At the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada, Italian boxer Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (13-2-1, 11 KOs) delivered a true masterpiece, thoroughly dominating Russia’s Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov (19-2-0, 18 KOs) and winning by technical knockout at the beginning of the eighth round. After his impressive performance four months ago against Efe Ajagba, this victory, achieved against the odds set by bookmakers, further certifies the rapid rise of the Roman heavyweight, who can now legitimately dream big.
From the first round, which was fairly balanced, the difference in approach between the two fighters became clear. While Makhmudov, much more static, relentlessly sought the power punch, Vianello focused on speed, moving quickly on his feet and launching his swift combinations at just the right moments.
However, the second and third rounds showed that the Gladiator also had the power needed to trouble the Russian giant. At the beginning of both rounds, Makhmudov was caught by a punch in the center of the ring and quickly retreated to the ropes, clearly showing signs of being in difficulty. Vianello’s right hands, in particular, became a nightmare for the Lion, whose left eye soon began to show the effects of the ongoing bombardment.
After a fourth round characterized by Makhmudov’s desperate and erratic attacks—all neutralized by Vianello, who skillfully dodged them and countered with precision—the ringside doctor came into play, taking on a crucial role in the next three rounds. The doctor was first called by referee Albert Padulo Jr. at the start of the fifth round to examine Makhmudov’s now completely closed eye. Instead of conducting a thorough assessment of the fighter’s vision, the doctor simply exchanged a few words with him before allowing the fight to continue.
The unusual and frankly questionable behavior of the doctor continued during the next minute’s break, when he approached the Russian’s corner and appeared, as suggested by the footage, to inform them that he would only allow one more round. This incident brings to mind the historic “one more round” moment with Rocky Marciano, who, bleeding heavily from his nose, managed to knock out the formidable Ezzard Charles in the last three minutes granted by the referee. Such anecdotes are meant to remain in history but should not recur in modern boxing, where a doctor’s role is strictly to assess the real-time health of the fighters without making predictions about how many rounds they can still handle.
Regardless, Makhmudov was allowed to fight for two more rounds, during which he endured a brutal beating. The Russian, now visibly blind in one eye, courageously tried to overturn the increasingly dire situation, but Vianello’s punches rained down on him from all directions with devastating effects. In the seventh round, the Italian boxer even scored a knockdown, forcing his opponent to touch the canvas with both gloves after a powerful blow in the center of the ring. However, the referee missed it and did not initiate a count.
At the start of the eighth round, the massacre was finally halted, but even then, the ringside doctor’s conduct raised questions. He approached Makhmudov’s corner in what appeared to be a preemptive request for permission to stop the fight. Only after a brief discussion with the Russian’s team did he return to his station, examine the fighter, and inform the referee of the final decision.
What we witnessed was not edifying. Makhmudov was no longer able to fight safely from the end of the fourth round, and all the heavy blows he endured in the following minutes without even seeing them coming should have been spared him. The fighter’s corner, the doctor, and the referee did not act correctly, and it’s important to stress that this approach can have serious consequences and should be firmly and decisively condemned by those who write about boxing.
The controversies surrounding the delayed stoppage of the defeated fighter should not, however, overshadow the stellar performance of the winner, who fought a truly superb fight. In addition to the excellent footwork and hand speed he has shown in recent outings, Vianello displayed significant improvements in his inside punches. His right hand, which in the past often followed wide trajectories and sometimes struck with the inside of the glove at the expense of effectiveness, was absolutely decisive this time for securing the victory.
At exactly 30 years old, the Italian boxer seems to have reached full sporting maturity, but he may not have yet reached the peak of his trajectory. The determination and desire to learn that he has consistently demonstrated since deciding to leave Italy and make his way in the United States are his winning weapons. The hope of all Italian boxing fans is that these qualities will lead him to fulfill his dream and one day fight for the world title.