The first fight of the new year was always going to be a step up in class for Guido Vianello.

A different opponent than expected is of no concern to the unbeaten heavyweight, whose mission remains the same.

“I’m ready for a big step for my career, it doesn’t matter if it’s a boxer, a puncher or whoever,” Vianello told krikya360.com. “I want to show that I can become a contender.”

Italy’s Vianello was able to make the adjustment in camp, as he is set for his crossroads bout with veteran spoiler Jonathan Rice. Their scheduled ten-round bout will serve as the ESPN-televised co-feature on Saturday evening from Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

Vianello inherited Rice (15-6-1, 10KOs) as an opponent after originally scheduled Stephan Shaw (18-0, 13KOs) was elevated to the main event where he will face Efe Ajagba in a ten-round bout. The switch was officially announced roughly three weeks out, though it mattered less who was in the opposite corner as long as it was in line with his immediate goals.

“This step up for me is necessary, even though it comes against a different style,” admitted Vianello, a 2016 Olympian for Italy who now trains out of Las Vegas. “Jonnie Rice is perfect for this point in my career. I train hard all the time for every fight. I always have hard sparring and hard training, so I was going to be prepared no matter what.

“That said, I was training for Stephan Shaw who is a very good boxer and who can punch. Jonnie Rice is a very different style. So, my coach changed a few things but not the hard work. I was already training for a war. This fight is a war to me.”

The bout represents the first scheduled ten-rounder for Vianello (10-0-1, 9KOs). It comes less than three months after going the full eight-round distance for the first time in a homecoming win over Jay McFarlane last October 28 in Roma, Italy. The 6’6” heavyweight prospect only fought beyond the fourth round one other time in his career prior to that—a six-round, majority draw with Kingsley Ibeh in October 2020.

Saturday’s clash with Rice is viewed as his toughest test to date, even with Rice brought in as a late opponent. Still, he feels that the foundation was established long ago to prepare for such moments.

“I sparred ten rounds with [interim WBO heavyweight titlist] Joe Joyce two years ago,” noted Vianello. “I don’t like to brag about myself. I prefer to prove it in the ring. But I’ve always trained hard, whether for six rounds or ten.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox