Antonio Inoki, the Japanese wrestling star who once faced off against world boxing champion Muhammad Ali, has died aged 79.
His company confirmed his death, saying “New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened at the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki. His achievements, both in professional wrestling and the global community are without parallel and will never be forgotten.”
After Inoki’s wrestling debut in 1960 he became one of the most well-known wrestlers, even fighting Ali in a rare exhibition match between a wrestler and a boxer in a contest that, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) said in a statement, “paved the way for the advent of Mixed Martial Arts, which would explode in popularity decades later.”
