Nino Benvenuti, a junior middleweight and middleweight world champion and 1992 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, passed away in Rome, Italy, Tuesday at 87.

The Ring named him Fighter of the Year in 1968.

"Nino Benvenuti will be remembered not only as the greatest boxer in the history of Italy but arguably the greatest sporting icon in the country," WBC President Mauricio Suliaman told The Ring on Tuesday night. "Olympic champion who went on to capture the WBC super welterweight and middleweight championships who fought the best in an era of great competition with fighters like Carlos Monzon, Emile Griffith, Raul Valdez and many more.

"Nino was a true gentleman with class and integrity. His presence was noticed as soon as he stepped into a room.

"We had the great privilege to spend many events together as the WBC recognized his career and achievements in many places of the world, such as in the 1983 gala at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Mexico City, Las Vegas, Uzbekistan and many more

"Boxing, the World has lost a true legend whose legacy and memory will be eternal."

Benvenuti was a successful businessman who had been involved in boxing as a commentator, too, working for Italian channel RAI.

Editor’s note: This feature originally appeared in the July 2016 issue of The Ring. He spoke to The Ring about the best he faced in 10 key categories. Italian boxing correspondent Marco Bratusch helped coordinate and translate.

One thing that stands out about Benvenuti is that he, not Cassius Clay, was named the outstanding boxer of the 1960 Olympics in Rome. That set the stage for one of the best careers a European has ever had.

Benvenuti took up boxing at 11, inspired by the legendary Duilio Loi. He had 120 fights in the unpaid ranks and lost only once, contentiously.

“For me it is a 120-0 record because of the nonsense of that loss,” he told The Ring. “We were in Turkey fighting a Turkish boxer and … observers’ opinions about the outcome were unanimous in my direction. So, finally, I can consider myself satisfied even with my 119-1 amateur record.”

His amateur career culminated with five one-sided decisions and a gold medal in his home country. Nothing he did as a pro was more gratifying.

“That was the greatest victory of my life,” he said. “The most meaningful, for that specific moment and so on for the following years. Representing Italy at the Olympics was what I dreamed about since I was a boy. Consequentially, you can imagine what winning the gold medal in Rome has meant for me.”

He continued: “I consider my Olympics win as my best overall. And do you know why? Because it lasts forever. I’m now a former middleweight champion of the world yet I’m still an Olympic gold medalist.”

Benvenuti turned professional in early 1961 and won 56 contests in a row, collecting national and European titles along the way. That earned him a shot at fellow Italian Sandro Mazzinghi for the 154-pound world title in the summer of 1965. He brilliantly stopped his compatriot in six rounds to become WBA and WBC champion.

He defeated Mazzinghi in a rematch in December 1965, this time on points, before he surprisingly lost his titles to Ki-Soo Kim by a split decision in the Korean’s home country. He had beaten Kim in the Olympics.

Annoyed at losing a fight he believed he’d won, Benvenuti moved up to middleweight. The handsome Italian won seven consecutive fights before making his American debut against Ring, WBA and WBC middleweight champ Emile Griffith in the first of a classic three-fight series — all in New York — with a rival who ultimately would become a fellow Hall of Famer.

Both men went down early but Benvenuti emerged with a decision in THE RING’s Fight of the Year for 1967. Griffith regained his titles by A majority decision in the rematch later that year. And, in 1968, Benvenuti won the rubber match by a unanimous decision to recapture the belts.

Benvenuti successfully defended four times (plus three non-title bouts, one a loss to Dick Tiger) before meeting a then-unknown Argentine, Carlos Monzon. The fighters waged war for 11-plus rounds until the younger Monzon finally stopped the valiant Benvenuti in the 12th in what was again named The Ring’s Fight of the Year for 1970.

Benvenuti (82-7-1, 35 KOs) retired after losing to Monzon a second time in 1971.

Juan Carlos Duran: He had a very good jab. It was a frequent and accurate punch, though it didn’t sting that much. In my representation of a real jab, it needs to be a more hurtful punch.

Dick Tiger: He was really very strong and powerful. Not only did he have power, he also used the right punching technique to land more effectively.

Emile Griffith: It was Emile Griffith when he put together the punches in bunches. Very fast and well done combinations.

Griffith: Griffith, again. "Emilio” (Benvenuti’s nickname for Griffith) had those skinny legs but they were very reactive and durable for 15 rounds. He also knew where to put his feet in the right place. And I’m talking either offensively or defensively.

Griffith: Talking about this particular quality, I’m always very interested in the adaptability of a boxer facing opponents of different skills or styles. That’s a very important quality for a champion because it allows you to make the right adjustments. And I think Emile Griffith was the best I’ve faced in this aspect. You can see it also in his fights against Monzon, when he was past his prime.

Carlos Monzon: I would say Monzon, of course. But unfortunately I could not test his skills as much as I wanted to (laughs). Bennie Briscoe, who I used to spar, was a tough and iron-chinned boxer.

Monzon: Well, it was Carlos Monzon. He threw punches with such determination, viciousness, and he really loved to hurt you also during sparring sessions, they told me. And he had the right physique to achieve it.

Monzon: Actually Carlos Monzon was a very difficult boxer to hit. He had awkward hand movement, a bit like an octopus I would say, that inhibited you to find the right measures to do anything. Even when he was against the ropes he used his height to make you miss [by] flexing his body backward.

Griffith: I’m thinking [Luis] Rodriguez or Griffith, even if they were different boxers. You could feel Rodriguez’s power also when he hit you on a shoulder but Emilio needed to catch you perfectly and precisely to be really effective. If they had been true middleweights, they would have been almost unbeatable. If I had to pick, I would say Griffith.

Monzon: Oh what a question, it’s me! (laughs). Well no, to be fair, once I dreamed I fought Sugar Ray Robinson and I beat him … on points, of course. I would say Monzon.