Unhappy Guido Vianello seeks new fight date after Martin Bakole snub
Six months after his career-enhancing stoppage win on Jaron Ennis' undercard in Philadelphia, Italian heavyweight Guido Vianello is beleaguered by the business of boxing.
He called out two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua post-fight for a 'clash at the Colliseum' after an entertaining five-round shootout with then-unbeaten Canadian heavyweight Alexis Barriere, stopping him in style.
A month later, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) opted for a lucrative matchup against YouTube star-turned-budding cruiserweight Jake Paul and Vianello (14-3-1, 12 KOs) has since waited for the right opportunity to cross his path.
Recency bias is ever-present in boxing and it's easy to forget that this time last year, the Italian dropped a wide 10-round decision against unbeaten talent Richard Torrez (14-0, 12 KOs), who boxes his first 12-rounder against Frank Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) in a final eliminator for the IBF world title on the Usyk-Verhoeven undercard May 23.
Vianello was slated to feature elsewhere on that card against another rebuilding heavyweight in Martin Bakole (21-2-1, 16 KOs), who is winless in his last two appearances and not looking like the divisional boogeyman many briefly deemed him as after breezing past then-unbeaten American talent Jared Anderson in five rounds in August 2024.
When it's put to him that Barriere (13-1, 11 KOs) has already begun his own career reset from a high-profile defeat by stopping Michigan's Robert Simms on a local Montreal show last month, he already knows what's coming.
"One week off after the Alexis fight and I was back in the gym. I've been training for six months, was ready to fight Bakole on the Usyk undercard but he pulled out and I'm very upset about this," he told The Ring.
"We can fight in July on a Ring card, there are many top-level heavyweights, just give me a fight. I don't care about money, management or other things, just want to fight."
Contracts were signed, at least on their end, and now a revised July 25 date tabled for the 31-year-old's return if not sooner, a source close to Vianello later relayed. Bakole is currently in dispute with BOXXER chief Ben Shalom surrounding the terms of his multi-fight deal tied to the promotion, who publicly stress he's still under contract.
"My manager Adam Morallee and Spencer Brown, we'll look to get Bakole again but if he doesn't wanna fight, I don't want to lose more time. Anybody, give me a name. I sparred eight rounds yesterday, I'm ready in May, June or July, as soon as possible. May 23 was a great fight card for me, it's very sad but I want any top-10 heavyweight."
Vianello is ranked No. 11 by the IBF and WBC, holding a regional title with the latter. Those above him with both sanctioning bodies want better opportunities or have planned other routes, meaning he's a high-risk, low-reward opponent especially having boxed the likes of Efe Ajagba, Arslanbek Makhmudov and Torrez in previous years.
When he's asked for his thoughts on Moses Itauma, he echoes Filip Hrgovic's sentiments on the 21-year-old.
"I saw his fight against Jermaine Franklin, yeah he's a good, fast and strong heavyweight but I want to see him against a tough guy who gives him more rounds, let's see what the future holds."
As for Hrgovic and the heavyweight merry-go-round which has him on the outside looking in after a career-best win?
"He's fighting Dave Allen and that's ridiculous, he should fight me instead. I didn't know about these issues before turning pro, it's really difficult to get a fight. I've been making relationships with everyone, feels like business rather than boxing, I'm in the line waiting and being told to be patient, just working on my mind and ready for anyone."
VIANELLO CALLS OUT BAKOLE OVER FIGHT PULL OUT 
