WrestlingNewsSource.com is saddened to report that legendary in-ring competitor "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff has passed away at the age of 74 after a battle with liver cancer.

The news was confirmed via a report through RingsideNews.com, as well as the Twitter pages of Ric Flair, Jim Cornette, Steve Corino, WWE NXT star Scott Dawson, and more.

Koloff is perhaps famously known for ending the very first championship reign of WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino, and also regularly appeared at Charlotte, North Carolina's Mid-Atlantic Legends Fanfests.

On behalf of everyone at WrestlingNewsSource.com, we would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Ivan Koloff.