Popular Japanese professional wrestler and lawmaker Antonio Inoki, who faced world champion boxer Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976, has died at the age of 79.
Inoki made Japanese professional wrestling famous, pioneering mixed martial arts matches between top wrestlers and champions from other martial arts such as judo, karate and boxing.
He was also the first in his sport to enter politics. He promoted peace through sport and during his time as a legislator made more than 30 trips to North Korea in hopes of forging peace and friendship.
Inoki, who was battling a rare disease called amyloidosis, died earlier Saturday, according to the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Co, of which he was the founding president. Inoki was optimistic and in good spirits even while battling the disease.
With his signature red scarf dangling around his neck, Inoki last appeared publicly in a wheelchair-bound TV show in August.
“As you can see, I push my limits and I get strength when I see you,” he said.
Born in 1943 as Kanji Inoki in Yokohama near Tokyo, he moved to Brazil with his family at the age of 13 and worked on a coffee plantation. Inoki achieved local fame in shot put as a student and debuted as a professional wrestler at age 17 during a wrestling tour in Brazil, where he caught the attention of Rikidozan, known as the father of Japanese pro wrestling.
Inoki made his professional wrestling debut in 1960 and two years later adopted the ring name Antonio Inoki.
With his arch-rival and another Japanese legend, the late Shohei “Giant” Baba, Inoki made pro-wrestling a hugely popular sport in Japan. Inoki founded New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972.
He achieved worldwide fame in the sport in 1976 when he faced Ali in a mixed martial arts match at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall, a match fans remember as “The Match of the Century.”
Inoki entered politics in 1989 after winning a seat in the Upper House, one of Japan’s two chambers of parliament, and led the Sport and Peace Party. He traveled to Iraq in 1990 to secure the release of Japanese citizens who were being held hostage there. He also hosted a pro wrestling match in North Korea.
Antonio Inoki kicked Muhammad Ali’s leg in 1976 during their box wrestling match. Photo: Anonymous/`
Inoki developed a personal connection with North Korea over the years, repeatedly visiting the country to help resolve Japan’s long-standing problem of previous kidnappings of Japanese nationals to the North.
He retired from wrestling in 1998 but remained active in politics until 2019.
A flurry of tributes was posted on social media.
“A great star has fallen. An era has come to an end,” tweeted Atsushi Onita, also a wrestler who once served as a legislator. Calling Inoki “the great father of pro wrestling,” Onita added, “Thank you Inoki-san. I offer my condolences from the bottom of my heart.”
Yoshifu Arita, a journalist and former lawmaker, praised Inoki for his efforts to resolve the kidnapping issue with the North.
“Another important route with North Korea is lost,” Arita tweeted as he criticized other former Japanese leaders for relying on “useless” links and failing to improve. “Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Inoki.”
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