Benvenuti won the gold medal in the welterweight category at the 1960 Rome Olympics and, after turning professional, became world champion in two classes - light middleweight and middleweight.
Benvenuti had a record of 82 wins, including 35 knockouts, seven losses and one draw in his 90 professional boxing bouts and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
His three world title fights against Emile Griffith in 1967 and 1968 were epic battles.
Born in Isola d’Istria on April 26, 1938, Benvenuti was one of the best boxers of all time, and the biggest Italian star when the sport was in its prime.
The iconic clashes with Griffith made history not only in sports but also in the Italian society of that time. Benvenuti’s bouts with domestic rival Sandro Mazzinghi were also epic contests.
ANSA
