Nino Benvenuti vs. Carlos Monzon (1st meeting)
Carlos Monzon 160 lbs beat Nino Benvenuti 160 lbs by TKO at 1:57 in round 12 of 15
- Date: 1970-11-07
- Location: PalaEur, Roma, Lazio, Italy
- Referee: Rudolf Drust
- Judge: Georges Gondre
- Judge: Aime Leschot
- World Boxing Association Middleweight Title (5th defending of Benvenuti)
- World Boxing Council Middleweight Title (5th defending of Benvenuti)
- Time: -:--
- Weights: 159.75 lbs (each)
"Argentina's Carlos Monzon knocked out a groggy Nino Benvenuti of Italy with a crashing right hook in the 12th round Saturday night to become the world middleweight champion. Monzon achieved the distinction of handing Benvenuti his first defeat on Italian soil. Monzon lived up to his billing. He came to Rome undefeated in his last 60 bouts and carrying a reputation of a strong, right-hook knockout artist. Benvenuti, four years Monzon's senior, was much slower than in his previous title defenses. The champion found himself in trouble in the early rounds, and again in the 7th and 11th rounds. In the 12th, Monzon hit the Italian with three consecutive blows to the face. Benvenuti backed into the ropes, groggy, and Monzon walked over and, very calculatingly, slammed the knockout punch." -Associated Press
- Gate - $160,000
- Europe and Argentine TV rights - $70,000
- Purses: Benvenuti - $100,000, Monzon - $15,000
Post-fight comments
- "What I said when I arrived in Italy has been fulfilled. I said that I would take the crown to Argentina. I was sure that I could knock out Benvenuti. But I must admit, he was a very good champion." -Carlos Monzon
- "It was a bad defeat. We really cannot explain it. Nino was in excellent physical condition and he looked calm and confident before the fight." -Bruno Amaduzzi, Benvenuti's manager
Comments
- 1970 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year
- See also: Carlos Monzon vs. Nino Benvenuti (2nd meeting)
External Link
- "The Night Carlos Made a No-No Out of Ni-No" by Wilton Wynn - Sports Illustrated - November 16, 1970
| Preceded by: Benvenuti vs. Bethea II |
WBA Middleweight Title Fight # 17 WBC Middleweight Title Fight # 15 |
Succeeded by: Monzon vs. Benvenuti II |