LONDON — Twenty-four hours after his eight-round points win over James Wilkins in Philadelphia, Giorgio Visioli got a call from his management team asking him whether he'd be up for a quick turnaround, headlining a card the week before Christmas back home in the nation's capital.

After trips to Sheffield, Birmingham and his stateside debut on a Jaron Ennis undercard, the 22-year-old prospect ends 2025 in the same venue he began it, albeit with higher stakes and a vacant title on the line when facing Dave Allen-managed Joe Howarth (14-1, 4 KOs) on Wednesday night.

"I didn't even know about this, even Joe and the rest knew a while before me that this was in the works and that was annoying," Visioli tells The Ring about how quickly this 10-round English lightweight title fight came together. They will headline Matchroom's NXTGN show from indigo at the O2 in southwest London, screened exclusively live on DAZN worldwide on Dec. 17.

Wigan's Howarth has longed for a chance like this, even as the B-side in a showcase opportunity, since rebuilding from a narrow six-round points loss (58-57) to 4-0 pro Josh Sandford in a tussle of unbeaten 135-pound hopefuls in March 2023.

Visioli hadn't even entered the paid ranks until that November on the Katie Taylor-Chantelle Cameron II undercard, after which he's wrestled with potentially squeezing his frame down to the 130-pound junior lightweight limit.

Scotland's Sandford has since lost twice and moved up two weight divisions, having most recently unsuccessfully challenged for a regional 147-pound title.

Howarth has won seven straight and barely lost a round since, though was floored early and recovered to earn a comprehensive points nod over Adam Sircar for a regional lightweight strap.

Having made two appearances on Matchroom shows this year, Howarth hopes an impressive performance can be parlayed into continued success and exposure against a rising star that many within the promotion — and across the country — have high hopes for, heading into 2026.

Given how tunnel vision the pre-fight favourite is, it's no surprise to hear of when the first time the Aldershot southpaw heard or really took notice of Howarth.

"Since I fought Kane Baker, as we were on the same bill. I don't pay attention to him, it might sound a way — not being cocky or anything — my team will study him but there's a big belief that we'll do a job on him. I'm not overlooking him but he's a steppingstone on where I'm looking to get, pushing towards titles. I train like it's a world title fight and then head onto a bigger 2026."

Visioli (9-0, 6 KOs) appreciates activity at a time where many are desperate for fight dates and clarity over their future plans, though feels he's earned an extended rest and can benefit from surveying the landscape at 135 pounds now Sam Noakes has broken onto the world scene.

Two-time IBF junior lightweight beltholder Joe Cordina accepted post-fight he'll need to improve from his weekend win over Gabriel Flores if he's to fare better against Abdullah Mason than Noakes managed last month, though there's a clear gap between those two and Britain's remaining hopefuls.

Maxi Hughes started promisingly but ran out of steam late against Bakohdir Usmonov earlier this month, while former 130-pound title challenger Zelfa Barrett is rebuilding at a new weight under Joe Gallagher after a testing setback against newly minted world champion Jazza Dickens in February.

Louie O'Doherty bludgeoned Regan Glackin en route to a 10th-round stoppage win in Glasgow to claim the vacant Lonsdale belt, though there's a recognition that he lacks the power and nuance that others before him have had, as far as bridging the gap between domestic level and above.

Former European champion Gavin Gwynne refuses to be counted out after exposing Cameron Vuong's deficiencies over 20 rounds, a year apart, while the next promising crop are all operating at the weight class below.

Visioli acknowledges that the sacrifice wasn't worth the side effects and now believes he'll maximise his potential without having to worry about peaking too early or depleting himself in training camps.

"We were trying to do junior lightweight and get down to 131 pounds. I had to trim down a lot of food portions and was shredded [physically ripped] four weeks out [from a fight] thinking, 'I don't need to get any more than this,' so we thought it was better to go up a weight.

"I can eat more in camp, boxing isn't a weight competition, all I was thinking about was my weight but now I'm a free mind to develop, get my mind back to fighting, rather than making weight, which wasn't enjoyable, and I didn't even make it either."

He can't help but reflect on the Philadelphia experience, lamenting his inability to acclimate to the time difference sooner than the week-long stint they spent trying to do so. In his own words, the performance wasn't satisfying, even though many in his close circles, and new fans, were constantly assuring him otherwise.

"Wilkins had a big amateur career and beat the likes of Bruce Carrington, so he's no mug, but I hardly had good sleep, was waking up at 4 a.m. wanting to eat, which is even worse when you're trying to make weight too. It was a great experience, no excuses but I would've performed even better."

What was he particularly unhappy about?

"Everyone was pleased, Mark [Tibbs] said you did all you could against a tough man but I wanted to do a bit more, sit down more on my punches and whack them in at different angles, that's what we've worked on this camp. Of course I'm critical, the Americans loved me and I didn't even perform particularly well in my view, but that's a good thing.

"I've got so much more to give. I was a counterpunching amateur, my first two pro opponents came to beat me but after knocking them out, no-one has stepped forward at me.

"I haven't had a chance to land counters properly because when they do come, they get clipped by my uppercut and shell up. Hopefully Joe will come to win — he has no choice but to — otherwise it hurts him, that dynamic suits my style more, I've had to walk fighters down and that is new to me. I was a boxer-mover and counterpuncher, so it's time to show more."