Nino Benvenuti Remembered as a Symbol of Resilient Italy: Meloni

Rome: Nino Benvenuti was a symbol of a proud Italy capable of getting back up and fighting on, Premier Giorgia Meloni said after the death of the boxing great at 87. “Farewell to Nino Benvenuti, an extraordinary champion and symbol of a proud, courageous Italy capable of getting back up,” Meloni shared on social media, highlighting that “he was one of the greatest boxers in our history, but also much more: deeply tied to his Istrian roots, he was a tireless witness to the tragedy of the foibe and the Julian-Dalmatian exodus, helping to write a story that had not been told.”

According to Ansa News Agency, Meloni expressed her condolences, stating, “My emotional thoughts go to his family and to all those who loved him.” She further added, “Thank you, Nino, for your fights in the ring and for those in defense of the truth. Italy will not forget you.”

The Foibe Massacres were perpetrated by Tito’s Partisans against thousands of Italians in Istria and Dalmatia around the end of WWII. Benvenuti, deeply connected to his heritage, was known for his commitment to raising awareness about these historical events.