“It’s not strength to never fall, but to rise again after every fall.” A phrase often heard, sometimes referring to boxing, sometimes to life itself. Many champions, both past and present, have embodied this motto, but if there was one person who could have rightfully tattooed it on his chest, it was Sandro Mazzinghi, the extraordinary Tuscan boxer who is today remembered as one of Italy’s most powerful punchers of all time. Many times, this formidable athlete from Pontedera had to endure brutal blows, both inside and outside the ring; blows that would have knocked down even the toughest of men, but from which Sandro always rose, finding his way back to victory.
His exclusion from the Olympic team that would compete in front of the Roman public in 1960 pushed him to seek better fortunes in the professional arena, a more suitable environment for his characteristics as an indomitable warrior. Indeed, it saw him rise to the top of the world after just two years from his debut. The tragic accident, just 12 days after his wedding, that took away his wife and caused a skull fracture, made him see the ring as a refuge to escape the horror of memories and find himself again. The double defeat to his eternal rival, Nino Benvenuti, motivated him to claw back glory, from winning the European title to recapturing the World Championship in Milan in front of a massive crowd. Finally, the Federation’s decision to halt his comeback attempt at the threshold of 40 years, not granting exemptions from the age limit, led him to reinvent himself as a singer-songwriter and writer, earning further acclaim and recognition.
At every setback, Mazzinghi responded by bouncing back for another victory. If, as a boxer, he thrived in exchanges, growing stronger as the rounds passed, taking punches without flinching and gradually breaking down his opponents, as a man, he was no less. He kept going, claiming his well-deserved rewards despite every obstacle fate tried to throw at him.
In May 2020, I had the honor of interviewing the indestructible puncher from Pontedera—a dream come true for me, as someone too young to have witnessed his sporting feats live, but who had always considered Mazzinghi my favorite among the great figures in Italian boxing history for his style, courage, and determination.
A little over three months later, on August 22nd, the tragic news of Sandro’s passing deeply affected me, leaving me in shock. Today, on the anniversary of the great Mazzinghi’s birth, with the kind permission of his son David, I am re-sharing that interview for the readers of Boxe Punch.
The dream of participating in the Olympics unites many young boxers. In your case, the dream slipped away in favor of Carmelo Bossi, who represented Italy in the 1960 Olympics in the super welterweight category. How much did that disappointment fuel your determination to pursue the goals that you later brilliantly achieved as a professional?
“Well, I must say that I always agreed with Rea’s decision to place Carmelo Bossi instead of me, even though that disappointment gave me great motivation. In fact, in 1961, I immediately turned professional, and it was a whole different story: from ’61 to ’62, I fought 17 matches, all victories against high-level champions. I trained eight to nine hours a day; I had to reach the World Title, which I got the chance to fight for in 1963.”
Your explosive early professional career led you to challenge the world super welterweight champion Ralph Dupas within just two years. Dupas, a fighter with immense experience, had been unjustly deprived of a victory against the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson that same year. In those two bouts with Dupas—one in Italy and one in Australia—we saw the best of Mazzinghi: aggression, courage, power, and the ability to fight through injuries. What were the key moments of that double confrontation that stand out to you the most?
“I was 25 years old and had an incredible desire to succeed. I arrived at the first match with Dupas having fought 29 times, while he had 124 fights under his belt, a sacred monster in the sport. But I had something extra: grit, strength, heart, and the drive not to give any opponent, especially him, a breather, because he was the World Champion. I wanted that title for myself, and I found myself in Milan at the Vigorelli facing an experienced, clever, and skilled man, but in the ninth round, I knocked him out. I was the new Super Welterweight World Champion, and even today, when I talk about it, I feel the same emotions.”
“In Sydney, Australia, for the rematch, I confirmed that during that period of my career, I had no rivals. In the thirteenth round, with a right counterpunch, I knocked him out again after he had broken my left cheekbone with a headbutt. You can’t imagine, the Sydney Stadium erupted in a roar; it was packed with Italian immigrants. What an emotion! I still remember it vividly!”
Much has been said about the tragedy that shattered your life just twelve days after your wedding. Today, we ask whether, in hindsight, you believe it was a mistake to return to the ring so soon, when the trauma was still fresh in your body and mind, rather than giving yourself time to recover from the shock. How did you manage to step back into the ring with such a heavy heart, continuing to compete in a sport that usually demands a clear mind and a calm spirit?
“I have to thank boxing because, in those moments, if I hadn’t had the sport, I don’t know how I would have managed to overcome such a situation. Everyone told me I should stop to recover, but I knew I had to get back into fighting, even though I felt something was wrong inside me… SPORTS VERY OFTEN SAVES YOU!”
In many interviews Nino Benvenuti expressed words of admiration for you, stating that, from his perspective, there was never any rivalry and that you were undoubtedly one of his toughest opponents. The phone call you made to Nino after his surgery two years ago has been interpreted by many as an olive branch for final peace. Can we consider your rivalry definitively resolved? And what positive memories do you associate with that double duel that had all of Italy holding its breath?
“Well, ours was a pure, intense rivalry, the kind that only two great sportsmen can have. Back then, there were Mazzinghi supporters and Benvenuti supporters, which fueled a huge business, and that was fantastic because, in Europe and the world, we are the only ones who gave rise to such a strong rivalry.”
“Despite the outcomes, I can now say that I have positive memories of those matches: he later moved up to middleweight, and I returned to win the European title and then again became World Champion. Today, we are both over 80 years old, and in October, I will also turn 82. I feel like saying that ours was a beautiful story, a fascinating ‘Boxing Story,’ perhaps unique in its kind.”
After the double clash with Benvenuti, you immediately got back on track, winning the European title and making a formidable run to your second world title. The epic battle against South Korea’s Ki-Soo Kim, which returned you to the top of the world in front of a packed San Siro Stadium, still stands as one of the most spectacular matches ever fought by an Italian boxer. How much strength did those 60,000 passionate fans give you? Is boxing without spectators conceivable, as some suggest to resume activity in the time of the pandemic?
“Yes, as I mentioned earlier, I regained the European crown, then defended it in Stockholm on November 11, 1966, against the Swede Bo Hogberg—what a match, guys! And what a champion he was! But with Ki-Soo Kim, it was a real bullfight between two raging bulls. It was a unique feeling; I had waited three years for another shot at the world title, and I brought the belt back into my hands and the hands of the Italians. San Siro was packed, 60,000 people there for me, chanting my name—I owed it to myself and to everyone who had believed in me. I will never forget those sensations and that crowd.”
“The audience, like in all sports, is CRUCIAL, and I hope that after this sports shutdown, we can return to witnessing live sports events, of course, with all the necessary precautions. I think, though I hope I’m wrong, that we will have to live with this cursed opponent for a while longer.”
The history of boxing has seen many fighters achieve extraordinary feats at an advanced age: Archie Moore, George Foreman, Bernard Hopkins, and many others held world titles well into their 40s. You were stopped at the age of 39, when you were still seeking to accomplish a few more triumphs. Was it a mistake not to grant you the chance to gift Italy another prestigious victory?
“I returned to the ring at 38 because I had good contracts and excellent purses. I won’t hide that if I could, I would have fought forever. As they say: ‘YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE.’ Of course, I would have delivered a few more prestigious victories; I had rediscovered a second youth. But unfortunately, here in Italy, once you turned 40, you had to stop, and rules must always be respected, as I have done throughout my life as a boxer and as a citizen.”