By Shaun Brown

The spotlight may be on the likes of Lee Selby, Nathan Cleverly and Callum Smith during Matchroom Boxing’s ‘Second Coming’ show in Cardiff on Sat night but if their first fight is anything to go by, the lightweight rematch between fellow Welshmen Gavin Rees 37-4-1 (18) and Gary Buckland 28-3 (9) will once again steal all the headlines.

Their first bout back at the beginning of February was an all-out 12-round war. The body shots that both exchanged made you wince and the punishment that both men took for our pleasure produced, arguably, the British fight of the year which saw Buckland prevail with a split decision victory.

Speaking to BoxingScene after the final press conference for the show on Thurs, Buckland recalled how much that night took out of him the day after.

“Without a word of a lie, I couldn’t get out of bed. To get out of bed I had to roll over, fall out of bed and then stand up. That lasted for two days and I was even in pain about a week afterwards. I took a lot of body shots from Gavin that night. A fight like that you get old overnight.”

Rees, the former WBA World light welterweight champion, has said that this contest will be the last of a professional career that began in 1998. So does Buckland see the rematch being easier or harder because of this?

“I think it makes it easier for him because he’s got nothing to lose now. He’s gonna go out and give it his all and whatever happens, happens. With me I’ve got places to go afterwards, I’ve got to look good. All the pressure’s on me.

“This is a good fight. A good fight for the fans and there’s more out there for me like one with Anthony Crolla, Tommy Coyle and there’s Richard Commey who holds the Commonwealth lightweight title with 14 knockouts. We would’ve took that fight but this one came up. I’m not under contract with anybody so hopefully if I can get myself a win and I can sign up with Eddie Hearn.”

Buckland, nicknamed ‘Dynamo’, kept the answer short and sweet when ‘Scene asked him if the rematch would simply begin with round 13 or whether the fans should expect something different.

“Well I’m not gonna change anything I’m just going to fight my how I always fight, go forward and take it to him. If he wants to change things up that’s down to him. I’m ready for another war.”

Please send news and views to sbrownboxing@gmail.com or @shaun_brown on Twitter.