The boxing world is in mourning: Italian 1960 Olympic champion Nino Benvenuti has died at the age of 87.
The Italian Nino Benvenuti, Olympic champion in Rome in 1960 and former world middleweight champion, has died at the age of 87. The native Istrian (born April 26, 1938 in Izola, Slovenia) was considered one of the most elegant and popular boxers of his time – not only in Italy, but worldwide.
Benvenuti won the gold medal in the welterweight division at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, won two European titles in the middleweight division (1957 and 1959) and became world middleweight champion in 1967 after defeating Emile Griffith – a duel that made sporting and social history. He fought a total of 90 professional fights, 82 of which were victories (35 knockouts). Benvenuti made his professional debut in Trieste in 1961. Between 1961 and 1966, he remained unbeaten in 65 fights before ending his career in 1971 after losing to Carlos Monzón. His fights against compatriot Sandro Mazzinghi are also legendary.
The Italian boxing association CONI(Comitato Olimpico Nazionale) reacted with deep sorrow. President Giovanni Malagò paid tribute to Benvenuti: “Your deeds, your smile, your class will remain an eternal trademark. You were an extraordinary champion, you will forever remain a legend, a myth.”
Text by Robin Josten