Japanese wrestler and politician Antonio Inoki dies at 79
Headline from WUSA9
Inoki brought Japanese pro-wrestling to fame and pioneered mixed martial arts matches between top wrestlers and champions from other combat sports like boxing.
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Popular Japanese professional wrestler and lawmaker Antonio Inoki, who faced a world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976, has died. He was 79. He
Inoki brought Japanese pro-wrestling to fame and pioneered mixed martial arts matches between top wrestlers and champions from other combat sports like boxing.
By Emi Jozuka, Jake Kwon and Mayumi Maruyama, CNN Former Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki has died aged 79, according to his organization. Inoki – who was one of Japan’s most well-known wrestlers – famously faced boxing great Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976.
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 biggest-pay-per-view in pro-wrestling history.
