A new climb toward bigger opportunities or a painful drop down the heavyweight ranks? This Saturday’s bout could prove crucial in defining the next steps of Guido Vianello’s career in the United States. The “Gladiator” will face the undefeated Canadian Alexis Barriere at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, on the undercard of Jaron Ennis’ highly anticipated debut at super welterweight.
Despite being 30 years old, Barriere hasn’t accumulated much experience in the professional ranks so far, having fought only twelve bouts, mostly against soft and untested opponents. Nevertheless, the Canadian is not to be underestimated, especially given his high KO ratio (83.3%), which suggests he carries respectable power.
Another tricky factor is style. Barriere isn’t a static, stiff heavyweight who loads every punch with maximum force like Efe Ajagba or Arslanbek Makhmudov—two opponents against whom Vianello performed well by using his footwork to confuse them. Instead, Barriere tends to weigh in lighter than the average modern heavyweight, which makes him noticeably more agile.
One more potential obstacle for the Italian is the venue factor. The card is promoted by Matchroom Boxing (Eddie Hearn), which manages Barriere, while Vianello is under contract with Top Rank (Bob Arum). Therefore, it’s unlikely Guido will benefit from any “home” advantage.
That said, the Italian has good reasons to believe in his chances. Above all, his greater experience at a higher level could make the difference: he’s already been tested in tough and uncertain fights, has handled adversity, injuries, and complex tactical scenarios—assets that could give him the edge in key moments.
While Barriere’s fundamentals are solid, he doesn’t shine for creativity or variety. His boxing is straightforward and somewhat repetitive—traits that could make him readable for a technically sound boxer like Vianello, who’s surely crafted a specific game plan to neutralize the Canadian’s strengths.
All in all, this looks like a 50/50 fight, as reflected by the odds: Barriere is the slight favorite, but not by an insurmountable margin (1.68 vs 2.15).