close but if you check the record there is a big green W and a unanimous decision win for me.
"If Gavin wants it again then he can get it, I have never shied away from a fight in my life."
During his preparation for Friday's bout, Vuong was filmed sparring with WBC lightweight world champion and pound-for-pound ace Shakur Stevenson.
Stevenson is regarded by many as one of the top boxers in the world and arguably the best in his weight class at 135lbs.
He is a three-weight world champion and most recently defended his title against Briton Josh Padley in Saudi Arabia.
"It's not every day you get to share the ring with one of your favourite fighters," Vuong smiled.
"It was intense but a great experience, he shared some knowledge with us afterwards too, it was mad, crazy really.
"Doing that brings my game on a hell of a lot, it was great to pick his brains and see what he thinks. I aspire to be at that level and god-willing I will get there one day."
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