Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is so ill he could be dead
within days, his brother has warned. Rahman Ali said the former heavyweight champion cannot speak
and no longer recognises him.
Rahman fears his 71-year-old brother – known as The Greatest
– may not survive the summer.
“He’s in a bad way. He’s very sick.
“It could be months, it could be days. I don’t know if he’ll
last the summer. He’s in God’s hands.”
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984 but
remained active for many years and made a moving appearance at the Atlanta 1996
Olympic Games where he lit the flame.
However, he was seen looking particularly thin and frail at
the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony where he was helped across the stage
by wife Lonnie. Rahman has accused his sister-in-law, who has been married
to Ali for 26 years, of refusing to let the family visit the ailing champion.
Rahman, who was also a professional boxer, said he last saw
his brother in July at the Sports for Peace Gala in London and is only allowed
to speak to him over the phone.
The brothers, born Cassius and Rudolph Clay, grew up
together in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali’s most recent public health scare was December, 2011,
when the champion was taken to hospital after falling unconscious. Emergency services were called days after Ali made a frail
appearance at the funeral of fellow boxing great Joe Frazier.
