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1976 Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki "Superfight" Gold Variation Full Ticket PSA EX 5 (Pop 2 - One Higher)
<p>"The War of the Worlds" is what the exhibition Superfight between WBC/WBA Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali and Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki was called. It took place at Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on June 26, 1976. This offered full ticket went for a price of 100,000 yen, a very expensive price at the time. In April 1975, Ali was talking with Ichiro Hatta, the president of the Japanese Wrestling Association, and Ali said, "Isn't there any Oriental [sic] fighter who will challenge me? I'll give him one million dollars if he wins." The public remark set off an uproar in the Japanese media, and it started the ball rolling towards the battle between Ali and Inoki. The Superfight was an event ahead of its time, and it foreshadowed the modern mixed martial arts (MMA) fights of today. The Superfight was held under special rules, and during the battle Inoki was on his back most of the contest and, in accordance with hastily arranged rule additions before the fight, he began to kick Ali in the shins repeatedly. Boxing writer Jim Murphy alleged that Ali's entourage had originally agreed to have the match worked (scripted). The plan supposedly was that Ali would "accidentally" punch the referee in the head, "knocking him out". Then, as Ali would be looking "concerned" as he stood over the referee, Inoki would hit Ali with an enzuigiri (roundhouse kick). Ali would go down; the referee would revive and declare Inoki the victor. That way, Inoki would win in his home country, and Ali would save face. Events are still contested, but apparently, Ali wouldn't agree to that plan, and the fight could have been all out - except that some commentators allege that Inoki was afraid of retaliation from Ali's people if he ever hurt Ali, so Inoki's kicks were not as hard as they appeared. In any event, Inoki kicked Ali in the shins 107 times, and the controversial, and unquestionably unique, bizarre, and world watched Superfight was declared a draw. The Superfight had super large tickets, this one measuring approximately 3.75" x 8.75". The ticket has great eye appeal with its photos of Ali and Inoki and its bright colors. PSA has encapsulated and graded the gold variation full ticket EX 5. The ticket is PSA Pop two, only one higher. It is a great remembrance of Muhammad Ali, a one-of-a-kind world celebrity in a battle that was part boxing, part wrestling, and part Ringling Brothers & Barnum Circus, a must watch, one-of-a-kind fight.</p>
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