Emile Griffith vs. Nino Benvenuti (1st meeting)

Emile Griffith 153 lbs lost to Nino Benvenuti 159 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1967-04-17
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Mark Conn 5-10
• Judge: Leo Birnbaum 5-10
• Judge: Al Berl 6-9

• Unofficial AP scorecard - 10-5 Benvenuti
• Attendance - 14,251
• Gate - $141,799
• World Boxing Association Middleweight Title (3rd defending of Griffith)
  
• World Boxing Council Middleweight Title (3rd defending of Griffith)
  

Comment(s)

- Griffith was knocked down in the 2nd round.
- Benvenuti was knocked down in the 4th round.
- 1967 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year
- See also: Nino Benvenuti vs. Emile Griffith (2nd meeting)
- See also: Emile Griffith vs. Nino Benvenuti (3rd meeting)

Post-fight comments

• "We'd like to put on the return bout in the Garden in July. It was a sensational fight and should be a complete sellout. There's a handshake agreement between the managers for the return fight but I'd like to get it on paper." -Harry Markson, MSG director of boxing

• "I knew I had him after the 6th round. I trained for this like I never trained before. I wanted it so much." -Nino Benvenuti

• "The kid won a beautiful fight and I hope to fight him again. Even Sandy Koufax got knocked out of the box once in a while." -Emile Griffith

Preceded by: Griffith vs. Archer II

WBA Middleweight Title Fight # 10 WBC Middleweight Title Fight # 8

Succeeded by: Benvenuti vs. Griffith II