Legendary Italian boxer Nino Benvenuti, a former two-weight world champion, has passed away at the age of 87. Benvenuti concluded his professional boxing career in 1971, leaving the sport with an impressive record of 82 wins (35 by knockout), 7 losses, and 1 draw, having achieved numerous accolades throughout his career.
Born in 1938 in a region then part of the Kingdom of Italy (now Slovenia), Benvenuti first gained international recognition by winning the welterweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, defeating opponents like Jim Lloyd of Liverpool on his path to victory. His professional journey commenced in 1961 and extended over a decade, encompassing 90 bouts and a remarkable 707 rounds.
Among Benvenuti`s significant professional achievements were two victories over Emile Griffith, securing him the WBA and WBC middleweight titles. These wins were part of an memorable three-fight series against Griffith, in which Benvenuti ultimately emerged victorious, despite suffering one defeat between his two wins.
In 1970, Benvenuti met the formidable Argentine star Carlos Monzon, losing his middleweight titles by a 12th-round stoppage in a contest widely considered one of the best fights of that year. Just two fights later, arguably with his ability to absorb punches diminished, Benvenuti had his final professional contest. He faced Monzon once more in a rematch, suffering a third-round defeat.
He never fought professionally again after this loss. In recognition of his remarkable career, Nino Benvenuti was rightfully inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. Beyond his professional success, at the 1960 Olympic Games, he was also honored with the prestigious Val Barker trophy, awarded to the tournament`s most outstanding boxer. After hanging up his gloves, Benvenuti pursued interests in acting and worked as a television presenter.
Tributes from across the global boxing community have been shared following the news of his passing.
