Published in Geo News, on Mar 12th, 2024,
Ali entered International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 in its debut class
Legendary American boxer Muhammad Ali, who passed away in June 2016, will finally be inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
According to ESPN, the announcement was made by the organisation on Monday revealing that the ceremony will be held on April 5 during WrestleMania 40 weekend in Philadelphia.
Ali, a sporting icon who died at the age of 74, appeared as a special guest referee in the first WrestleMania main event, where Hulk Hogan and Mr T went head-to-head against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff in a tag-tag match.
Ali, one of the all-time great boxers, delivered a right hand to Piper’s chin, one of many memorable moments the heavyweight champion created at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
In 1976, Ali fought Japanese legend Antonio Inoki in the “War of the Worlds” exhibition match in Tokyo, a semi-final event that is still celebrated today.
The mixed-rules match, ruled a 15-round draw, was broadcasted to approximately 33,000 people at Shea Stadium, home to the New York Mets at the time
Ali, who entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, will finally join his rival Inoki in the WWE Hall of Fame decades after their legendary battle.
He won the heavyweight championship three times, but is most known for his a sixth-round TKO victory over Sonny Liston in 1964 and an eighth-round KO of George Foreman in 1974.
Both victories for the 1960’s Olympic gold medalist, were named “Fight of the Year” by Ring Magazine.