Nino Benvenuti

Nino Benvenuti had movie-star good looks and a punch that could knock a man cold. The former 1960 Olympic Champion was also a 3-time world boxing champion. Undefeated in his first 62 fights, Nino captured the imagination of not only boxing fans, but the general public. Lanky, but lethal punching, he defended his world middleweight title 4 times. In 90 professional fights, he won 82, 35 by knockout. A love of the night-life, brittle hands, and too many fights added up to spell an early ending to his popular and colorful career. He lost his last three fights, including two knockout defeats to Carlos Monzon. It was said he was in training for a comeback a few years later, but he never returned to the ring.