Antonio Inoki

“Relationships are important.”

“If someone wants to fight, he should do it inside a ring.”

“I am very serious about wrestling.”

“I want to become the greatest. Not merely in pro-wrestling, but in martial arts as a whole.”

“As the only country which was bombed during World War II with nuclear weapons, Japan should be advocating that we should avoid nuclear war from happening again.”

“I struggled to eat, but such a life gave me the spirit to fight.”

“Thanks to Ali, I was able to do a different kind of politics and diplomacy. For that I thank him.”

“World peace through sports exchanges has been my lifelong mission.”

“I really think that Japan should take a role as mediator between the U.S. and North Korea.”

“I have never determined before a bout who will win. Some of my opponents make such offers.”

“When I first went to Moscow, I had a chance to meet with some important people over there.”

“When I was young I was very embarrassed by my chin and I went to a plastic surgeon to have it changed. He said it would be a good trademark. So I kept it. And he was right.”

“People used to say sports and politics are different, but now it is the opposite.”

“A character like me is rare.”

“Courage is essential.”

“When I converted, people suggested that I change my name to Muhammad Ali but I turned down the idea as I had already fought against the great boxer Ali.”

“It's important to gain support from your own people, but you need to move half, or one step ahead of everyone.”

“I still have marks on my wrist that Akki gave me when he wrenched at it with his teeth. I had to poke my fingers in his eyes to get him away.”

“Sport is something that cannot be rejected even in a closed society.”

“I could see in Ali's eyes during the match that he had not conquered his fear. I had.”