HitmanDonny's Hall of Fame.

[donnydarkoIRL]

In this thread I intend to research hero's of the Ring whom I feel are under appreciated or not dedicated the great legacies they earned with Blood, sweat and tears inside the squared circle.

I will add fighters one at a time and should any of you guys wish me to do a write up on any of your heroes just PM me and I'll do my best.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I hope you don't mind if I start with an old favourite:

NINO BENEVENUTI. (82-7-1 (35))

Born in Italy in Isola d’Istria on 26th of April 1938 Nino Benvenuti although not commonly known today, was destined to become one of very few Europeans to transcend boxing’s borders and enthral the world. The famous commentator Jim Amato was quoted, “Nino captured the American fans with his suave, arrogant demeanour…” However it is fair to assume that his boxing skills and sportsmanlike conduct also had a part to play in this man’s rise to fame and glory.

He embarked on hi highly successful amateur trek at the age of 11 and proved his mettle seizing two European light middleweight titles which was accompanied by nan Olympic gold medal. If further proof of his quality was needed he was awarded the Val Barker trophy for BEST STYLIST following Olympic win. (One must realise that he was awarded this in front of America’s Cassius Clay!)

The inevitable professional debut came in 1961 against an opponent named Ben Ali Allala. This win was the first of fourteen in his first year and he quickly moved on to face quality international opposition in the pursuing years. In these fights he showed not only style and flash, but also heart when getting of the floor to beat Lou Gutierrez, breaking his jaw in the 7th.

Nino’s rise to prominence was crowned by a victory in his first title fight when he beat another Italian (in just six rounds,) Sandro Mazzinghi for the world light middle weight title in 1965. The defences piled up after he seized the title and Benvenuti secured a record of 65-0, only to be handed his first defeat in a controversial fashion at the hands of Ki-So Kim, a forme4r amateur opponent who Benvenuti had previously dispatched.

This turn of fortune saw Nino climb weight to the middleweight division where he would complete his career. His career was more colourful at this weight as he did not enjoy the saw advantage in terms of the power which aided his exploits at 154. On the 17th of April 1967 he challenged the great Emile Griffith for the World Middleweight title. The chemical reaction which occurred between Griffith and Benvenuti was best described as explosive, but Nino walked away with the Middleweight crown on a unanimous decision. The encore occurred months later with Griffith avenging his previous loss.
A less than wise man once said “All good trilogies come in threes,” and so the rubber match was set, with Nino dominating more than in their previous battles and surviving a late Griffith onslaught to regain the middleweight title.

Benvenuti was an active champion defending 5 times in 1968 nand also taking part in a film entitled “Alive or preferably dead.”
Benvenuti dropped a decision over ten rounds to Dick Tiger but Nino rebounded with a last gasp KO win over Luis Manuel Rodriguez. Benvenuti’s career then entered a period of turmoil, with Nino quitting to Ted Bethea but comprehensively outboxing the same opponent in a rematch.

In 1970 he signed to fight a relatively unknown fighter from Argentina. Unfortunately for Nino the fighter was the late great Carlos Monzon. Monzon handed Benvenuti a ferocious beating and stopped him in the twelfth. Upon losing a comeback fight with another Argentine, fighter Jose Roberto Chirino, Nino prepared for a comeback against Monzon. However the machine that was Carlos Monzon had reached full effect and Benvenuti was dispatched in three, helpless on the ropes.

He never boxed again, successfully tried his hand at politics and television and in 1995 turned his back on everything to work as a volunteer in India. Nino Benvenuti was one of those boxers whose life outside the Ring glitters just as much as his career inside them ring did and he certainly deserves to be remembered.

[LEGION]

Good stuff Donny Boy, CC. Keep em' coming. Check your PM.

[mike_tha_man]

CC great info

[ICB]

Nicolino Locche


117 wins 14 KO 4 losses

One of the greatest Defensive fighters of all time and even Roy Jones copied some moves from Nicolino Locche the only stoppage loss he ever had was cut loss to Antonio Cervantes great fighter and definetly under appreciated imo.

[ICB]

But there's plenty.

Gene Tunney
Ezzard Charles
Charles Burley

[Dark Lord Al]

Pancho Villa

[donnydarkoIRL]

Got a special one coming up next! Itl be on tonight

[DarkDestroyer]

Give 'em credit, tose old timers.
good work hitmandonny

[BubbleBox]

Donny is really working for those votes for 'poster of the year'.

Your a legend Donny. CC mate!

[donnydarkoIRL]

HaHa CC in 24, nah i don't wanna be poster of the year, i'm just me and still finding my niche in the forum, but i got some good ones coming!

[BubbleBox]

Donny you don't need a niche fella...Your already a Saddo HOF! I agree with you on almost everything on here!

Now don't go growing a Big B-Hop styled head

[ICB]

.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Harry Greb (264-23-12)

Greb is not mentioned too often in casual conversation between the average boxing fans. However menbtion his name to a survivor of that era or to a knowledgable boxing enthusiast and a smile will tweak at the lips at the mention of his name. "prize fighting ain't the noblest of arts and I ain't it's noblest artist," was how Greb alluded to his "colourful" fighting style. 299 fights, an average of 22 fights per year, flabergasting, no? A middleweight by nature, it was not uncommon for Greb to challenge men that today would be classed as super Middle's light heavies and cruisers!!!


A fighter bwho had the repuatation for being three things. First, quick as lightning, secondly tough as steel nails and thirdly; possessing a mentality which allowed his conscience to sway enough to allow him win by any means necessary. Anyone that may have been privy to Mr.Grebs fights will know that whilst in the ring should he have felt the referee was opposing him, the referee would receive the same treatment as the opposing fighter.

One of my personal favourite boxing writers David Rayvern Allen depicted him mas a "fox behind leather paws," however please do not mistake the representation of Greb as a wily sly fighter as being in any way demenaing. The quality of this fighter can not be denied. Anyone who is interested to explore his career record will discover victories over none other than Gene Tunney,Mickey Walker and uality opposition such as Kid Norfolk (whom he simply demolished!!!) It must be added that the Tunney fight was Tunneys only defeat and that Tunney (stopped by Greb) four years later went on to defeat the main man at heavyweight Jack Dempsey!!!

Like Jake LaMotta and Sandy Saddler in his day Greb was unpopular on his way to the Ring, but he was essential viewing and the public watched (in grudged admiration) hoping he would fall. However as I have said he was tough as old boots and when he fell he was usually up within moments....This was the case after a car crash in 1926 which he miraculously walked out of. He underwent surgery to repair a broken nose he sustained in this accident only to die under anaesthtic.
He ruled the Middleweight division from 1923 to1926. He will always be remembered by the purist and forever grudgingly admired.

[Spicoli]

Harry Greb (264-23-12)

Greb is not mentioned too often in casual conversation between the average boxing fans. However menbtion his name to a survivor of that era or to a knowledgable boxing enthusiast and a smile will tweak at the lips at the mention of his name. "prize fighting ain't the noblest of arts and I ain't it's noblest artist," was how Greb alluded to his "colourful" fighting style. 299 fights, an average of 22 fights per year, flabergasting, no? A middleweight by nature, it was not uncommon for Greb to challenge men that today would be classed as super Middle's light heavies and cruisers!!!


A fighter bwho had the repuatation for being three things. First, quick as lightning, secondly tough as steel nails and thirdly; possessing a mentality which allowed his conscience to sway enough to allow him win by any means necessary. Anyone that may have been privy to Mr.Grebs fights will know that whilst in the ring should he have felt the referee was opposing him, the referee would receive the same treatment as the opposing fighter.

One of my personal favourite boxing writers David Rayvern Allen depicted him mas a "fox behind leather paws," however please do not mistake the representation of Greb as a wily sly fighter as being in any way demenaing. The quality of this fighter can not be denied. Anyone who is interested to explore his career record will discover victories over none other than Gene Tunney,Mickey Walker and uality opposition such as Kid Norfolk (whom he simply demolished!!!) It must be added that the Tunney fight was Tunneys only defeat and that Tunney (stopped by Greb) four years later went on to defeat the main man at heavyweight Jack Dempsey!!!

Like Jake LaMotta and Sandy Saddler in his day Greb was unpopular on his way to the Ring, but he was essential viewing and the public watched (in grudged admiration) hoping he would fall. However as I have said he was tough as old boots and when he fell he was usually up within moments....This was the case after a car crash in 1926 which he miraculously walked out of. He underwent surgery to repair a broken nose he sustained in this accident only to die under anaesthtic.
He ruled the Middleweight division from 1923 to1926. He will always be remembered by the purist and forever grudgingly admired.

Great Read Donny.We need much more of this to keep the past Era's and great memories alive.Sometimes we get caught up In a "seeing is believing " mentality and set aside history and old time greats as untouchable entity's and or uncertain facts . Its all there to be disected,explored and obtained.Boxing did not start with us and god willing it will outlive every one of us so the next generations of fans can read and 'live' ,with todays technology,what we witnessed with todays greats.
Crazy thing I read was that shortly after Tiger Flowers 2nd victory over Greb He went In for facial surgery and died at 32,Same tragedy as Greb (in surgery) And the same age as well.I really wish there was actual fight footage of him,No Dvd's or u-tube then Lol.All we can do is have some faith in the eye-witness accounts,newspaper writers and historians.
CC to you....or um Rep point to you .