Antonio Inoki

JAPANESE wrestling star Antonio Inoki, who once faced world boxing champion Muhammad Ali, has died aged 79.Tributes have poured in from across the wor.

"A man who embodied the term 'fighting spirit'... Inoki lost his seat in 1995 and retired as a wrestler in 1998, but was re-elected to the upper house in 2013 as a member of another opposition party. Inoki also entered the world of politics, winning a seat in the upper house of Japan's parliament in 1989. "Inoki’s influence and his achievements will live on forever in the wrestling world; he’s an inspiration to all of the dreamers," Khan said. Tony Khan, president of All Elite Wrestling, branded Inoki a "pioneer" in the pro wrestling industry. "WWE offers it’s heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and fans of the squared circle legend and the wrestling world as a whole," a statement said.

The wrestler became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling circuit in the 1960s; he visited Pakistan several times.

“The entire fight, Ali threw a total of six punches. In the end, the fight was real, but under stipulations that Inoki could kick only while he had one knee on the mat. “Inoki came out from round one on his back, crawling around the ring like a crab striking Ali’s legs,” recalled sports writer Robert Whiting in a 2016 podcast. The wrestler, who converted to Islam in 1990, was immensely popular in Pakistan as well. He made headlines the next year going to Iraq during the Gulf War and intervening on behalf of Japanese hostages, who were subsequently released. His fame went global in 1976 when he had a mixed martial arts match with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, billed as “the bout of the century”.

Inoki brought Japanese pro-wrestling to fame and pioneered mixed martial arts matches between top wrestlers and champions from other combat sports like judo ...

He also staged a pro-wrestling match in North Korea. Inoki was upbeat and in good spirits, even as he was fighting the disease. He also was the first in his sport to enter politics.

He fought Muhammad Ali to a draw and was the first Japanese WWF World Champion.

Inoki also served two terms in Japan's Upper House, the first of which while he was still wrestling. Inoki would also go on to be an unacknowledged World Wrestling Federation, now the WWE, champion. [Telegram](https://t.me/mothershipsg) to get the latest updates. However, when paying tribute to Inoki's on Sep 30 (U.S. But Inoki and Ali would become friends, Ali being present at Inoki's retirement bout in 1998. [AP](https://apnews.com/article/19304168907ddd3d0cecf9995f65d01c) said he secured the release of 36 hostages as part of a one-man diplomatic mission. time), the WWE announcers would call him as the first Japanese WWE World Champion, in addition to him being part of the WWE He was even sent to Iraq in the run-up to the first Gulf War, where One of the most important figures in the history of our business, and a man who embodied the term “fighting spirit.” The legacy of WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki will live on forever.— Triple H (@TripleH) [Hall of Fame](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-hall-of-famer-antonio-inoki-passes-away). [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/nov/11/the-forgotten-story-of-ali-inoki), in a retrospective about the fight, quoted Inoki as saying that Ali could get injured if he didn't take the fight seriously. [Nikkei](https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Obituaries/Japan-pro-wrestler-and-ex-lawmaker-Antonio-Inoki-dies-at-79).

Inoki was a WWE Hall of Fame inductee in 2010 and was the first Japanese to won the WWF heavyweight championship.

The Japanese professional wrestling star turned politician, widely known for his match with Muhammad Ali, has died after years of battling a rare disease.

In recent years his YouTube channel "Antonio Inoki's Last Fighting Spirit", had shown Mr Inoki going in and out of hospital, and raising a clenched fist, as he received treatment of systemic amyloidosis, a rare ailment involving a buildup of a protein called amyloid in the organs. Mr Inoki defeated Ric Flair in the main event with his signature "enzuigiri," a jumping kick to the back of the head. His fame went global in 1976 when he had a mixed martial arts match with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, billed as "the bout of the century". Mr Inoki became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling's circuit in the 1960s. - On his YouTube channel, called "Antonio Inoki's Last Fighting Spirit," he was shown going in and out of the hospital as he went for treatment of systemic amyloidosis - Inoki became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling's circuit in the 1960s

Japanese professional wrestler-turned lawmaker Antonio Inoki has died aged 79, according to a tweet posted on Saturday by his organization.

He organized a wrestling match in Pyongyang in 2014, involving American professional wrestling stars. In Brazil, he met his mentor and pro-wrestling star Rikidozan, who scouted him. The trip came at a time of thawing relations between Japan and North Korea over the issue of abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and ’80s. [said in a statement, ](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-hall-of-famer-antonio-inoki-passes-away)“paved the way for the advent of Mixed Martial Arts, which would explode in popularity decades later.” [wrestlers](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/28/sport/navid-afkari-cmd-spt-intl/index.html) - famously faced boxing great [Muhammad Ali](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/25/sport/muhammad-ali-wbc-belt-auction-spt-intl/index.html) in a mixed martial arts match in 1976. Born Kanji Inoki in February 20, 1943, in Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo, he moved to Brazil with his family when he was 13 years old, according to a NJPW statement.

Popular Japanese professional wrestler and lawmaker Antonio Inoki, who faced a world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976, ...

Born as Kanji Inoki in 1943 in Yokohama, just outside Tokyo, he moved to Brazil with his family when he was 13 and worked at a coffee plantation. Inoki was upbeat and in good spirits, even as he was fighting the disease. He also staged a pro-wrestling match in North Korea. Onita called Inoki “the great father of pro-wrestling” and added, “Thank you Inoki-san. He was the first in his sport to enter politics. To many of those outside Japan, however, the match was seen as unprofessional and not taken seriously.

Trailblazing professional wrestler Antonio Inoki, who famously fought Muhammad Ali in a mixed-rules match, reportedly died Saturday at his home in his ...

And, he worked with North Korea to stop the kidnappings of Japanese citizens in Pyongyang during the Cold War. Inoki was a storied politician who successfully negotiated with Saddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages before the 1990 Gulf War in Iraq. Inoki also pinned [Ric Flair](https://www.tmz.com/people/ric-flair/) in a 1995 match and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Japanese wrestling star faced one of boxing's biggest names in front of a sold-out crowd.

It was decided that Inoki would not be allowed to throw, grapple or tackle Ali, and no kicks could be landed unless one knee was on the canvas. This was allowed under the special rules created for the contest. It's a real fight!" "No, no. Where was the Inoki vs. When was the Inoki vs.

Antonio Inoki, a distinguished professional wrestler who took on world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1976 and made numerous trips to North Korea as a ...

In 1989, Inoki was elected to Japan's House of Councillors as a member of the now-defunct Sports and Peace Party. Over the years, his domestic popularity grew while a number of his catchy inane sayings became popular across the country. The Yokohama native moved to Brazil when he was in junior high school.

Japanese wrestler faced everyone from Muhammad Ali to Ric Flair during his storied career in the ring.

He’s a six-time Hall of Famer, yes one hand plus a finger, including the WWE Hall of Fame and the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. While still wrestling, he was elected to the Japanese House of Councilors, the equivalent to the U.S. Inoki is one degree of separation from Clark Kent because of his 1976 fight against Muhammad Ali, then the WBC and WBA heavyweight champion with a 53-2 record.

The Japanese wrestling star faced one of boxing's biggest names in front of a sold-out crowd.

It was decided that Inoki would not be allowed to throw, grapple or tackle Ali, and no kicks could be landed unless one knee was on the canvas. This was allowed under the special rules created for the contest. It's a real fight!" "No, no. Where was the Inoki vs. When was the Inoki vs.

The late wrestler was known for pioneering mixed martial arts, freeing hostages in Iraq and organizing a wrestling match in North Korea that became the ...

boxer match in Tokyo](https://www.wwe.com/superstars/antonioinoki). In 1998, Inoki retired as a wrestler and in 2010, he was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame. [statement](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-hall-of-famer-antonio-inoki-passes-away). Years later, he went on to start his own wrestling company in 1972 called New Japan Pro-Wrestling. There, Inoki found a passion for professional wrestling and took on the name "Antonio." That's why he was often called "the fighting spirit that burns."

Antonio Inoki, founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, wrestler, promoter, politician and social activist, has died after a b...

In the face of his competition in All Japan Pro-Wrestling, Inoki would brand NJPW around the ideas of ‘Strong Style’ and ‘Fighting Spirit’. June 26, 1976 would see Inoki break new ground when he battled Muhammad Ali in the Nippon Budokan, a match credited with being the birth of what became mixed martial arts. The rivalry sparked a boom in pro-wrestling that Inoki would be at the forefront of.

The Japanese professional wrestling star turned politician, widely known for his match with Muhammad Ali, has died after years of battling a rare disease.

In recent years his YouTube channel "Antonio Inoki's Last Fighting Spirit", had shown Mr Inoki going in and out of hospital, and raising a clenched fist, as he received treatment of systemic amyloidosis, a rare ailment involving a buildup of a protein called amyloid in the organs. Mr Inoki defeated Ric Flair in the main event with his signature "enzuigiri," a jumping kick to the back of the head. His fame went global in 1976 when he had a mixed martial arts match with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, billed as "the bout of the century". Mr Inoki became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling's circuit in the 1960s. - On his YouTube channel, called "Antonio Inoki's Last Fighting Spirit," he was shown going in and out of the hospital as he went for treatment of systemic amyloidosis - Inoki became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling's circuit in the 1960s