RIP Nino Benvenuti

 

Quotidino Sportivo

By Manuel Minguzzi

May 20, 2025

 

An institution of Italian boxing. Nino Benvenuti passed away today at the age of 87, leaving behind his immortal career and countless successes. His was a story of suffering and victories, of escapes and feats, of defeats and laurels. Born in Isola d'Istria on April 26, 1938, he was forced to leave his homeland in a mass exodus that still today represents one of the ugliest pages in the history of Italy at the end of the Second World War. He suffered anti-Italian repression, like his entire family. Eliano Benvenuti, the eldest son, was imprisoned and the family home was also requisitioned, so everyone had to make the decision to move to Trieste, which was administered by Italy. Before moving, he rode his bicycle for miles to encourage and support his boxing talent – ​​to train in the capital – and his talents immediately emerged, even on the international stage.

A first disappointment in 1956, with the exclusion from the Melbourne Games, immediately redeemed with a great home triumph at Rome Olympics 1960, Where Welcome decided to lose four kilos and compete in the welterweight category. He defeated in order the future European champion Jean Josselin, then the future world super welterweight champion Ki-soo Kim, the Bulgarian Shishman Mitsev, the British Jimmy lloyd and finally the Soviet Yurij Radonjak in the final. The Olympic gold also earned him the recognition of best boxer of the event, ahead of Cassius Clay, or what it would become in the future Mohammad Ali.

Having achieved this great Olympic success, the Istrian boxer decided to turn professional, first by winning the Italian title against Troops and then the European title against the Spanish Luis Folledo. In Italy, his rivalry with the boxer Sandro was also famous Mazzinghi, while on the international stage the challenges against the American Emile were epic Griffith. Famous the trilogy of encounters against the star-spangled opponent, who started with an extraordinary victory at the Madison Square Garden on April 17, 1967, in a match broadcast on the radio by Rai with 18 million Italians listening to it live during the night. Only Italy-Germany 4-3 had a similar response. The second challenge of the trilogy, or the rematch, was held on September 29, 1967 at Shea Stadium, where Griffith prevailed thanks to a blow to the trunk in the second round that caused the twelfth rib to be broken. Welcome.

It was inevitable, therefore, to proceed with a third challenge that would close the saga. It is March 4, 1968, and the theater is still the Madison Squadre Garden, recently renovated, with Welcome who takes over in the ninth round, knocking down the American and taking an advantage. Griffith's reaction is in vain, nothing can be done: triumph of Welcome who therefore regains the WBC and WBA world title belts. He will keep them for three years, until 1970 after five successful defenses. The challenger, who also decreed the end, was the Argentine Carlos Monzon, who defeated him on November 7, 1970. The Istrian boxer decided to play the contractual clause for the rematch, which took place on May 8, 1971, in Monte Carlo, but on that occasion too he prevailed Monzon. A defeat, which in fact, marked the decision of Welcome to hang up his gloves. His professional record reads eighty-two victories (35 by KO), one draw and seven defeats. Having abandoned his activity, Benvenuti then dedicated himself to acting, taking part in three films, and journalism, becoming a popular commentator on Rai.

BENVENUTI, Nino (Giovanni Benvenuti)

Born: 4/26/1938, Isola d´Istria, Slovenia

Died: 5/20/2025, Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

Nino Benvenuti’s western – actor:

Alive or Preferably Dead – 1969 (Ted Mulligan)