Daily News reunites boxing legends Nino Benvenuti and Emile Griffith one last time

Daily News reunites boxing legends Nino Benvenuti and Emile Griffith one last time

BY MITCH ABRAMSON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, December 25th 2009, 4:00 AM


Xanthos/News
Legendary News cartoonist Bill Gallo reminisces with former middleweight boxing champs Nino Benvenuti and Emile Griffith (r.) in Gallo's office.
They were champions in the ring - and class acts outside it - but since they hung up their gloves, their lives have taken sharply different turns.

The fortunate one spent his money wisely, remains in great shape and is a TV commentator.

The unlucky one walks with a cane, lives on Social Security and suffers from dementia - the silent enemy of men who take too many punches to the head.

The other day, the fortunate one, Nino Benvenuti, gave his former adversary and longtime friend Emile Griffith an early Christmas gift, a Western Union money transfer bag stuffed with $10,000 in cash.

"He just put it in my hand," said Griffith's adopted son, Luis Griffith. "It was incredible."

The gift came after the fighters met in Daily News' cartoonist Bill Gallo's small office, adorned with sketches and photos of sports greats from the days of Louis and DiMaggio through the ages to Ali and legendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel.

Brilliant in a navy blue suit and light pink tie, Benvenuti, 71, spent time looking through old photos, eventually picking up an old black-and-white of himself. He's in a fighter's stance, muscular, smiling and trim - not much different than he looks today.

"I had more muscle back then, but I weigh the same," he said, pointing to his midsection. "I am still a middleweight."

Griffith, in a dusty black pinstriped suit, looked impassively ahead. It wasn't clear if the five-time champ knew where he was.

They fought three epic battles - grueling 15-rounders in New York in 1967 and '68. Benvenuti won two; Griffith took one.

A close friendship grew, and in 1980, Benvenuti asked Griffith to be godfather to his son, Giuliano.

On Monday, the two walked through The News' offices hand-in-hand, smiling broadly. There was little talk of Benvenuti's gift - a nod from one champ to another.

Luis, 47, wouldn't say exactly how much was in the bag, only that it was "in the thousands." A source close to the hard-luck fighter said it was $10,000.

"We're both poor," said Luis, a mailroom clerk. "I'd like to see Emile doing better, secure in a better apartment. He should be doing better."

Griffith, 71, is not doing well. The man who fought more main events than anyone in Madison Square Garden - 26 - lives in a cramped studio apartment in Hempstead with Luis.

Griffith survives on a monthly Social Security check and the little money he earns for public appearances. His memory has eroded over the years, and he depends on daily medication to preserve what clarity is left.

Benvenuti plans to set up a retirement fund for Griffith to give him security for the rest of his life.

He wants to fly Griffith to Italy in January to help raise money through public appearances. Benvenuti was in New York for a holiday luncheon with Ring 8, a group that helps former fighters.

The event, scheduled for last Sunday in Queens, was canceled due to snow, but Benvenuti, who lives in Rome and works for the Italian TV company RAI, wouldn't go home without seeing Griffith.

"I was lucky," Benvenuti said in halting English. "I am doing well. Not everybody is lucky. He (Griffith) is less lucky. I want to help him. This is our fourth fight together. This time, he will win."

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Related Topics
Luis Griffith
Nino Benvenuti
Emile Griffith
Madison Square Garden
Bill Gallo
Ray Arcel
Western Union Financial Services Inc.
Rome
Hempstead (New York)
Italy
Nassau County
United States


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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...-12-25_untitled__boxing25m.html#ixzz0ahApq4Ma

My god Nino looks tremendous, what a breath of fresh air!!