Japanese politician and wrestler Antonio Inoki has died aged 79, according to media reports. As reported by Japanese news on Saturday (local time), Inoki has been battling a rare disease called amyloidosis in recent years. Inoki rose to fame around the world in a mixed martial arts fight against boxing legend Muhammad Ali in 1976.
However, the fight turned into a farce for much of the play, as Inoki spent most of the time lying on his back – unsuccessfully – trying to trip Ali using leg techniques to avoid coming within striking distance, who was at his turn embarrassing tried to get out of range to move the wrestler.
North Korea in pictures
Inoki later developed strong ties to North Korea because his mentor, early pro wrestling superstar Rikidozan, was from there. Inoki visited Pyongyang several times as a member of parliament and met with senior officials. He said Tokyo could play a role in mediating with its nuclear-armed neighbor.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
