Toward the end of Nino Benvenuti's title reign he was looking pretty beatable even to the point that there was talk of Carmen Basilio making a comeback in 1969 and fighting Nino for the title even though Carmen had been retired since 1961. I remember reading this in the newspaper and hoping that it wouldn't happen as I didn't want to see him risk getting injured. How do you think this fight would have gone had they met when both were at their peak. I pick Basilio to win this one.
I dont know what the newspapers were thinking?? Jack Dempsey in retirement, would have lost to the Joe Louis in 51. Basilio would have lost in 69 imo. Out of shape, ring rust and other things. Peak for peak, that be a close one, but I think Basilio guts it out, and wars with Benvenuit, for a close UD.
Both Italians, so I can´t get criticized for my pick! I pick Benvenuti, he´s very underrated, in his prime ( in 1963 ca.) he looked really great, and at 154 lbs I don´t see many fighters beating him. I think this matchup is at 160 lbs, right? But it doesn´t matter, it´s also not Basilio´s best weight class. Nino´s handspeed, size- and reach advantages would be the main factor here IMO, I say: Benvenuti UD 15 Basilio (9-6)
It was a stunt that thank God, for Basilio's sake, that it never came off. Benvenuti was head and shoulders above other European champions of the past and is always, it seems, painfully underrated. He could be erratic at times in his career, losing to guys he had no business losing to, but he always (except for Monzon) came back to win impressively in the rematch. I feel he was even coming on somewhat just before Monzon got him, as in his revenge victory over Tom "The Bomb" Bethea, neatly ko'ing him in the 8th round after thoroughly dominating him all the way. If poor Carmine were to have fought Nino, he would have been humiliated. Nino would have cut him, shut his eye, and then stopped him in 6 or 7.
Nino wins this everytime. Too big and too strong for Carmen, who while he had all the heart in the world would simply not be able to overcome Benvenuti`s significant advantages in height and reach.
In middlleweight championship fights, Basilio only beat an aging Sugar Ray Robinson., otherwise he lost all other attempts. If Nino can beat Griffith at Middleweight, he would beat Basilio.