Guido Vianello’s Victory and Aspirations
Guido Vianello, an Italian heavyweight boxer, made a significant impact this past Saturday by defeating Alexis Barriere in the fifth round during the undercard of the Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima event at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Callout to Anthony Joshua
Following this impressive victory, Vianello expressed his desire for a showdown with British boxing star Anthony Joshua, who was in attendance at the event along with his promoter, Eddie Hearn. “
It would be a dream to face AJ at the Colosseum
” Vianello conveyed to Uncrowned after the match. He highlighted the historic nature of such a venue, emphasizing the unique appeal of bringing a modern boxing spectacle to a place steeped in ancient combat history.
“
We need a big name to make this happen, and Joshua is that name in Italy. Whether it’s in Rome or anywhere else like Riyadh or London, I want to prove myself against him. He deserves a challenging opponent
” Vianello added.
Context of the Heavyweight Division
Although Joshua has a towering reputation as Europe’s premier boxing figure, his matches have predominantly taken place within the UK, making a Colosseum bout an extraordinary prospect. Vianello’s callout comes amid a backdrop of increased activity among fighters seeking to face Joshua, particularly following his loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Vianello’s Career Progression
Vianello, who is 31 years old, is not alone in pursuing a clash with Joshua; fellow heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov also expressed interest after his victory over Dave Allen on the same night as Vianello’s win. “
People are talking about Makhmudov now, but I defeated him in seven rounds last year
” Vianello remarked, asserting that he represents a tougher challenge for Joshua than others in the division. In their previous encounter, Vianello delivered a commanding performance against Makhmudov, ending the fight prematurely in the eighth round after inflicting significant damage.
Defining Moments and Future Aspirations
This past fight against Barriere marked a career-defining moment for Vianello, whose experience as a former amateur standout is beginning to translate into success in the professional arena. Vianello credited his experience, acknowledging the value gained from facing higher-level opponents in the past. “
This win is the pinnacle so far, and it shows how I’ve evolved as a boxer and a person
” said Vianello, who had to overcome an early struggle against Barriere’s speed in the early rounds. However, with strategic adjustments made over the course of the fight, he ultimately seized the momentum.
While Vianello aspires to mingle with the elite names in heavyweight boxing, including both Joshua and young prodigy Moses Itauma, he also has his sights set on avenging a past defeat to Efe Ajagba. Ajagba recently withdrew from a significant fight due to financial issues, leaving the door open for Vianello to seek a rematch against him as well.
Conclusion
As the heavyweight division continues to evolve, Vianello’s ambitions highlight the competitive spirit and desire for prominent matchups among the new generation of fighters. With noteworthy aspirations and a determined mindset, he is poised to cement his place among the elites in boxing’s most illustrious weight class.
