Nino Benvenuti vs. Luis Manuel Rodriguez

Nino Benvenuti 160 lbs beat Luis Rodriguez 156 lbs by KO at 1:08 in round 11 of 15

• Date: 1969-11-22
• Location: PalaEur, Roma, Lazio, Italy
• Referee: Domenico Carabellese
• Judge: Piero Brambilla
• Judge: Pietro Ambrosini

• World Boxing Association Middleweight Title (3rd defending of Benvenuti)
  
• World Boxing Council Middleweight Title (3rd defending of Benvenuti)
  
• Time: 1:08
  
• Weights: Benvenuti 156 lbs, Rodriguez 159.5 lbs

Comments

- Undisputed World Middleweight Title
- Rodriguez knocked out with single left hook.

"World middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti, his face a bloody mask from the 3rd round on, retained his title Saturday night with a stunning knockout of American challenger Luis Rodriguez in the 11th round. The end came at 1:10 of the 11th in a fight Rodriguez seemed sure of winning. The 32 year old challenger had cut Benvenuti's face open with slashing right hooks and counter-punching left jabs that left Benvenuti glassy-eyed. But Benvenuti came back with one sudden shot - a tremendous left hook - to Rodriguez' face. The challenger fell back and took the full count almost unmoving. A crowd of 18,000 erupted in wild cheers and fought its way into the ring to raise Benvenuti into the air. Rodriguez remained semi-conscious in his corner." -United Press International

• Unofficial UPI scorecard (through 10 completed rounds) - 5-4-1 Rodriguez
• Unofficial AP scorecard - the AP stated they had the bout even at the time of the knockout.

Preceded by: Benvenuti vs. Scott

WBA Middleweight Title Fight # 14 WBC Middleweight Title Fight # 13

Succeeded by: Benvenuti vs. Bethea II