Boxing icon Muhammad Ali has been battling Parkinson’s disease for decades and, like his heyday in the ring, the champ has been fighting tooth and nail to not let the crippling disease overcome him. But Ali’s brother, Rahman, recently spoke to Britain’s The Sun and alleged that his brother’s health is fading and that he may not last through the summer.
“My brother can’t speak — he doesn’t recognise me. He’s in a bad way. He’s very sick,” said Rahman. “It could be months, it could be days. I don’t know if he’ll last the summer. He’s in God’s hands. We hope he gently passes away.”
However, Rahman claims that the illness isn’t the worst of Ali’s problems, it’s his wife of 26 years, Lonnie, whom he claims has cut him out of his brother’s life and is tearing the family apart.
“We’ve all been pushed out. The only time I get to see him is at public events. She and her family are draining him. It’s so sad. There’s nothing I can do, they’ve blocked us all off,” said Rahman, who lives in a lowly flat in Lousville, Ky. “If he knew what was happening and where I’m living now, he’d be as mad as hell, so angry. He’d divorce her. If he saw what was happening with his children, he’d go crazy.”
Despite Rahman’s claims, Ali family spokesperson Bob Gunnell refuted Rahman’s allegations and told the Courier-Journal that the boxing legend “looks great,” and just enjoyed “a Super Bowl party.”
Ali’s daughter, May May Ali, also refuted Rahman’s claims, telling the Associated Press that her father is still in good health.
“He’s fine, in fact he was talking well this morning,” she said. “These rumors pop up every once in a while but there’s nothing to them.”
Well, we’re glad to read that Ali is still alive and well, but he’s not the only star battling this crippling disease. Check out some other stars with Parkinson’s below. –nicholas robinson
