Antonio Inoki has died, farewell to wrestling legend

Antonio Inoki died

Japan is mourning the death of one of its most famous men in the world: we are talking about Antonio Inoki, a wrestler among the pioneers of Mixed Martial Art but later also a socially committed politician.

This was announced by the Japanese media citing sources close to the champion.

Born in Yokohama 79 years ago, Inoki moved as a student to Brazil, where he became a professional wrestler at the age of 17. Together with Japan’s other wrestler, Shohei ‘Giant’ Baba, he founded the professional league but his fame became planetary after a bout with boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1976 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

Retiring from the ring officially in 1988, the following year he was elected to Parliament from the ranks of the ‘Sport and Peace’ party, with which he distinguished himself through diplomatic activity.