Boxing World Mourns Nino Benvenuti’s Passing

Ex-Italian two-weight world champion Nino Benvenuti has died at 87, as many tributes have been coming in. 

Benvenuti’s talent was undeniable. He achieved a 119-1 amateur record, going down as one of the best. The question was whether he could make a transition to the professional ranks. Benvenuti did just that, as he would win titles at junior middleweight and middleweight. His pro record ended with 82-7-1. He would beat some of the biggest names, such as Emile Griffith, Luis Rodriguez, Tom Bethea, Denny Moyer, Mickey Leahy, Sandro Mazzinghi, and Don Fullmer. Naturally, the news has rocked the boxing world, which came out in droves to pay their respects. 

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“Nino is a hero. He will always be in our thoughts and our hearts. He gave Italy a lot of joy and is unforgettable. To win the Val Barker Trophy as well as the Gold Medal in Rome at the same Olympic Games as Cassius Clay, then Muhammad Ali, says it all. It makes the difference. ‘’As a man, Nino was a great personality and very popular. We in Italy have great champions. Nino was a fabulous fighter, but he was also very good with his popularity. He could talk to anybody, a wonderful speaker and a truly great athlete. After his boxing career, he was still in great shape.

“There are Champion and Champions. Nino was so very special. ‘’When Nino lost to Carlos Monzon in 1970 in Rome it was a very sad day and then the rematch. Not only in sports, but when a champion finishes, there is another to take his place. Isaac Newton died, but then we had Alberto Einstein. History makes very special things.

“Sport is like life. ‘’I remember when I was with Nino in Buenos Aires at the Monument of Carlos Monzon. Nino was very happy to go to Buenos Aires and stay with his old friend. Nino also helped Emile Griffith, when Griffith was having bad moments, inviting him to Italy. That makes a champion to be a Special Man as well,” Mauro Betti (President of the WB`s International Championship and a WBC Vice President) said 

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