It all started in London with an in-ring confrontation at the O2 Indigo in February. A couple of weeks later, Cameron Vuong and Jordan Flynn went nose-to-nose again at the press conference to officially announce their fight.
Then, after Vuong was forced to withdraw, the pair spent a couple of minutes shouting at each other in the ring at the Manchester Arena after Flynn won a keep-busy fight against Tempala Maharusi on April 13.
On Thursday this week, there was another face-to-face meeting as the pair met to announce their rescheduled fight. During fight week, there will doubtless be yet more exchanges of words and stares, on at least two or three occasions, before they finally look into each other’s eyes as the referee gives them their final instructions on fight night.
That will make a grand total of six – or maybe even seven – staredowns before Vuong (4-0, 3 KOs) and Flynn (10-0-1, 1 KO) eventually meet in Birmingham, England, on June 22.
That may be standard for the type of event that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is headlining in Las Vegas this weekend but Vuong-Flynn is a good 10-round undercard fight between two promising but inexperienced fighters who have their entire careers in front of them.
We are constantly told that boxing needs to reach a place where defeats don’t matter and where fights like this become the rule rather than the exception but by the time Vuong and Flynn walk to the ring, the long, force-fed build up will mean that the result of their fight will matter far more to people outside of their immediate circles than it should.
Regardless, if Vuong proves to have too much variety and speed for the skilled and ambitious Flynn, then it will be the first concrete indication that he may just be as good as those around him suggest. If Flynn can make it through some inevitable rocky spells to impose his will on the talented but untested 21-year-old, good for him.
Instead, the over-saturation will mean that fans will instantly assign the fighters new roles.
If Flynn loses he will have “found his level” just 12 fights into his career. If Vuong loses, he will be a “hype job” who’s next fight might then decide his entire future.
It shouldn’t be like that. Vuong will be a sizeable favourite on fight night but whatever happens, both fighters will learn plenty and be better for the rounds they do share.
Circumstances have dictated that Vuong and Flynn have seen so much of each other and - when they aren’t in each other’s company - they seem like good lads who are surrounded by experienced, knowledgeable teams and good people who will help them keep things in perspective.
But while it would be wrong to suggest that such attention so early in a career can give all fighters delusions of grandeur, it could easily - and understandably - lead someone of a certain mindset to believe that they are further along in their careers than they actually are. This can in turn cause trainers and managers to be overly careful with matching the fighter as they feel pressure to protect a potential future star. Which results in the fighter spending less time in front of the public. Which restricts their box office appeal. Which restricts their growth. It is an ever-decreasing circle.
Sometimes, less is more.
But back to the fight which is an excellent match and an outstanding test for both fighters.
Vuong has looked electric in flashes. He trains under Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis in Manchester and his gym-mates and manager, Sam Jones, are utterly convinced that he has what it takes to reach the very top. He only turned professional seven months ago but he has looked composed and imaginative and in possession of the type of hand speed that can take a fighter through the levels.
“I believe I’m the best prospect in British boxing. Point blank, period. I can talk, I look good and I can fight for fun,” he said.
“I just think I’m gonna outclass him. I’m better than him across the board. if he wants to stand in the pocket and fight, I’ll out-dog him. If he wants to box at range, he might as well be shadow boxing because he’s not gonna hit me. I’m excited to embarrass this fool and move on. Jordan Flynn to me is just a stepping stone. I know I’m destined for big things. I don’t just want to win world titles, i wanna be a star in this sport and God willing, that’s what I’ll do.”
Flynn, 28, can be a tidy, aggressive box fighter who picks his punches nicely but his lack of power means that his opponents are willing to hold their feet and trade with him. So far, Flynn’s skills have enabled him to get the better of the majority of those exchanges and stay unbeaten but it is something he will need to be wary of against a sharp combination puncher like Vuong.
“I’m really looking forward to this one. He pulled out a couple of weeks ago with a fake injury so hopefully - this time - there are no more injuries,” Flynn said. “It’s weird because he was talking about playing with me with one hand. He had one hand and didn’t want to play any more. He disappeared. “
“I believe I’m a better fighter than him. He’s had four fights and he’s not been tested. He’s boxed four journeymen. The last guy I boxed was better than anyone he’s boxed.
“I feel like I’m a better fighter. He’s won the ABA’s but other than that he’s done nothing. I don’t see what’s so special.
“I think his boxing is overrated too. All this hype has come from Sam Jones about him being the next big thing but we’ve not actually seen the proof of that.
“Hopefully he turns up this time.”