Nino Benvenuti The Cesar of Boxing has died

The Great Nino Benvenuti has passed away aged eighty- seven and with him a golden era of boxing is now consigned to the pages of history, yet NEVER to be forgotten.

Two weight undisputed Champion, at Super-Welterweight Champion and middleweight Champion, it all started in Iso La D`Istria, the town of Nino`s birth on April 26th 1938. Back then it was in Italy and today it`s located in Slovenia.

Nino fell in love with boxing at the age of thirteen and Boxing`s love affair with Nino started an epic Odyssey. Of the one hundred and twenty amateur bouts Nino fought he lost only one! The pinnacle garland laurels of his amateur career flourished at the 1960 Rome Olympics when he won Gold in the super-welter division and the Prestigious Val Barker Award for the standout performance, even eclipsing then Cassius Clay.

Nino turned pro in 1961 and each of his ninety bouts was a thriller. He embodied technique, power punching, tactical intelligence and unquenchable courage. All this topped off by film star good looks and an aimable, warm, kind personality which meant he was adored throughout Italy…and by the way… in the whole wide World.

Nino`s three battles with Emile Griffith stand out in boxing folk law and history. He bestrode the Atlantic to reach Madison Square Garden and seize the middleweight title from the Adonis of the Virgin Isles. Then he lost the rematch, but characteristically won the decider of the trilogy- thrillogy, also at the Garden.

Before this he thrilled Italy by winning the Super-Welter in a slugfest with compatriot Sandro Mazzinghi at the San Siro. After an illustrious career with eighty- two wins, including thirty- five KO`s and just seven losses, Nino called time and became an actor, restauranter and businessman.

At the World Boxing Council`s Convention in Baku, champions flocked to pay tribute to Nino. Impeccably attired, yet modest and still trim and magnificent, he smiled in a shy way and was so very gracious. The mark of A Great.

Mauro Betti, who is the President of the World Boxing Council`s International Championship and a WBC Vice President is proud to be a Friend of Nino.

On this so sad day, which is simultaneously a Celebration of a Great and Unforgettable Man, Mauro said:

‘’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.’’