Nino Benvenuti

Giovanni Nino Benvenuti (26 April 1938 to 20 May 2025) was an Italian professional boxer and actor, born in Isola d'Istria. As an amateur welterweight he won the Italian title from 1956 to 1960, the European title in 1957 and 1959 and the Olympic gold medal in 1960, receiving the Val Barker trophy for boxing style, with an amateur record of 120 wins and no losses. He turned professional in 1961 and held world titles at light middleweight and, twice, at middleweight, including the undisputed middleweight championship from 1968 to 1970, when he lost it to Carlos Monzon. His rivalry with Emile Griffith produced a famous trilogy of fights. He finished with 82 wins, 7 losses and 1 draw, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992 and was The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1968.