Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali So Ill From Parkinson's He can Barely Speak, Says His Brother
- Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984
- He remained active for years after diagnosis but condition has deteriorated
- His brother Rahman, 71, said Muhammad 'doesn't speak too well' now
- He was unable to take part in filming for new movie of his life 'I Am Ali'
- Daughter Maryum was at premiere and said he would love the movie
- Rahman made claims last year his brother was 'prisoner in his own home'
- His son, Ali Jnr, believes there is no chance father would survive the year
By Daily Mail UK, 12 October 2014
The boxing legend Muhammad Ali is so ill from Parkinson’s that he can barely speak, his brother has said.
The three-time world heavyweight champion was diagnosed with the disease in 1984 but his condition has gradually deteriorated and he is now mostly housebound.
He was too ill to attend a premiere of a film about his life last week and his condition meant he could not take part in the production of the movie either.
Muhammad Ali is said to be so ill from Parkinson's that he can barely talk, according to his brother Rahman Ali
His brother Rahman, 71, attended the screening of I Am Ali in Hollywood, and told The Sunday People: ‘I have not been able to talk to my brother about this because he is sick.
‘He doesn’t speak too well. But he is proud that we are here for him. He has given this film his blessing.’
While his daughter Maryum, 46, who was also at the premiere, said her father would love the film and it will make him laugh and cry.
Her sister Hana, 38, is planning to show the legendary boxer the new movie at his Arizona home later this month.
Rahman Ali (third right) with brother Muhammad's daughters at the I Am Ali premiere on Wednesday
Directed by Clare Lewins, the documentary movie gives unprecedented access to Ali’s personal archive of ‘audio journals’ as well as interviews with his family and boxers Mike Tyson and George Foreman, and put together to tell his life story.
Nicknamed the Louisville Lip for his infamous wit, Ali remained active for several years after his diagnosis and made a moving appearance at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games where he lit the flame.
However, the sporting icon, who retired from boxing after suffering several strokes, was seen looking particularly thin and frail at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony where he was helped across the stage by wife Lonnie.
Ali looks on as referee Zack Clayton counts out George Foreman in their title bout in Zaire in October 1974
Ali pictured at the Sports For Peace Fundraising Ball in London in 2012 (top) and in his heyday in 1974
In February 2013 his brother Rahman said Ali was so crippled by the degenerative brain condition that has afflicted many ex-boxers, he might not survive until the summer.
He also made claims that the family had been barred from seeing Ali, who is estimated to be worth more than £50million, and could only speak to him on the phone.
Rahman said his brother was ‘a prisoner in his own home’ and he is being gravely mistreated by his wife because ‘she is more interested in Ali's money than his well-being’.
Ali, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1984, with wife Lonnie at an NFL game in New Orleans last year
The boxing legend poses with David Beckham during the Beyond Sport Summit in London in July 2012
Ali, pictured left at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, where he was very frail and pictured with Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti
However Ali’s daughter May May said she had spoken to her father that morning and he was fine, watching the Super Bowl at home in Arizona wearing a Baltimore Ravens jersey.
'He's fine, in fact he was talking well this morning,' she said in a telephone interview with CBS at the time. 'These rumors pop up every once in a while but there's nothing to them.'
Muhammad’s son, Ali Jnr, said in January he believe there was ‘no chance’ his father would survive another year.
‘I just want, hope and pray to God that this awful disease takes my dad sooner rather than later. Take him away from all the suffering he’s in.’
END
- I Am Ali will be released in UK cinemas on 28 November, and will be posted on Dreamteamdownloads1.com
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Other Release Dates:
USA 10 October 2014 (limited)
Ireland 14 November 2014 (Cork International Film Festival)
Ireland 28 November 2014
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