Giovanni ‘Nino’ Benvenuti, Italian Boxing Legend, Passes Away
The boxing world mourns the loss of Giovanni ‘Nino’ Benvenuti, who passed away this Tuesday at the age of 87. The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) confirmed the sad news, marking the end of an era for Italian sport.
Benvenuti, a name synonymous with greatness in boxing, left an indelible mark on the history of the sport.
Following his successful amateur career, Benvenuti turned professional, achieving even greater success and solidifying his legacy.
Born in the Istria region, which currently belongs to Slovenia, Benvenuti represented Italy with pride and passion.
Giovanni ‘Nino’ Benvenuti was a gold medalist at the 1960 Olympic Games, and later won world titles in two divisions as a professional boxer in the late 1960s.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to Benvenuti, highlighting his courage both inside and outside the ring.
“Thank you Nino for your fights in the ring and for those in defense of the truth. Italy will not forget you,” wrote Meloni on social media.
Giorgia Meloni
In 1965, Benvenuti became world super welterweight champion by knocking out his compatriot Sandro Mazzinghi. Subsequently, he moved up to the middleweight division, where he also made his mark.
At Madison Square Garden, in 1967, he defeated American Emile Griffith, obtaining another world title.
Although Griffith won the rematch, Benvenuti regained the title in their third encounter in 1968.
Benvenuti’s career continued, but he lost the title in 1970 to the Argentinian Carlos Monzón in Rome.
After his retirement, Benvenuti ventured into cinema and maintained a constant presence on television.
