Nino Benvenuti


Giovanni "Nino" Benvenuti is a retired Italian boxer and actor. As an amateur welterweight boxer he won the Italian title in 1956–60, the European title in 1957 and 1959, and an Olympic gold medal in 1960, receiving the Val Barker trophy for boxing style. In 1961, having an amateur record of 120-0, he turned professional and won world titles in the light-middleweight division and twice in the middleweight division. Near the end of his boxing career he appeared in Sundance and the Kid and then in Mark Shoots First.
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1968, Benvenuti was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine. In 2011, The Ring magazine ranked him as seventh on their list of the "10 best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years."

Professional boxing career

On 20 January 1961, Benvenuti made his professional boxing debut, beating Ben Ali Allala by decision in six rounds. He then won 29 fights in a row before challenging for the Italian middleweight title, on 1 March 1963, in Rome against Tommaso Truppi. His winning streak extended to 30 when he knocked out Truppi in round eleven. His winning streak reached 46 wins in a row when he met former world junior middleweight champion Denny Moyer on 18 September 1964, beating Moyer on points in ten rounds.
After reaching 55 wins in a row, including a five-round knockout of Truppi in a rematch, he met world jr. middleweight champion Sandro Mazzinghi in Milan, on 18 June 1965. This was a fight the Italian public clamored for: both men were Italian, both men claimed to be the best in their division, and they had expressed desire to fight each other. Benvenuti became the world junior middleweight champion with a sixth-round knockout win. It was common, at that era, for world champions to fight for regional belts after winning the world title, so on 15 October 1965, he added the European belt at the middleweight division, with a sixth-round knockout of Luis Folledo.
A rematch with Mazzinghi took place on 17 December 1965, and Benvenuti retained the world junior middleweight crown with a fifteen-round decision. After three non-title wins, including a twelve-round decision over Don Fullmer and a fourteen-round knockout in Germany of Jupp Elze, he travelled to South Korea, where he lost his world junior middleweight title against Ki-Soo Kim, who won by decision in fifteen rounds on 25 June 1966. Benvenuti deemed his first loss as a professional as an unjustified decision for the local boxer, and, frustrated by it, he decided to concentrate on the middleweight division instead.
Benvenuti beat Emile Griffith by decision in fifteen rounds at New York City's Madison Square Garden on 17 April 1967, in what was the beginning of their trilogy of fights, to win the world middleweight title. On a rematch at Shea Stadium on 29 September 1967, he lost by a decision in fifteen rounds.
On 4 March 1968, Benvenuti and Griffith completed their trilogy, once again at Madison Square Garden, with Benvenuti knocking Griffith down in round nine and winning a fifteen-round decision to regain the world middleweight title. On 14 December 1968, in San Remo, he and Fullmer met once again, and Benvenuti retained the world middleweight title with a fifteen-round decision. On 26 May 1969, Benvenuti lost a ten round decision to former world light heavyweight champion Dick Tiger in a light heavyweight, non-title match. Benvenuti broke his right hand while landing a head punch in the first round, but chose to continue fighting "like a cripple" rather than quit.
The most curious defense of Benvenuti's active reign, took place on 4 October 1969, when he retained the world middleweight title with a seven-round disqualification win over American Fraser Scott at the Stadio S. Paolo in Naples. From the first round, Scott was warned repeatedly, and with increasing intensity from the referee, about attempted butting. Scott, a young fighter unschooled in the European insistence on what his trainer referred to as "that...Olympic stand-up style", knowing only the battle plan he went in with and speaking no Italian, did not understand the warnings at first, then was unable to alter his approach; to the American, he was merely "ducking" Benvenuti's shots. The bout was foul-filled even without this added controversy; Scott would later accuse Benvenuti of having tried to thumb him, and during the sixth round, the fighters' legs became entangled as they wrestled, causing both to crash to the canvas. Round seven saw the stoppage, the referee asserting "attempted butting", Fraser Scott and corner forever insisting he had "ducked".
On 22 November 1969, he beat former world welterweight champion Luis Rodriguez by knockout in 11 rounds to, once again, retain his world middleweight title.
This marked the beginning of a downfall period for Benvenuti: In his next fight, on 13 March 1970, he was knocked out in the eighth round of a non-title fight by unknown American Tom Bethea in Australia. While this upset defeat caused Bethea to get a world title shot at Benvenuti's title and Benvenuti avenged the defeat with an eighth-round knockout of Bethea himself, Benvenuti soon lost his title for the last time, being beaten by young Carlos Monzón by knockout in round twelve in Rome on 7 November 1970.
In 1971, after losing a ten-round decision to Jose Chirino, Benvenuti got a rematch with Monzon for the world middleweight title. Benvenuti was once again beaten by Monzon, this time by knockout in round three on 8 May 1971, in Monte Carlo. He announced his retirement there, and never returned to boxing. Benvenuti had a record of 82 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw in 90 professional boxing bouts, with 35 wins by knockout. In 1992 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Retirement and personal life

Nino Benvenuti was born in the town on Isola d'Istria. After the war his family fled to Italy due to the consequences of the war treaty and the hostilities created by the Yugoslav government.
In 1961 Benvenuti married Giuliana Fonzari; they had four sons and adopted a Tunisian girl. They later divorced, and Benvenuti married Nadia Bertorello, with whom he had one daughter.
After retiring from boxing Benvenuti became a successful businessman, show host and city counselor in Trieste. He opened a high-class restaurant and forged friendships with Monzon and Griffith. In 1980 he asked Griffith to become the godfather of one of his sons, and later helped him financially. Monzon was a guest of honor at Benvenuti's television show several times, and, when he was accused of murdering his wife in 1988, Benvenuti became one of his most loyal supporters, visiting him in jail in Argentina several times, as well as being a pallbearer at Monzon’s funeral.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
90Loss82–7–1 Carlos MonzónTKO3, 1:058 May 1971 Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monte Carlo, MonacoFor WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
89Loss82–6–1 José ChirinoMD1017 Mar 1971 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
88Loss82–5–1 Carlos MonzónTKO12, 1:577 Nov 1970 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyLost WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
87Win82–4–1 Doyle BairdTKO10, 2:0312 Sep 1970 Stadio della Vittoria, Bari, Apulia, ItalyNon-title bout
86Win81–4–1 Tom BetheaKO8, 2:4323 May 1970 Sports Stadium Arena, Umag, YugoslaviaRetained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
85Loss80–4–1 Tom BetheaTKO8 13 Mar 1970 Olympic Velodrome, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaLight heavyweight bout
84Win80–3–1 Luis Manuel RodríguezKO11, 1:0822 Nov 1969 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
83Win79–3–1 Fraser ScottDQ7, 1:404 Oct 1969 Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Campania, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
82Loss78–3–1 Dick TigerUD1026 May 1969 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Light heavyweight bout
81Win78–2–1 Don FullmerUD1514 Dec 1968 Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Liguria, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
80Draw77–2–1 Doyle BairdPTS1014 Oct 1968 Rubber Bowl, Akron, Ohio, U.S.Light heavyweight bout
79Win77–2 Art HernandezUD1017 Sep 1968 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLight heavyweight bout
78Win76–2 Jimmy RamosRTD4, 0:305 Jul 1968 Turin, Piedmont, ItalyLight heavyweight bout
77Win75–2 Yoshiaki AkasakaKO2 7 Jun 1968 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyNon-title bout
76Win74–2 Emile GriffithUD154 Mar 1968 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
75Win73–2 Charley AustinPTS1019 Jan 1968 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
74Loss72–2 Emile GriffithMD1529 Sep 1967 Shea Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
73Win72–1 Emile GriffithUD1517 Apr 1967 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles;
The Ring Fight of the Year
72Win71–1 Milo CalhounPTS103 Mar 1967 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
71Win70–1 Manfred GrausKO2, 2:4019 Jan 1967 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
70Win69–1 Renato MoraesKO9 23 Dec 1966 Rome, Lazio, Italy
69Win68–1 Ferd HernandezPTS102 Dec 1966 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
68Win67–1 Pascal Di BenedettoRTD11 21 Oct 1966 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyRetained EBU middleweight title
67Win66–1 Harry ScottPTS1023 Sep 1966 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
66Loss65–1 Kim Ki-SooSD1525 Jun 1966 Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaLost WBA, WBC, and lineal light middleweight titles
65Win65–0 Jupp ElzeTKO14, 1:2714 May 1966 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, GermanyRetained EBU middleweight title
64Win64–0 Clarence JamesPTS1011 Mar 1966 Turin, Piedmont, ItalyMiddleweight bout
63Win63–0 Don FullmerPTS124 Feb 1966 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyMiddleweight bout
62Win62–0 Sandro MazzinghiUD1517 Dec 1965 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, and lineal light middleweight titles
61Win61–0 James SheltonPTS1015 Nov 1965 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, ItalyMiddleweight bout
60Win60–0 Johnny TorresDQ7 5 Nov 1965 Turin, Piedmont, ItalyMiddleweight bout
59Win59–0 Luis FolledoKO6 15 Oct 1965 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyWon vacant EBU middleweight title;
Folledo weighed 165lbs.
58Win58–0 Daniel LeullierTKO7 16 Aug 1965 Senigallia, Marche, ItalyMiddleweight bout
57Win57–0 Sandro MazzinghiKO6, 2:4018 Jun 1965 San Siro, Milan, Lombardy, ItalyWon WBA, WBC, and lineal light middleweight titles
56Win56–0 Milo CalhounPTS1030 Apr 1965 Genoa, Liguria, Italy
55Win55–0 Rip RandallPTS102 Apr 1965 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
54Win54–0 Dick KnightKO6 19 Mar 1965 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
53Win53–0 Mick LeahyPTS1027 Feb 1965 Palazzo dello Sport, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
52Win52–0 Tommaso TruppiRTD5 12 Feb 1965 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
51Win51–0 Art HernandezTKO3, 2:2022 Jan 1965 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
50Win50–0 Juan Carlos DuránPTS1019 Dec 1964 Palazzo dello Sport, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
49Win49–0 Aristeo ChavarinKO4 27 Nov 1964 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
48Win48–0 Abrao De SouzaDQ7 9 Oct 1964 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
47Win47–0 Denny MoyerPTS1018 Sep 1964 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
46Win46–0 Fabio BettiniPTS1230 Jul 1964 Sanremo, Liguria, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
45Win45–0 Jimmy BeechamTKO2 28 May 1964 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
44Win44–0 Sugar Boy NandoPTS1010 Apr 1964 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
43Win43–0 Michel DioufPTS1018 Mar 1964 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
42Win42–0 Memo AyonKO5, 0:2828 Feb 1964 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
41Win41–0 Ted WrightPTS1013 Dec 1963 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
40Win40–0 Luis GutierrezTKO7 15 Nov 1963 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
39Win39–0 Jackie CailleauPTS107 Nov 1963 Prato, Tuscany, Italy
38Win38–0 Gaspar OrtegaPTS1018 Oct 1963 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
37Win37–0 Víctor ZalazarTKO2 27 Sep 1963 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
36Win36–0 Wilhelm NiederauTKO6 16 Sep 1963 Prato, Tuscany, Italy
35Win35–0 Francesco FioriTKO3 31 Aug 1963 Priverno, Lazio, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
34Win34–0 Tony MontanoPTS107 Jun 1963 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
33Win33–0 Jimmy BeechamPTS1023 May 1963 Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Lazio, Italy
32Win32–0 Jean RuelletPTS1024 Apr 1963 Palazzetto dello Sport, Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy
31Win31–0 Georges EstatoffKO6, 0:335 Apr 1963 Palazzo dello Sport, Turin, Piedmont, Italy
30Win30–0 Tommaso TruppiKO11 1 Mar 1963 Rome, Lazio, ItalyWon vacant Italian middleweight title
29Win29–0 Giampaolo MelisKO2 26 Dec 1962 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
28Win28–0 Isaac LogartPTS1030 Nov 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
27Win27–0 Daniel LeullierPTS1018 Oct 1962 Padua, Veneto, Italy
26Win26–0 Diego InfantesPTS828 Sep 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
25Win25–0 Giuseppe GentilettiKO2 30 Aug 1962 Senigallia, Marche, Italy
24Win24–0 Mahmout le NoirPTS82 Aug 1962 Lignano, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
23Win23–0 Gino RossiPTS1012 Jul 1962 Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
22Win22–0 Heinz FreytagPTS822 Jun 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
21Win21–0 Jean RuelletPTS82 Jun 1962 Stadio Amsicora, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
20Win20–0 Hector ConstancePTS101 May 1962 Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
19Win19–0 Jim HegerleKO4 13 Apr 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
18Win18–0 Gianni LommiKO5 17 Mar 1962 Milan, Lombardy, Italy
17Win17–0 Manfred HaasPTS88 Mar 1962 Turin, Piedmont, Italy
16Win16–0 José RiquelmePTS819 Feb 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
15Win15–0 George AldridgeKO6 19 Jan 1962 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
14Win14–0 Giuseppe CatalanoPTS820 Dec 1961 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
13Win13–0 Jesse JonesDQ6 9 Nov 1961 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
12Win12–0 Angelo BrisciKO1 1 Nov 1961 Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
11Win11–0 Retmia MahrezTKO3 2 Oct 1961 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
10Win10–0 Marc DesforneauxPTS617 Jun 1961 Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
9Win9–0 Henri CabelducPTS67 Jun 1961 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
8Win8–0 Michel FrancoisKO4 16 May 1961 Turin, Piedmont, Italy
7Win7–0 Daniel BrunetDQ3 3 May 1961 Naples, Campania, Italy
6Win6–0 Pierre MondinoPTS621 Apr 1961 Florence, Tuscany, Italy
5Win5–0 Nic MaricPTS67 Apr 1961 PalaLido, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
4Win4–0 Sahib MosriKO3 14 Mar 1961 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
3Win3–0 Ben Ali AllalaKO1 27 Feb 1961 Naples, Campania, Italy
2Win2–0 Nicola SammartinoKO3 10 Feb 1961 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
1Win1–0 Ben Ali AllalaPTS620 Jan 1961 Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Awards

On 7 May 2015, in the presence of the President of Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, was inaugurated in the Olympic Park of the Foro Italico in Rome, along Viale delle Olimpiadi, the Walk of Fame of Italian sport, consisting of 100 tiles that chronologically report names of the most representative athletes in the history of Italian sport. On each tile are the name of the sportsman, the sport in which he distinguished himself and the symbol of CONI. One of the tiles is dedicated to Nino Benvenuti.