![]() Human Japanese presents the Japanese language from square one in a warm, engaging tone. On his YouTube channel, called "Antonio Inoki's Last Fighting Spirit," he was shown going in and out of the hospital in the last few years, raising a clenched fist as he went for treatment of systemic amyloidosis, a rare ailment involving a buildup of a protein called amyloid in the organs.Ready to learn Japanese? Meet your personal sensei-in-a-box. The match went to a 15-round draw, and Ali ended up being paid only $1.8 million, Meltzer wrote. "The entire fight, Ali threw a total of six punches. "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. In the end, the fight was real, but under stipulations that Inoki could kick only while he had one knee on the mat. The fight with Ali has been described as the birth of mixed-martial arts, now a multi-billion dollar industry dominated by U.S.-based Ultimate Fighting Championship.Īli was supposed to be paid $6 million to lose in a fixed fight to Inoki, but the boxer had second thoughts upon arriving for the event in Tokyo, according to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer. Inoki defeated Ric Flair in the main event with his signature "enzuigiri," a jumping kick to the back of the head. In 1995, he organised a two-day "Collision in Korea" wrestling extravaganza before more than 100,000 spectators in Pyongyang's May Day Stadium. He made numerous visits to Pyongyang as a lawmaker and met high-ranking officials, saying Tokyo could play a role in mediating with its nuclear-armed neighbour. Inoki developed close ties with North Korea because his mentor, early pro-wrestling superstar Rikidozan, hailed from North Korea but could never go home after the peninsula was divided by war. Triple H, the current chief content officer of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc (WWE.N) and a former grappler, called Inoki "one of the most important figures in the history of our business, and a man who embodied the term 'fighting spirit.'" The supreme father of pro wrestling," he wrote. ![]() Atsushi Onita, another pro wrestler turned politician, tweeted: "An era has come to an end." Tributes to Inoki poured in across social media. He made headlines the next year going to Iraq during the Gulf War and intervening on behalf of Japanese hostages, who were subsequently released. The lantern-jawed, 1.9-metre (6-foot-three-inch) performer entered politics, winning a seat in the upper house of Japan's parliament in 1989. ![]() 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 became one of the biggest names on Japan's pro-wrestling's circuit in the 1960s. "His achievements, both in professional wrestling and the global community are without parallel and will never be forgotten." "New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened at the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki," the company he started in 1972 posted on Twitter. TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestling star turned politician, widely known for his match with Muhammad Ali and ties to North Korea, has died aged 79, after years of battling a rare disease, the company he founded said on Saturday.
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