LAS VEGAS – Richard Torrez Jnr seemed to answer certain questions about how his height will play at heavyweight, taking a 10-round unanimous decision over Guido Vianello on Saturday at the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort.
The scores were 97-92, 98-91 and 98-91.
Torrez, a 25-year-old from Tulare, California, isn’t exactly a small fry at 6ft 2in. But compared to Vianello, who stands 6ft 6in – and, more importantly, most of the top competition in the heavyweight division – Torrez can be characterized as “undersized.” Just as notable was Vianello’s skill and pedigree as a 2016 Italian Olympian, making him Torrez’s stiffest test yet.
Torrez came out aggressively, prompting Vianello to hold on the inside. Referee Thomas Taylor warned Vianello for holding in the second, and a bit later in the round, he docked Vianello a point for it. It was clear early that Torrez’s effective pressure was too much for Vianello, who is limited on the inside. Vianello looked frustrated as Torrez pressed the action in Round 3, hoping to reward the fans who trekked from Tulare to watch him main-event a major boxing card.
Vianello, a 30-year-old from Rome, found some success forcing Torrez at the end of his punches in the fourth, but he took a big left hand seconds before the conclusion of the round. In the fifth, Vianello landed a right hand that appeared to daze Torrez, though Torrez responded with a right hook of his own. Vianello began to land more of his punches, exciting his corner into standing at every hint of success. Vianello put in more good work in the sixth, but Torrez landed eye-catching shots at the end of the round. As the fight went on, Vianello began to figure something out, landing more clean punches..
The seventh round concluded with Vianello landing a good right hand and the fighters clinching as the bell sounded. In the eighth, Vianello did a better job of using his length, but the fight was a stalemate. Torrez landed a big overhand left that forced Vianello to clinch. The crowd went wild, eager for a knockout. Not to be outdone, Vianello finished the round chasing Torrez, unloading right hands – some of which appeared to land.
Torrez unloaded on Vianello on the ropes to begin the ninth. Vianello clinched, repositioned himself and began to see the action in the middle of the ring. The 10th and final round saw Torrez land two big overhand lefts with a minute left in the round. The fight ended with Vianello going to the canvas in a ruled slip and the crowd chanting Torrez's name.
Torrez is now 13-0 (11 KOs). Vianello fell to 13-3-1 (11 KOs).
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.