Kovalev via KO. I don't see Tiozzo holding up to Kovalev's power. I have too admit, I am not much of a fan of Tiozzo. Might be because he beat my favorite fighter of all time (McCallum) when Mike was well past his prime and three divisions over his natural weight.
I'd favour Kovalev, heavily. He was better boxer and harder puncher of the two. Tiozzo, however, would be a live dog since all he would need is landing one good shot at Sergey's glass jaw.
I'd go with Tiozzo.... he was good... his 2nd loss to Hill gives him a bad rap in my opinion... but its up to him to come in warmed up ...
There is a misconception here. Tiozzo had a good chin. He took shots against good punchers. The 2nd Hill was kind of an anomaly
Kovalev is genuinely an ATG LHW, he’d’ve beaten everyone today in his prime, people may question his durability, but remember he did have an alcohol addiction, that’s the main question mark about Kovalev, but when he first won the title, when he was in his early 30s, he probably had decent durability and I don’t see many beating him and definitely not Tiozzo. He beats Bivol, too big, too strong and hits too hard, Kovalev had a stiff jab, and would stick it on Bivol, Bivol would have to pressure him to get past the jab, and that also wouldn’t work out well for him, so he’d be put in his box and lose a decision, he can’t beat Kovalev from the outside. I see Beterbiev being walked onto something at some point, busted up with the jab in the process.
Tiozzo only lost to one person, an ATG. he had the size, chin, enough power etc.....everything to actually trouble Kovalev. Despite being bounced up and down by Virgil, he still stood up to bigger punchers than Virgil so his chin I'd say was more solid than not. Sometimes **** happens............. I'd lean Kovalev as long as he's able to maintain an outside position. If Tiozzo gets in and can hook and throw multiples, we see Kovalev could be broken.