Anthony Joshua challenged by Italian heavyweight Guido Vianello to Colosseum fight in Rome

Guido Vianello, fresh off the biggest win of his career, has Anthony Joshua in his sights.

Italy’s Vianello stopped Alexis Barriere in Round 5 on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima undercard this past Saturday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After his upset victory, Vianello called out British star Joshua, with Joshua’s promoter — Eddie Hearn — listening from just a few feet away.

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“I would love to fight with AJ,” Vianello told Uncrowned following his win. “And I would love to do this in the Colosseum, because it’s not just a fight. We [will] change the world. [There has never been] a fight in the Colosseum, but we need AJ to do this because we need a big name. We need a big star here in Italy to do this.

“It’s my dream. I want to fight with him [in the Colosseum], but [anywhere] I can fight with Joshua, in Riyadh, in London — let’s just make the fight because Joshua deserves a big opponent, a tough opponent.”

Joshua is the biggest boxing star in Europe, but has never fought in any European country outside of his native U.K. A boxing match at the Colosseum in Rome would be nothing short of a spectacle — the same stone walls that once witnessed the brutality of ancient combat now framing a modern-day clash as Joshua battles for the survival of his career at the top level when he returns to action in early 2026.

Vianello, 31, wasn’t the only fighter to call out the former unified champion this past weekend either. Hearn promoted two shows on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and fighters on both cards called out the sporting star, including Arslanbek Makhmudov who defeated Dave Allen by unanimous decision in a brutal heavyweight fight in Sheffield, England, just a few hours before Vianello’s own triumph.

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“Everybody is talking about Makhmudov now, but I beat Makhmudov in seven rounds,” Vianello said. “Joshua cannot fight with him because he’s an easy fight for Joshua. Joshua is a champion, so Joshua needs a tough opponent, and I’m here for this.”

Vianello upset Makhmudov in August 2024 with a dominant performance from the Italian. An array of right hands damaged Makhmudov’s left eye in the third round, and after Vianello began to hurt Makhmudov in the seventh, the ringside doctor called off the bout at the beginning of the eighth.

It was the Russian’s second stoppage defeat in the space of eight months, and many ruled out Makhmudov’s chances at the top level for the foreseeable future — though with his latest triumph over Allen, Makhmudov may well have put himself in a prime position for a shot at another big fight.

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Vianello, like Barriere, was a top amateur, but his experience in the pro ranks proved to be the difference this past Saturday. Although the Italian only has a few more bouts to his name, Vianello has already shared the ring with Efe Ajagba, Makhmudov and Richard Torrez Jr., while Barriere — despite gaining notoriety for sparring Tyson Fury — has feasted off lower-level competition in his career.

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“I think [Barriere is] the best win of my career, because I know a lot of things now,” Vianello said. “Everything is different. You could see it in my face Saturday night, I was different. I was a different boxer, a different man. So this is the best [moment] of my career.”

Vianello got the better of the opening round against Barriere, however the momentum changed in Round 2. Barriere was able to land southpaw left hands with consistency on Vianello’s chin and capitalize on his speed advantage. There were reminiscences of the Torrez Jr. fight in the second and third frames for Vianello, but the Italian was determined not to let that last.

“I started the first round very hard, so in the Rounds 2 and 3, I was just taking the timing, just understanding what I have to do, rest a little bit,” he said. “But I knew that I could knock [Barriere] out, so I was waiting for the right round. In the corner [before Round 4], my coach told me, ‘Let’s start now. Don’t lose time.’ So Round 4, I started to fight.”

While Vianello and Joshua, 2016 and 2012 Olympians respectively, represent the current crop at heavyweight, the future still looks bright for boxing’s blue ribbon division with Moses Itauma leading the charge. Itauma’s promoter, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, has struggled to find willing opposition for the 20-year-old after his opening-round finish of Dillian Whyte this past August. Vianello, however, would be more than happy to share the ring with the young star.

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“I would [fight Itauma],” Vianello said. “I want a tough opponent. I want a big opponent like my last four opponents. I want to fight everybody, Itauma too.

“I respect [Itauma]. He is very strong. He has good technique. He is a really strong boxer, so I respect him. He’s good, so let’s see what we can do.”

Outside of Joshua and Itauma, Vianello hopes to avenge his split decision loss to Ajagba.

Ajagba recently withdrew from an IBF final eliminator against Frank Sanchez for financial reasons and doesn’t yet have his next foe lined up.

“I’m not happy with [how the Ajagba fight went],” Vianello said. “I dream of the second round with Efe every day, so yeah the rematch with Efe would be very nice, but you know all the names before me in the rankings are good for a fight. I am the No. 15 [in the IBF], so all the 14 names before me are good for a fight for me.”