Latest news with #NinoBenvenuti
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Nino Benvenuti, Olympic Boxer Who Ruled the Ring in Italy, Dies at 87
Nino Benvenuti, an Italian boxer who won the welterweight title before an indulgent crowd at the 1960 Rome Olympics, and who, perhaps benefiting from a home-ring advantage, was named the outstanding fighter of those Games over a certain teenage light-heavyweight named Cassius Clay, better known as Muhammad Ali, died on Tuesday in Rome. He was 87. His death was announced by the Italian Olympic Committee, which did not specify where he died. Unlike Ali, a three-time world heavyweight champion, Benvenuti never became one of the world's most recognized and socially relevant figures, but he was considered Italy's greatest boxer — handsome and possessing elegance and power in the ring — and built his own exceptional career. Outside the ring, according to Sports Illustrated, he read Hemingway, Voltaire and Steinbeck and listened to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in his Lincoln Continental on the way to fights. Primal and incandescent battles against the Hall of Fame middleweights Emile Griffith of the Virgin Islands and Carlos Monzon of Argentina turned into poignant friendships when his former antagonists became troubled. (Benvenuti himself was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992). Benvenuti was 119-1 as an amateur and winner of an Olympic gold medal. After turning professional in 1961, he built a record of 82-7-1 with 35 knockouts, and won the world light middleweight championship and the world middleweight championship twice. He retired in 1971 after losing for a second time to Monzon, when his corner threw in a white towel of surrender. It was Benvenuti's Olympic victory in his home country that carried the most meaning, he told The Ring magazine in 2016. Why? 'Because it lasts forever,' he said. 'I'm now a former middleweight champion of the world yet I'm still an Olympic gold medalist.' He only realized the significance of being named the top boxer at the Rome Games years later, he once said, 'when Muhammad Ali really became Muhammad Ali and the best boxer in the world.' Giovanni Benvenuti was born on April 26, 1938, on the Adriatic coast in what was then Isola d'Istria, Italy (now Izola, Slovenia). He started boxing at age 11. Two years later, according to Sports Illustrated, he began riding his bicycle roughly 13 miles to Trieste, Italy, to participate in amateur bouts and, later, some professional fights. After retiring, Benvenuti appeared in a couple of movies, playing a farmer in one and a tough-fisted gangster in another; opened a restaurant; became a television commentator and, briefly, a city councilman in Trieste. The 45 rounds he spent in the ring with Griffith over three bouts in New York in 1967 and '68 led to an unassailable bond between the men. Benvenuti asked Griffith in 1980 to be the godfather of one of his sons. And, as recounted in The Daily News of New York, he gave Griffith $10,000 in 2009 as his rival turned friend, who by then had dementia, was struggling financially. (Griffith died in 2013.) He supported Monzon when he went on trial in 1988; the Argentine was convicted of killing his wife (some reports said it was his estranged girlfriend). When Monzon died in 1995, Benvenuti served as a pallbearer at his funeral. Information about Benvenuti's survivors was not immediately available. He had reportedly been married twice; his second wife, Nadia Bertorello, died in 2023. He once lamented to Il Messaggero, a leading Italian newspaper, that with 'a more serene love life,' he could have remained champion 'for a hundred years.' Asked by The Ring magazine in 2016 about the best overall fighter he faced, Benvenuti named Sugar Ray Robinson, whom he beat on points. But, alas, the two never actually met — he had only faced him in a very vivid dream.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Hall of Fame boxer Nino Benvenuti dies aged 87
Nino Benvenuti, a revered Italian boxer, two-weight undisputed champion and Hall of Fame inductee, passed away on Tuesday at 87 years old. Regarded as the greatest Italian boxer in history, Benvenuti (82-7-1, 35 knockouts), shared the ring with the likes of Emile Griffith, Dick Tiger, Luis Rodriguez and Carlos Monzon. The Italian National Olympic Committee paid tribute to their gold medalist: 'Italian sport is in mourning. Giovanni 'Nino' Benvenuti, one of the best boxers in history and, certainly, one of the most beloved athletes, passed away today at the age of 87.' Benvenuti had a standout amateur career, going unbeaten in 120 fights and winning four national titles, two European titles and an Olympic gold medal at the Rome Games in 1960. This was the same Olympics in which Cassius Clay, later to be known as Muhammad Ali, also won gold. However, it was Benvenuti who won the Val Barker trophy for the best boxer in the tournament. Turning professional in 1961, Benvenuti would race to 65 fights undefeated, picking up the WBC super-welterweight title in an all-Italian clash at the San Siro in front of 40,000 fans with Sandro Mazzinghi, and the European middleweight title against Luis Folledo in 1965. He successfully defended both of these titles before his first professional defeat in 1966 against Ki Soo Kim, whom Benvenuti beat in the Olympics, losing his WBC belt via split decision over 15 rounds. This would signal the end of the Italian's campaign at super-welterweight. From then on, he would turn his attention to the middleweight division. In 1967, Benvenuti challenged Griffith for his WBC middleweight title in the first of a famous trilogy of fights. Their initial meeting was The Ring magazine's fight of the year as the pair exchanged knockdowns on the way to a unanimous decision victory for Benvenuti. However, an immediate rematch saw Griffith reclaim his title. The rivalry was settled in 1968 with Benvenuti claiming another unanimous decision. Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime. See Schedule ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. An unbeaten 1968, and a successful title defence in a rematch with Don Fullmer, brother of legend Gene, meant that Benvenuti was chosen as The Ring's fighter of the year. The end of the legendary career of the two-weight champion came in 1971. He had lost his WBC title to rising star Carlos Monzon the previous year and suffered another loss in Italy before taking a rematch with Monzon, which he would lose via third-round stoppage. Benvenuti enjoyed a short career as an actor, starring in the films Sundance and the Kid (1969) and Mark Shoots First (1975). He also spent time as a sports commentator in Italy and was a registered member of the Journalists' Association.
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Italian boxing champion Nino Benvenuti, who took gold at Rome Olympics, dies at age 87
ROME (AP) — Nino Benvenuti, an Italian former boxer who won gold at his home Olympics in 1960 before earning world championship titles in two weight classes as a pro, has died at age 87. The Italian National Olympic Committee, CONI, said Benvenuti died Tuesday. It did not disclose the cause of death. CONI called Benvenuti one of the best boxers in the country's history 'and certainly one of the most beloved athletes.' The elegant boxer won the Olympic welterweight title in Rome in 1960, the same Games where Cassius Clay — who would later become Muhammad Ali — took the heavyweight gold medal. Benvenuti beat out Clay for the Val Barker trophy as the games' best boxer. 'I only realized the importance of that award in the years that followed the games, when Muhammad Ali really became Muhammad Ali and the best boxer in the world,' Benvenuti later said. Benvenuti finished his amateur career with just one loss in 120 matches, according to the International Olympic Committee. After turning pro in 1961, he became the world light middleweight and middleweight champion (twice). But he said those titles pale in comparison to his gold medal. 'When you win the Olympics you're an Olympic champion for the rest of your life,' Benvenuti said. ___ AP Sports:
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Nino Benvenuti dead at 87: Two-weight undisputed world champion and Olympic gold medallist passes away
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992 Nino Benvenuti dead at 87: Two-weight undisputed world champion and Olympic gold medallist passes away Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BOXING great Nino Benvenuti has died at the age of 87. The Italian legend won the gold medal in the welterweight category at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Italian boxing legend Nino Benvenuti has died at the age of 87 2 Benvenuti became world champion in two classes, light middleweight and middleweight And, after turning professional, became world champion in two classes, light middleweight and middleweight. Benvenuti had a record of 82 wins, including 35 knockouts, seven losses and one draw in his 90 professional boxing bouts and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. His three world title fights against Emile Griffith in 1967 and 1968 were epic battles. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Nino Benvenuti dead at 87: Two-weight undisputed world champion and Olympic gold medallist passes away
BOXING great Nino Benvenuti has died at the age of 87. The Italian legend won the gold medal in the welterweight category at the 1960 Rome Olympics. 2 Italian boxing legend Nino Benvenuti has died at the age of 87 2 Benvenuti became world champion in two classes, light middleweight and middleweight And, after turning professional, became world champion in two classes, light middleweight and middleweight. Benvenuti had a record of 82 wins, including 35 knockouts, seven losses and one draw in his 90 professional boxing bouts and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. His three world title fights against Emile Griffith in 1967 and 1968 were epic battles. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. READ MORE BOXING NEWS The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
