Hall of Fame wrestler Antonio Inoki, who famously fought Muhammad Ali, dies aged 79

Japanese professional wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, who once fought with boxing icon Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 79.

Inoki's company, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, confirmed his death and said, "New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened by the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki.
"His accomplishments, both in professional wrestling and in the global community, are unparalleled and will never be forgotten."

The mixed martial arts pioneer died of heart failure after battling amyloidosis for several years and spending his last days in a wheelchair.

Many will remember Inoki for participating in the most famous mixed base bout ever when he fought heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali on June 26, 1976.

Ali's fight against Inoki was one of the most watched fights of her generation. Not only did a crowd of 14,000 people watch the match live at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, but it was also broadcast on televisions around the world.

The match ended in a draw and it was a bit of a stalemate in all 15 rounds. Inoki spent most of the fight on his back, kicking Ali's leg that hit him more than 100 times causing heavy damage.

While the fight was somewhat disappointing, the attention it garnered resulted in a more fluid and inclusive fighting style that eventually evolved into MMA which becomes more popular than ever in 2022.