Sandro Mazzinghi, one of the greatest Italian fighters of all time, died Saturday. He was 81.
The two-time junior middleweight titleholder fought from 1961 to 1970, plus a three-fight comeback in 1977-78, and finished with a record of 64-3 (42 KOs). Two of the three losses came against countryman and Hall of Famer Nino Benvenuti in 1965.
Mazzinghi stopped Ralph Dupas in nine rounds to win the 154-pound championship in September 1963 in Milan. He knocked out Dupas in 13 rounds in a rematch three months later in Sydney.
The native of Cascine di Buti, in Tuscany, held his title until he was stopped by Benvenuti in six rounds in June 1965 in Milan. Mazzinghi reportedly said he returned to the ring too soon after he was injured in a car accident that killed his wife and child.
He lost a rematch to Benvenuti six months later in Rome by a unanimous decision.
Mazzinghi regained the championship by defeating Ki Soo Kim by a split decision in May 1968 in Milan. He was stripped of the title after a defense against Freddie Little in October in Rome. The champion was losing when the fight was stopped after eight rounds and somehow declared a no-contest.
Mazzinghi retired in 1970 but returned to fight three more times in 1977 and 1978 before quitting for good. He won his final eight fights.
No cause of death has been announced.