Moses Jolly Faces Guido Vianello at the O2, Swansea 2026

Key Points

• Swansea-born heavyweight Moses Jolly will face world-ranked Italian Guido Vianello at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
• Jolly accepted the fight with around two weeks’ notice after Vianello’s scheduled opponent, David Adeleye, left Queensberry Promotions.
• Jolly is unbeaten at 12-0, with eight of his wins coming inside the distance.
• Vianello has a 14-3-1 professional record, including 12 knockouts, and is ranked 12th by the IBF and 14th by the WBC, according to Swansea Bay News.
• The eight-round heavyweight bout will feature on the undercard of Moses Itauma’s fight with Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
• Jolly has described himself as the underdog but believes he can win, while his manager Mickey Helliot called the contest a calculated risk and said Jolly wants to win rather than simply perform well.
• Vianello’s notable victories include stoppages of Arslanbek Makhmudov and Alexis Barriere.
• The event is scheduled to be broadcast live on DAZN pay-per-view.

Swansea (Wales Times) August 25, 2026 – The 30-year-old Welshman will meet Vianello in an eight-round heavyweight contest on the undercard of Moses Itauma’s IBF title fight against Filip Hrgovic. The bout gives Jolly an opportunity to move from regional recognition in Wales to a much larger international audience.

The most significant development is that unbeaten uk/local/swansea/">Swansea heavyweight Moses Jolly has accepted the biggest test of his professional career, facing world-ranked Italian Guido Vianello at The O2 Arena in London on August 29, 2026, after taking the contest on approximately two weeks’ notice.

As reported by Swansea Bay News, Jolly said he accepted the contest because remaining active was preferable to waiting for another opportunity. The outlet reported that Jolly had recently beaten Will Howe on points and was offered the Vianello fight after David Adeleye’s departure from Queensberry Promotions left the Italian without an opponent.

“They gave us two weeks’ notice and we thought we’d take the fight,” Jolly told Swansea Bay News. “It’s better to stay active than not to stay active.”

Jolly added that opportunities of this scale could not easily be ignored. “In this sport, when you get offered an opportunity like this, it’s silly not to take it, really,” he said, according to the Swansea publication.

Why Is Moses Jolly Taking the Fight?

Jolly enters the contest with an unbeaten record of 12 victories and no defeats or draws. Eight of his wins have come by knockout, giving him a reported 67 per cent stoppage rate.

His most recent fight took place in May at Neath Sports Centre, where he defeated Middlesbrough’s Will Howe over eight rounds. Swansea Bay News reported that the victory was important preparation because it placed Jolly under pressure and gave him experience of a difficult professional contest.

Jolly, who uses the nickname “The Native”, grew up in Swansea’s Townhill and Mayhill areas. The fight at The O2 is expected to provide a considerably larger platform than many of his previous appearances, although he has previously boxed at Cardiff Arena.

Jolly acknowledged that Vianello has greater experience at a higher level. However, he said the circumstances would not change his approach to the contest.

“I view myself being the underdog but also coming out on top,” Jolly told Swansea Bay News. “It’s just making sure to not get carried away with things, and you know you have a job to do.”

He also rejected the idea that simply competing well would be enough. Jolly said he had not entered professional boxing to pursue easy challenges and claimed he had complete confidence in his ability.

What Is Vianello’s Record?

Guido Vianello, 32, has a professional record of 14-3-1, with 12 victories by knockout. The Italian is known as “The Gladiator” and is regarded as a significant step up for Jolly because of his experience against higher-level opposition.

Swansea Bay News reported that Vianello is ranked 12th in the world by the International Boxing Federation and 14th by the World Boxing Council. Boxing News Online also identified Vianello as a contender seeking to return to the heavyweight title picture.

Vianello’s record includes a stoppage victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in August 2024. Boxing News Online described that win as an important result, while Swansea Bay News identified it as the best victory of Vianello’s career.

The Italian also stopped Alexis Barriere in the fifth round last October. FightMag reported that the victory followed Vianello’s defeat by Richard Torrez Jr, while Swansea Bay News noted that Vianello’s other losses came against established opponents.

His defeats include a split-decision loss to Efe Ajagba, a unanimous-decision defeat against Richard Torrez Jr in April, and an early-career stoppage loss. Swansea Bay News reported that the losses to Ajagba and Torrez were competitive, rather than evidence that Vianello had been consistently outclassed.

What Has Jolly’s Team Said?

Jolly’s manager, Mickey Helliot, described the contest as a risk but said fighters seeking to reach the top eventually have to accept difficult assignments.

“It’s definitely a risk, but I think fighters that want to get to the top, at some point they have to take a risk,”

Helliot said, according to Swansea Bay News.

Helliot said Jolly had been a professional for approximately four or five years and was ready to broaden the level of opposition he faced. He also said Jolly had sparred with high-level fighters and had performed well in those sessions.

The manager did not portray Vianello as an easy opponent. Although Helliot argued that Vianello had struggled when stepping up, he also said the Italian had lost narrowly and remained a serious challenge.

“When Guido has stepped up, he’s been found short,” Helliot told Swansea Bay News.

“He’s not fighting Usyk. He’s fighting someone that has stumbled a couple of times.”

Helliot nevertheless described the fight as difficult and said Vianello was underrated. He also insisted that the team was targeting victory rather than treating the fight as a learning experience.

“I keep hearing people saying, oh well, if he does well, even if he gets beat. We want to win,” Helliot said. “Moses is a winner and we want to win.”

The preparation has included a sparring trip with Rico Verhoeven, the Dutch kickboxing champion. Swansea Bay News reported that Helliot viewed Jolly’s recent fight with Howe as useful preparation because Jolly had been tested, placed under pressure and had not lost his composure.

“He didn’t break, didn’t wilt at all,” Helliot said of Jolly’s performance against Howe, as reported by Swansea Bay News.

How Does the Style and Size Match Up?

Both fighters are listed at 6ft 6in and box from an orthodox stance. The physical similarity means the fight is not expected to involve a substantial height disadvantage for either man.

Jolly has less experience against world-ranked heavyweights, while Vianello has competed against opponents with more established records and has already appeared in significant heavyweight contests. The contrast is therefore primarily one of experience and level of opposition rather than basic size.

Jolly’s unbeaten record gives him confidence, but the contest will test whether his previous performances translate against an opponent with recognised international rankings. Vianello, meanwhile, will be attempting to use his experience and power to stop Jolly’s rise.

The fight’s eight-round distance may also be relevant. It is shorter than a standard 10- or 12-round championship contest, but both men will still have to manage pace, pressure and risk from the opening bell.

What Is on the Itauma-Hrgovic Card?

The Jolly-Vianello fight is part of a card headlined by Moses Itauma against Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight championship.

FightMag reported that Itauma, who has a record of 14-0 with 12 knockouts, will face Hrgovic, who has a record of 20-1 with 15 knockouts. The winner is expected to become the next IBF heavyweight champion.

The card also includes a co-feature between former world title challenger Sam Noakes and former WBO champion Denys Berinchyk. FightMag listed the bout as a lightweight contest.

Other fights reported by FightMag include Constantin Ursu against Ben Vaughan for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles, Aloys Youmbi against Mike Perez at cruiserweight, and several additional contests across the lower weight divisions.

FightMag also reported a change involving the super-flyweight contest between Tony Curtis and Imad Naseeb. Naseeb replaces Nathan Gonzales in that matchup.

The full running order was still expected to be confirmed, according to FightMag. DAZN pay-per-view is scheduled to carry the event, although viewers should check the broadcaster’s final listing for exact timing and regional availability.

Why Is the Fight Important for Swansea?

The contest represents one of the most prominent opportunities of Jolly’s career. A victory over a ranked heavyweight would give him a win against an opponent with a stronger international profile and could lead to more significant fights.

For Swansea supporters, the bout also places a local fighter on a major London card featuring a vacant world title fight. Jolly told Swansea Bay News that the occasion was exciting for people in Swansea and across Wales.

The event could introduce Jolly to viewers who have not previously followed his career. However, exposure alone will not determine his progress. His future position in the heavyweight division will depend largely on the result, the quality of his performance and whether he can handle Vianello’s experience.

Queensberry Promotions announced the matchup as a late addition to the card. Boxing News Online reported the announcement on August 17, while FightMag also confirmed that the promotion had added the fight to the event.

Background: How Did This Fight Come Together?

The contest was arranged after Vianello’s original opponent, David Adeleye, parted company with Queensberry Promotions, according to Swansea Bay News. That development left Vianello without a scheduled opponent only two weeks before the event.

Jolly had recently competed against Will Howe and was therefore active enough to accept the short-notice opportunity. His team decided that the risk was justified by the potential career benefits.

Boxing News Online described the bout as a major step up for Jolly, while FightMag confirmed the records, date, venue and position on the Itauma-Hrgovic undercard. Swansea Bay News provided the most extensive comments from Jolly and Helliot about the decision, the preparation and the expectations surrounding the fight.

The bout is scheduled for August 29 at The O2 Arena in London. Both fighters are expected to enter with contrasting objectives: Jolly is seeking a breakthrough win, while Vianello is attempting to strengthen his position among heavyweight contenders after returning to winning form.

Prediction: How Could It Affect Welsh Boxing Supporters?

For Welsh boxing supporters, a Jolly victory could quickly increase his national profile and establish him as a credible contender beyond the domestic scene. A win over a boxer ranked by the IBF and WBC would give his unbeaten record greater significance because it would be built on a recognised opponent rather than only on an unblemished record.

A competitive performance could also lead to further opportunities, even if the result does not go Jolly’s way. However, Jolly’s team has made clear that it is targeting victory, and the outcome will determine whether the fight becomes a breakthrough or a setback.

For Swansea audiences, the most immediate effect will be increased attention on a local heavyweight competing on a major pay-per-view card. The bout could encourage greater interest in boxing across the city and provide young fighters with a visible example of a Swansea boxer accepting a difficult challenge.

The result may also influence how promoters assess Jolly’s future. A decisive victory could place him in line for further domestic or international contests, while a defeat would likely require a measured rebuilding phase. Because Vianello has substantial experience and world rankings, the fight carries meaningful consequences for both men rather than being merely an undercard appearance.