Fabrice was a good boxer, talented and with some real power...

but he always had that problem with the weight...I mean, a real one :-). Fabrice has never been so good that at 175 lbs. eventually getting to the 190lbs division (cruiser) because he suffered too much. even there he was still suffering to make that weight !!

He simply ballooned too much between fights, and we all know how dangerous it is for a boxer on a long term.

I remember his brother (Christophe, former WBA super middleweight champ) that while he was fighting at 175lbs and was getting around with 200-210 lbs....but while the 190 lbs period he was around 220-230 lbs. Losing 40lbs is never easy for a fight, and the more you do the more you weaken your body!

but when focused and wanted to win, he was hard to beat or you needed to be a top fighter (IMO Jones and Calzzaghe would have beat him, no question). he just got surprised on his 2nd fight with Virgill, he had no luck, it's simply boxing. on their first fight, no surprise, Virgill was more experienced.

When he came back fighting at 175lbs, it was directly against the champ Branco (other champ like ROy jones just got crashed on this exercice) :-)

HE just butchered Dariuz M. but I have to admit that Tiozzo was fighting for his legacy and wanted to prove to the french specialists he deserved to be recognised as a true champ but on the other hand, Dariuz was not able to push the engine anymore and I think he wasn't that motivated...

Overall Tiozzo was a good boxer, good power, chin and speed, but his weight problem killed his best years I think.

Fabrice has been

WBC light heavy champ
WBA Cruiser Champ
and then WBA light heavy champ on the late.

not bad :-)