I think he is top 25. His last few fights kind of affected his status which is a bit unfair in a way because he was way past his prime. But if we consider Monzon top 20 we should consider Nino top 25? What's your opinion?
P4P? No, I wouldn’t have him anywhere near that high, to be honest. Italy’s (no Italian Americans included) greatest ever fighter? Yeah, probably.
-119-1 as amateur. -82/7/1 as professional -Olympic champion -Judged best boxer at the Olympics of 1960, beating Cassius Clay-Mohammad Ali -World super welterweight champion -World middleweight champion The defeat against Kim was a real robbery, scandalous for the way it happened. The defeats to Monzon and Chirino came when he was old and in decline. He can be in the top twenty.
At middleweight and light middle I would say he's top 20 in both divisions, in fact hes probably a top 10 at 154... as for being one of the overall greatest fighters of all time he's top 50 IMO.
P4P is kinda complicated for a fair assessment. But at MW a serious case can be made that Nino is a legit Top10 ATG.
Nino was a good fighter , but all time pound for pound? No where near top 50. and that's not a knock on him but there's just soooo many fighters across the divisions that are much better
Great fighter, but not ATG. Reminds me a bit of Alexis Arguello in a way. Sort of a guy who seems too nice of a guy to be a fighter. Befriending Monzon when Monzon went to prison and staying in regular contact with him. Arguello comforting Mancini after their fight and telling him that he still will be a champion despite Ray's painful loss. Class acts.
I remember that someone said Benvenuti means welcome in Italian,his smile,act and name tells him how good of a person he is,not for his hands though.
Other than Basilio,Corbett and LaMotta,I can't think of any greater Italian fighter than him P4P,though he might not crack top 50 himself, he's Italian's finest.