Former WWE world champion Ivan Koloff, a great rival of Bruno Sammartino, has died at the age of 74 following a battle with liver cancer.
Koloff ended Sammartino's seven-year reign as WWWF Champion when he beat the WWE Hall of Famer in New York's Madison Square Garden in January 1971 following a knee drop from the top rope.
Koloff, who was nicknamed The Russian Bear, also battled the likes of Pedro Morales, Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund.
"WWE extends its condolences to Ivan Koloff's family, friends and fans," read a statement on WWE.com.
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