The main event of the Top Rank card promoted by Bob Arum at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas did not go as Italian boxing fans had hoped. Our own Guido Vianello was defeated on points by American Richard Torrez Jr., and his dream of becoming a contender for a world title has taken a serious hit. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Torrez: 97-92, 98-91, and 98-91.
The difference early on came from the American’s physical strength and his effectiveness in close quarters. Torrez lunged forward with aggression and repeatedly freed his arms in the clinch to land short punches on the inside—blows that Vianello struggled to neutralize.
Unable to handle his opponent’s relentless pressure and lacking effective answers to stop his surges at close range, Vianello was forced to clinch far too often. Referee Thomas Taylor penalized him one point in the second round—perhaps a bit harshly—for excessive holding.
Vianello showed some signs of life in the third round, finally landing a few clean shots as Torrez slightly eased off the gas, but the American quickly regained control of the action.
The Gladiator tried to adopt a counterpunching strategy, waiting for openings, but he struggled with timing and distance. And when he finally attempted to press forward late in the fourth round, he walked into a dangerous counter right hook.
The fifth round was arguably Vianello’s best. Torrez slowed down, and the Italian landed a series of clean punches at mid-ring that seemed to bother the American. But Vianello failed to build momentum, and the moment passed without follow-up.
After the halfway point, the bout became messy and fragmented, with both fighters losing sharpness and often getting tangled in clinches. Still, it was Torrez who remained in control, owning the center of the ring and constantly pushing Vianello toward the ropes—albeit in a somewhat chaotic fashion.
The final rounds again belonged to the American. Despite suffering a nasty cut near his right eye, Torrez stayed focused and continued to be dangerous with his heavy hooks. Vianello made a brave attempt to rally in the last round, standing his ground in center ring and exchanging punches, but his efforts went unrewarded. On the contrary, he absorbed several heavy shots, which he nonetheless took well thanks to his solid chin.
In this writer’s view, the judges made the correct call. Vianello didn’t win more than two or three rounds and thus clearly came up short in this fight.
Looking at history, one could draw a bold comparison between Vianello’s loss and that of Italian fighter Alfio Righetti in 1977 against Leon Spinks. On that occasion too, our traveling countryman was overwhelmed by the American’s nonstop pressure and couldn’t halt his momentum with counters that proved ineffective.
In Vianello’s case, however, the issue wasn’t power as much as a lack of coordination and timing needed to catch his opponent on the way in. Torrez’s footwork—far quicker than that of Vianello’s recent opponents—posed an unsolvable puzzle for the Italian, whose usual height and reach advantages were effectively neutralized.
It’s hard to say how far the American brawler can go after this win. His tempo, aggression, and effectiveness at close range make him a nightmare for many of today’s slow and predictable heavyweights. On the other hand, his wild style could backfire if he ends up facing a quick and powerful counterpuncher.
As for Vianello, it’s crucial he doesn’t fall into despair after this setback. He’s about to turn 31, which in today’s boxing landscape—especially among heavyweights—is not old. With the right mindset and the right matchmaking, he can still find success and bring joy to the Italian fans who will no doubt continue to support him in his upcoming battles.