Joshua John, 10-2, has revealed that his British and Commonwealth bantamweight title fight with Andrew Cain is off.

The fight was due to support Nick Ball’s maiden defense of his WBA featherweight title against Ronny Rios which takes place in Liverpool on October 5. 

Cain, 12-1 (11 KOs), won the title by stopping Ash Lane in brutal fashion in July and was set for a quick first defense in front of his home town fans against the 29-year-old Welshman. 

The fight didn’t appear on September’s board circular and BoxingScene has learned that the British Boxing Board of Control rejected the fight.

The destructive Cain will instead fight Colombia’s Lazaro Casseres, 11-1 (4 KOs), for the vacant WBC International Silver bantamweight title. 

The fight would have been a major step up for John but he spoke confidently at the press conference to announce the fight and posted the following on Facebook to voice his heartbreak at missing out on the opportunity:

“I AM SORRY TO HAVE TO WRITE THIS TO EVERYONE WHO’S BOOKED HOTELS ETC IT’S OUT OF MY HANDS. 140 PEOPLE HAVE BOOKED HOTELS AND I AM SORRY ABOUT THIS. 

“I can’t believe my fight has officially been called off. I feel like I haven’t just wasted this training camp, but I’ve wasted 20 years of my life. I’ve trained my whole life for this opportunity, and now, with only two weeks left, it’s been taken away from me. I know I would’ve won that fight, and it would’ve changed my life and my family’s life—that’s the only reason I do this sport. After everything I’ve sacrificed and missed out on, it feels like it’s all been for nothing, and no one has even given me a proper explanation.

“First, they questioned my credibility, which we proved was more than good enough. Then, they brought up my weight, but that wasn’t a problem either. I weighed nine stone at my check weigh-in eight weeks out, and I was eight stone 10 four weeks out, perfectly on super bantam. Today, I’m basically on weight - bantamweight. So, the weight wasn’t the issue.

“Then they decided the belts wouldn’t be on the line, but I even accepted that, agreeing to fight over 10 rounds at super bantam. I said I’d fight him at any weight at this point because I’ve done my training, made the weight, and regardless of what weight it was at, I know I’d beat him. And now, with only two weeks left, I get a phone call saying the fight is off. No explanation.

“I don’t know if it’s the boxing board or the other team, but either way, they don’t want the fight because they know I was bringing that title back to Wales, and I was the one in fear mind. 

“Honestly, I don’t even know what to say. This sport feels like a joke. All the money I’ve spent and the training I’ve done, not just for this fight, but for the last 20 years, has been for nothing. I’m nearly 30 now, and if I’m not allowed to fight for titles like this at this stage, when will I ever be? I don’t know who’s responsible, and frankly, I don’t care. Whoever it is, it’s pathetic to take someone’s dream away with no valid reason.

“I’ve done everything they asked. I did the press conference, the locked-in episode, and everything else. I was ready to fight Andrew Cain at any weight, for any title, and still, it’s not enough. If you’re dedicating your life to this sport right now, I’d seriously sit back and think hard about it—because it’s not what it seems.

“I am absolutely speechless and don’t know what to do with this sport from now on.”

One fight which does seem certain to take place is an interesting clash between unbeaten hot prospect, Cameron Vuong, and Welsh veteran, Gavin Gwynne. 

Although there has been no official word yet, it is believed that the fight will form part of the undercard of the eagerly awaited flyweight fight between former IBF champion, Sunny Edwards, and unbeaten 2020 Olympic Gold medallist, Galal Yafai, in Birmingham on November 30th.

A fight would take place at 139lbs.

Vuong, 6-0 (3 KOs), took a short notice opportunity and beat Joe Underwood Hughes over eight hastily arranged rounds at the open workout to promote last week’s world title fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. 

The 22-year-old has been a professional for just under a year but his team believe he has what it takes to move quickly and boxing the tough former British lightweight champion, Gwynne, in just his seventh professional fight is a clear display of their faith in his ability.

Gwynne, 17-3-1 (5 KOs), has been desperate for a chance to redeem himself after suffering a comprehensive defeat to Mark Chamberlain in Saudi Arabia back in March. The Welshman spent years waiting for the chance to break out but his big night went badly wrong within seconds when virtually the first shot Chamberlain landed caused his eye to swell dramatically. The 34 year-old found it impossible to see the shots coming and was stopped in the fourth round. 

That defeat apart, Gwynne was a big strong, relentless lightweight and should benefit from the move up in weight. 

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