Nino Benvenuti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nino Benvenuti |
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Benvenuti in 2010
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Giovanni Benvenuti |
| Nickname(s) | Nino |
| Rated at | 79.5 kg |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 26 April 1938 Isola d'Istria, Kingdom of Italy (now Izola, Slovenia) |
| Died | May 20, 2025 (aged 87) Rome, Italy |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 90 |
| Wins | 82 |
| Wins by KO | 35 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 1 |
Giovanni "Nino" Benvenuti (born April 26, 1938 – died May 20, 2025) was a famous Italian professional boxer and actor. He won world titles in two different weight classes. He was the undisputed world champion in the super-welterweight division from June 1965 to June 1966. He also held the undisputed middleweight championship twice. His first middleweight title was from April to September 1967, and his second was from March 1968 to November 1970.
As an amateur boxer, he was very successful. He won the Italian welterweight title five times from 1956 to 1960. He also won the European title in 1957 and 1959. The biggest win of his amateur career was an Olympic gold medal in 1960. He also received the Val Barker trophy for his excellent boxing style. In 1961, after winning all 120 of his amateur fights, he became a professional boxer. He continued to win world titles in both the light-middleweight and middleweight divisions. Later in his career, he also acted in two Italian movies.
Nino Benvenuti was recognized for his amazing career. He was added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992. He is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. In 1968, The Ring magazine named him their Fighter of the Year. In 2011, the same magazine ranked him as one of the top middleweight champions of the last 50 years.
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Nino Benvenuti's Professional Boxing Career
Nino Benvenuti started his professional boxing journey on January 20, 1961. He won his first fight against Ben Ali Allala. After that, he won 29 more fights in a row! On March 1, 1963, he fought for the Italian middleweight title. He knocked out Tommaso Truppi in the eleventh round, extending his winning streak to 30 fights. His amazing streak reached 46 wins when he faced former world champion Denny Moyer in September 1964. Benvenuti won that fight by points.
After winning 55 fights in a row, he fought Sandro Mazzinghi in June 1965. This was a very exciting fight for Italian fans. Both boxers were Italian champions and wanted to prove who was best. Benvenuti won by knockout in the sixth round, becoming the world junior middleweight champion. He then won the European middleweight title in October 1965. He knocked out Luis Folledo in the sixth round.
Benvenuti had a rematch with Mazzinghi in December 1965. He won again, keeping his world junior middleweight title. After three more wins, he traveled to South Korea. There, he lost his world junior middleweight title to Ki-Soo Kim in June 1966. This loss ended his incredible streak of 65 wins in a row. Feeling the decision was unfair, Benvenuti decided to focus on the middleweight division.
Winning the Middleweight Title
On April 17, 1967, Benvenuti fought Emile Griffith in New York City. He won by decision, becoming the world middleweight champion. This was the first of three fights between them. In their second fight in September 1967, Benvenuti lost his title to Griffith.
Their third and final fight was on March 4, 1968. Benvenuti knocked Griffith down and won the fight. He regained his world middleweight title. In December 1968, he successfully defended his title against Don Fullmer. In May 1969, Benvenuti fought former world light heavyweight champion Dick Tiger. Benvenuti broke his right hand early in the fight but bravely continued. He lost the non-title match.
On October 4, 1969, Benvenuti defended his title against Fraser Scott. He won when Scott was disqualified in the seventh round. In November 1969, he kept his title by knocking out Luis Rodriguez in the eleventh round.
In March 1970, Benvenuti was knocked out by Tom Bethea in a non-title fight. This upset loss gave Bethea a chance to fight for Benvenuti's world title. Benvenuti got his revenge in the rematch, knocking out Bethea in the eighth round. On November 7, 1970, Benvenuti lost his world title to the rising star Carlos Monzón. Monzón knocked him out in the twelfth round.
In 1971, Benvenuti had a rematch with Monzón for the world middleweight title. Monzón won again in the third round. After this fight, Benvenuti realized he could no longer compete at the highest level. He decided to retire from boxing.
Nino Benvenuti finished his professional boxing career with an impressive record. He had 82 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw (a tie) in 90 fights. He won 35 of his fights by knockout. In 1992, he was honored by being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Life After Boxing
After retiring from boxing, Nino Benvenuti became a successful businessman. He also worked as a TV commentator and a city councilor for sports in Trieste. He opened a fancy restaurant. He remained good friends with his former boxing rivals, Monzón and Griffith. In 1980, Benvenuti asked Griffith to be the godfather of one of his sons. He also helped Griffith financially when he was having difficulties. Benvenuti was one of the people who carried Monzón's coffin at his funeral in 1995.
Personal Life and Passing
Nino Benvenuti was born in Isola d'Istria, which was part of Italy at the time. It is now in Slovenia. After World War II, his family moved to Italy because of the war.
In 1961, Benvenuti married Giuliana Fonzari. They had four sons and adopted a girl from Tunisia. They later divorced. Benvenuti then married Nadia Bertorello, and they had one daughter.
Nino Benvenuti passed away on May 20, 2025, at the age of 87.
Images for kids
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Benvenuti in 2010
Titles in Boxing
Major World Titles
- WBA light middleweight champion (154 lbs)
- WBC light middleweight champion (154 lbs)
- WBA middleweight champion (160 lbs) (2 times)
- WBC middleweight champion (160 lbs) (2 times)
The Ring Magazine Titles
- The Ring middleweight champion (160 lbs) (2 times)
Regional and International Titles
- European middleweight champion (160 lbs)
- Italian middleweight champion (160 lbs)
Undisputed Titles
- Undisputed light middleweight champion
- Undisputed middleweight champion (2 times)
Awards and Honors
On May 7, 2015, a special "Walk of Fame" for Italian sports was opened in Rome. It features 100 tiles with the names of Italy's most important athletes. One of these tiles is dedicated to Nino Benvenuti, recognizing his great achievements in Italian sports history.
See also
In Spanish: Nino Benvenuti para niños
- Legends of Italian sport - Walk of Fame
- List of world light-middleweight boxing champions
- List of world middleweight boxing champions
