Nino Benvenuti


Giovanni "Nino" Benvenuti was an Italian professional boxer and actor. He held world titles in two weight classes, having held the undisputed super-welterweight championship from June 1965 to June 1966 and the undisputed middleweight championship twice, from April to September 1967, and from March 1968 to November 1970. 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 two Italian films, Sundance and the Kid and then in Mark Shoots First.
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, Benvenuti is ranked No. 32 in BoxRec's ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time. In 1968, he 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."
WWW ninobenvenuti.it

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 clamoured for: both men were Italian, both men claimed to be the best in their division, and they had expressed the desire to fight each other. Benvenuti became the world junior middleweight champion with a sixth-round knockout win. It was common, in 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 after winning a fifteen-round decision. After three non-title wins, including a twelve-round decision over Don Fullmer and a fourteen-round knockout in West Germany of Jupp Elze, he travelled to South Korea, where he lost his world junior middleweight title to Ki-Soo Kim, who won by decision in fifteen rounds on 25 June 1966, breaking Benvenuti's record of 65 consecutive wins. Frustrated by what he perceived as an unjust decision to favour the local boxer, Benvenuti decided to drop the junior middleweight and 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 defence 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, Benvenuti beat former world welterweight champion Luis Rodriguez by knockout in 11 rounds and once again retained his world middleweight title.
On 13 March 1970, in a non-title bout, Benvenuti was knocked out in the eighth round by unknown American Tom Bethea in Australia. The upset defeat caused Bethea to earn a world title shot at Benvenuti's title. Benvenuti avenged the defeat when the two met again in Umag with an eighth-round knockout.
On 7 November 1970, Benvenuti lost his title in Rome after being knocked out in round twelve by rising star Carlos Monzón.
In 1971, after losing a ten-round decision to José Chirino, a fighter he had picked due to his fighting style's similarities with Monzón, Benvenuti got a rematch with Monzón for the world middleweight title in Monte Carlo on 8 May 1971. Monzón won again in round three when Benvenuti's corner threw in the towel. Realizing that he no longer had the stamina to compete with champions of a new generation like Monzón, Benvenuti announced his retirement.
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.

Post-boxing

After retiring from boxing Benvenuti became a successful businessman, TV pundit, and city counsellor for sport in Trieste. He opened a high-class restaurant and maintained a strong friendship with his former rivals Monzón and Griffith. In 1980, Benvenuti asked Griffith to be the godfather of one of his sons and later helped him financially when Griffith was in trouble. Monzón was a guest 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. Benvenuti was a pallbearer at Monzón's funeral in 1995.

Retirement, personal life and death

Benvenuti was born in Isola d'Istria, at that time in Italy. 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.
Benvenuti died on 20 May 2025, at the age of 87.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
90LossCarlos MonzónTKO3, 1:058 May 1971Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monte Carlo, MonacoFor WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
89Loss82–6–1José ChirinoMD1017 Mar 1971Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
88Loss82–5–1Carlos MonzónTKO12, 1:577 Nov 1970Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyLost WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
87Win82–4–1Doyle BairdTKO10, 2:0312 Sep 1970Stadio della Vittoria, Bari, Apulia, Italy
86Win81–4–1Tom BetheaKO8, 2:4323 May 1970Sports Stadium Arena, Umag, YugoslaviaRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
85Loss80–4–1Tom BetheaTKO8 13 Mar 1970Olympic Velodrome, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
84Win80–3–1Luis Manuel RodríguezKO11, 1:0822 Nov 1969Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
83Win79–3–1Fraser ScottDQ7, 1:404 Oct 1969Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Campania, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
82Loss78–3–1Dick TigerUD1026 May 1969Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
81Win78–2–1Don FullmerUD1514 Dec 1968Teatro Ariston, Sanremo, Liguria, ItalyRetained WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
80Draw77–2–1Doyle BairdPTS1014 Oct 1968Rubber Bowl, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
79Win77–2Art HernandezUD1017 Sep 1968Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
78Win76–2Jimmy RamosRTD4, 0:305 Jul 1968Turin, Piedmont, Italy
77Win75–2Yoshiaki AkasakaKO2 7 Jun 1968Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
76Win74–2Emile GriffithUD154 Mar 1968Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
75Win73–2Charley AustinPTS1019 Jan 1968Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
74Loss72–2Emile GriffithMD1529 Sep 1967Shea Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
73Win72–1Emile GriffithUD1517 Apr 1967Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles
72Win71–1Milo CalhounPTS103 Mar 1967Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
71Win70–1Manfred GrausKO2, 2:4019 Jan 1967Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
70Win69–1Renato MoraesKO9 23 Dec 1966Rome, Lazio, Italy
69Win68–1Ferd HernandezPTS102 Dec 1966Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
68Win67–1Pascal Di BenedettoRTD11 21 Oct 1966Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyRetained European middleweight title
67Win66–1Harry ScottPTS1023 Sep 1966Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
66Loss65–1Kim Ki-SooSD1525 Jun 1966Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaLost WBA and WBC junior middleweight titles
65Win65–0Jupp ElzeTKO14, 1:2714 May 1966Deutschlandhalle, West Berlin, West GermanyRetained European middleweight title
64Win64–0Clarence JamesPTS1011 Mar 1966Turin, Piedmont, Italy
63Win63–0Don FullmerUD124 Feb 1966Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
62Win62–0Sandro MazzinghiUD1517 Dec 1965Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyRetained WBA and WBC junior middleweight titles
61Win61–0James SheltonPTS1015 Nov 1965Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
60Win60–0Johnny TorresDQ7 5 Nov 1965Turin, Piedmont, Italy
59Win59–0Luis FolledoKO6 15 Oct 1965Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, ItalyWon vacant European middleweight title
58Win58–0Daniel LeullierTKO7 16 Aug 1965Senigallia, Marche, Italy
57Win57–0Sandro MazzinghiKO6, 2:4018 Jun 1965San Siro, Milan, Lombardy, ItalyWon WBA and WBC junior middleweight titles
56Win56–0Milo CalhounPTS1030 Apr 1965Genoa, Liguria, Italy
55Win55–0Rip RandallPTS102 Apr 1965Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
54Win54–0Dick KnightKO6 19 Mar 1965Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
53Win53–0Mick LeahyPTS1027 Feb 1965Palazzo dello Sport, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
52Win52–0Tommaso TruppiRTD5 12 Feb 1965Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
51Win51–0Art HernandezTKO3, 2:2022 Jan 1965Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
50Win50–0Juan Carlos DuránPTS1019 Dec 1964Palazzo dello Sport, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
49Win49–0Aristeo ChavarinKO4 27 Nov 1964Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
48Win48–0Abrao De SouzaDQ7 9 Oct 1964Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
47Win47–0Denny MoyerPTS1018 Sep 1964Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
46Win46–0Fabio BettiniPTS1230 Jul 1964Sanremo, Liguria, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
45Win45–0Jimmy BeechamTKO2 28 May 1964Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
44Win44–0Sugar Boy NandoPTS1010 Apr 1964Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
43Win43–0Michel DioufPTS1018 Mar 1964Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
42Win42–0Memo AyonKO5, 0:2828 Feb 1964Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
41Win41–0Ted WrightPTS1013 Dec 1963Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
40Win40–0Luis GutierrezTKO7 15 Nov 1963Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
39Win39–0Jackie CailleauPTS107 Nov 1963Prato, Tuscany, Italy
38Win38–0Gaspar OrtegaPTS1018 Oct 1963Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
37Win37–0Víctor ZalazarTKO2 27 Sep 1963Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
36Win36–0Wilhelm NiederauTKO6 16 Sep 1963Prato, Tuscany, Italy
35Win35–0Francesco FioriTKO3 31 Aug 1963Priverno, Lazio, ItalyRetained Italian middleweight title
34Win34–0Tony MontanoPTS107 Jun 1963Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
33Win33–0Jimmy BeechamPTS1023 May 1963Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Lazio, Italy
32Win32–0Jean RuelletPTS1024 Apr 1963Palazzetto dello Sport, Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy
31Win31–0Georges EstatoffKO6, 0:335 Apr 1963Palazzo dello Sport, Turin, Piedmont, Italy
30Win30–0Tommaso TruppiKO11 1 Mar 1963Rome, Lazio, ItalyWon vacant Italian middleweight title
29Win29–0Giampaolo MelisKO2 26 Dec 1962Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
28Win28–0Isaac LogartPTS1030 Nov 1962Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
27Win27–0Daniel LeullierPTS1018 Oct 1962Padua, Veneto, Italy
26Win26–0Diego InfantesPTS828 Sep 1962Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
25Win25–0Giuseppe GentilettiKO2 30 Aug 1962Senigallia, Marche, Italy
24Win24–0Mahmout le NoirPTS82 Aug 1962Lignano, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
23Win23–0Gino RossiPTS1012 Jul 1962Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
22Win22–0Heinz FreytagPTS822 Jun 1962Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
21Win21–0Jean RuelletPTS82 Jun 1962Stadio Amsicora, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
20Win20–0Hector ConstancePTS101 May 1962Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
19Win19–0Jim HegerleKO4 13 Apr 1962Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
18Win18–0Gianni LommiKO5 17 Mar 1962Milan, Lombardy, Italy
17Win17–0Manfred HaasPTS88 Mar 1962Turin, Piedmont, Italy
16Win16–0José RiquelmePTS819 Feb 1962Palazzetto dello Sport, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
15Win15–0George AldridgeKO6 19 Jan 1962Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
14Win14–0Giuseppe CatalanoPTS820 Dec 1961Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
13Win13–0Jesse JonesDQ6 9 Nov 1961Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
12Win12–0Angelo BrisciKO1 1 Nov 1961Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
11Win11–0Retmia MahrezTKO3 2 Oct 1961Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
10Win10–0Marc DesforneauxPTS617 Jun 1961Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
9Win9–0Henri CabelducPTS67 Jun 1961Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
8Win8–0Michel FrancoisKO4 16 May 1961Turin, Piedmont, Italy
7Win7–0Daniel BrunetDQ3 3 May 1961Naples, Campania, Italy
6Win6–0Pierre MondinoPTS621 Apr 1961Florence, Tuscany, Italy
5Win5–0Nic MaricPTS67 Apr 1961PalaLido, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
4Win4–0Sahib MosriKO3 14 Mar 1961Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
3Win3–0Ben Ali AllalaKO1 27 Feb 1961Naples, Campania, Italy
2Win2–0Nicola SammartinoKO3 10 Feb 1961Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Lazio, Italy
1Win1–0Ben Ali AllalaPTS620 Jan 1961Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

''The Ring'' magazine titles

The Ring middleweight champion

Regional/International titles

Undisputed titles

Awards

On 7 May 2015, in the presence of the President of Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, he 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 is 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.