Sometimes a made-up story, fabricated from scratch to spark curiosity and controversy, gets repeated so many times that it becomes, in the eyes of many, an undeniable truth, damaging the reputation of those involved. Today we call them “fake news,” and we tend to believe it’s a modern phenomenon. It isn’t. The story of our compatriot Giorgio Bambini, the valiant heavyweight from La Spezia, and his alleged surrender in the bout with George Foreman at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics—whose anniversary falls today—is a perfect example of a false myth that refuses to die.
Bambini had accumulated a string of victories on the national scene, winning the Italian championships several times. In Italy he had no rivals, and his boxing, enhanced by an imposing physique and refined technique, inspired great optimism ahead of the Olympic tournament. That confidence proved well-placed: Giorgio was the only member of Italy’s boxing team to reach the podium, defeating both Germany’s Dieter Renz and Bulgaria’s Kiril Pandov by clear margins. Standing between him and the final was the powerful Foreman, who at the time was regarded by some as raw and technically limited, yet would soon prove to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
Unfortunately, the match was not broadcast by RAI (Italy’s national television), which gave certain journalists of questionable integrity an opportunity to spread unfounded stories and craft the kind of “anecdote worth telling,” regardless of the truth. It was written, in particular, that the bout lasted only a few seconds and that after being knocked down, Bambini—urged by his corner to get up—had supposedly replied, “Are you crazy? That guy will kill me!” choosing instead to stay down and take the referee’s full count rather than continue fighting.
Despite countless denials from everyone involved, this false version of events still circulates online today, generating mockery and derision. It’s no surprise, then, that many years later, when Giorgio Bambini appeared in Assisi to receive an award, he chose once again to address the issue and set the record straight:
“My regret is that so many people thought—and still think—that I quit against Foreman out of fear. I swear on my honor, that’s not true. I won’t go into all the details, but because of the altitude (in Mexico City, editor’s note) the count system had been changed: if the boxer was still on the floor at the count of six, it was ruled a technical knockout. No one had told me that. I got up at six, and it was already too late, but only because of that. I would have lost anyway. I lost with honor, but I would have done so with even more honor.”
Bambini’s words are fully supported by the footage available today, which shows a reality perfectly consistent with his account. In the video below, after taking a temple shot that forced him to the ground, Giorgio turns toward his corner, bringing his glove to his chest—clearly to reassure them of his condition. But most notably, we can see the gesture of frustration from the Italian boxer, who spread his arms in disbelief after realizing the referee had stopped the fight.
Turning professional, Bambini went on to record 15 victories in as many fights before hanging up his gloves to pursue other ventures. For years he ran the restaurant Mexico 68, named in memory of that historic Olympic experience, and he remained close to the sport until his passing in November 2015, at the age of 71.
Journalism is a demanding profession that carries great responsibility. The temptation to distort facts or neglect source verification to attract greater public interest is a dangerous trap—one that must be resisted daily to preserve the dignity of the men and women whose stories, triumphs, and misfortunes we tell.
Giorgio Bambini was an excellent boxer and, above all, a courageous man. Let us hope that we have finally managed to put this story to rest once and for all about what was the most important bout of his career.