Overview

• Giovanni 'Nino' Benvenuti, the Italian boxing icon, passed away on May 20, 2025, at the age of 87, as confirmed by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
• Benvenuti won Olympic Welterweight gold at the 1960 Rome Games and received the Val Barker trophy as the tournament’s outstanding boxer, surpassing even Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali).
• He became a professional world champion in two weight divisions, claiming the Super Welterweight title in 1965 and the Middleweight title in 1967 and 1968.
• After retiring from boxing in 1970, Benvenuti transitioned to a public life in film and television, remaining a prominent figure in Italian culture.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni honored Benvenuti for his athletic achievements and his advocacy for Italians displaced after World War II, calling him a defender of truth and a national hero.