Antonio Inoki, a pioneering professional wrestler who memorably competed against Muhammad Ali in a mixed-rules battle, is said to have passed away on Saturday at his home in his native Japan.
JAPANESE PRO WRESTLING LEGEND ANTONIO INOKI, WHO FOUGHT With ALI DEAD AT 79.
After years of sickness and being confined to a wheelchair, Inoki passed away from what appears to have been heart failure. There is no known official cause of death.
Inoki, a Japanese legend, first met Ali in the ring in Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan venue in 1976, which catapulted him to stardom. 32,897 fans watched the sold-out fight on a Jumbotron at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York.
During the 15-round fight, Inoki severely hurt Ali by kicking his legs more than 100 times. Their conflict was called a draw.
Inoki would capitalise on his surge in popularity to establish himself as the most significant pro wrestler in Japanese history.
In addition to producing some of the biggest fights starring Hulk Hogan, Dory Funk Jr., Big Van Vader, and Bruiser Brody, he founded the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Company in 1972. Inoki was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010 He also defeated Ric Flair by pinfall in 1995.
Additionally, Inoki was a renowned politician who, before to the 1990 Gulf War in Iraq, successfully mediated the release of Japanese captives with Saddam Hussein.
Additionally, he collaborated with North Korea to thwart the Cold War kidnappings of Japanese nationals in Pyongyang.
Hope this article on the topic of ANTONIO INOKI: JAPANESE PRO WRESTLING LEGEND ANTONIO INOKI, WHO FOUGHT With ALI DEAD AT 79 must have updated you.
Read our other articles as well like- New York forbids the sale of gas-powered cars.
Watch our interesting stories like- Fingerprint Gun Safe