I took a keen interest in the mixed martial arts match between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki in 1978, as my good friend Tiger Jeet Singh always told me he should have been the one facing Ali, instead of Japan’s favourite wrestler Antonio Inoki.

Tiger Jeet Singh, from a long line of Punjabi wrestlers, settled in Canada where he ran a successful importing business.

His feuds and often blood baths, in Japan, with Inoki, were legends. Jeet, in fact was regarded as World Champion ( Asian version ) after successfully beating Inoki in a title match in Tokyo.

Tiger Jeet spent some time in New Zealand where he drew huge crowds, and the Indian community came out in force.

Mixed boxer versus wrestler matches in history have usually favored the wrestler, but a boxer sometimes wins.

The match in Tokyo was a huge event with press coming in from all around the world.

“I’ve always wanted to meet a rassler,” said Muhammad Ali, and on June 26th 1976, that’s exactly what happened in Tokyo.

Promoter Bob Arum said Ali’s guaranteed purse was to be $6.1 million.

“This will be serious” — Ali shouted at the news conference when it was stated that the match would be seen on closed -circuit television.

“This will be a fight to the death. No boxing. This will be on the level.”

Ali went into serious training and worked out with the Sheik, well known international wrestler who was based in Detroit. He also got some tips from Freddie Blassie, another well known American wrestler. The Sheik had already defeated Inoki in Japan in 1974, so he was picked out to give some inside pointers to the great Muhammad Ali.

The rules for the big bout were set out by the Japan Pro-Wrestling Association, who revealed the bout would be over 15 rounds. Ali to wear four-ounce boxing gloves, while Inoki would be able to throw out karate chops with his bare hands. Some of the things not allowed—kneeing or kicking to the groin, hitting below the belt, eye gouging with either a finger or an open glove, or butting with the head or shoulder.

Under the rules agreed to by Ali and Inoki, Ali will box and Inoki to wrestle. The bout to be of 3minute rounds with a minutes rest between rounds.

The bout itself was labeled a farce by several prominent newspapers.

Ali and Inoki fought to a 15 rounds drawn decision, but the 16,000 fans—-some paying $1,500 New Zealand, gave a verdict of their own—-Rubbish.

The wild crowd showered the fighters and the ring with litter after 45 minutes of a contest in which Ali threw only 2 punches, (one paper said 5) took a few kicks —- and picked up over $6 million U.S.

When Ali was told the fans were disappointed, he replied, “That’s because nobody got hurt.”

In actual fact Ali spent some time in hospital after the match with severe bruising to his legs, muscle damage, vein damage and accumulation of fluids in both knees, and the entire left leg.

Ali did not attempt another mixed match but he did have great respect for professional wrestlers.

He even said in his book he got his original gimmick of “I’m the greatest” from famous wrestler Gorgeous George, who he used to watch on television when he was young.