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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Steve Bunce

Muhammad Ali’s ‘comedy’ fight shows why Fury vs Ngannou isn’t the joke you think it is

Muhammad Ali Antonio Inoki Tokyo
Getty

Many in the same business as Muhammad Ali believe that the boxer never fully recovered from his comedy fight with a wrestler in Tokyo.

It was the summer of 1976; Ali was the world heavyweight champion, and some men in Japan came up with a financial package for Ali to meet renowned wrestler, Antonio Inoki. It was scheduled for 15 rounds of three minutes, and it was for the ‘heavyweight martial arts championship of the world’ belt. Sound familiar?

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