BoxRec

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized for a respiratory issue, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said on Thursday.

Gunnell said in a statement that Ali was in fair condition but that a brief hospital stay was expected.

Ali, 74, has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than three decades and has kept a low profile in recent years. His last public appearance was in April at the 'Celebrity Fight Night' gala in Arizona, a charity that benefits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

At the height of his career, Ali was known for his dancing feet and quick fists and his ability, as he put it, to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Ali, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has suffered health problems in recent years and was admitted to hospital in December 2014 with what was believed to be a mild case of pneumonia.

Now being reported he's on life support.

http://nypost.com/2016/06/03/muhammad-a ... -insiders/
Muhammad Ali has been placed on life support — and his family fears that it “likely won’t be long until he passes away,” according to a report.

The 74-year-old boxing legend was hospitalized in Scottsdale, Ariz., for a respiratory issue on Thursday and insiders tell Radar Online that his loved ones are now rushing to his side because it appears his condition has worsened.

“He needs every bit of fight he’s got left to survive,” a source told the website. “Doctors are telling the family that it likely won’t be long until he passes away.”

Another source said Ali’s vitals “are terrible” at the moment and he is currently relying on medical help to breathe.

His rep told the Associated Press on Thursday that the respiratory problems that the former heavyweight champion was facing had been complicated by the Parkinson’s disease he was diagnosed with in the 1980s.

The spokesman said Ali was being treated at an unidentified hospital and was in “fair condition” and that a brief hospital stay was expected.

But it appears that things got more serious overnight.

“His children are all extremely concerned and dropped everything to be with him,” a source told the Daily Mirror. “They fear the worst.”

Ali has been hospitalized numerous times in the past, most recently in early 2015 when he was treated for a severe urinary tract infection that was initially thought to be pneumonia.

He has looked increasingly frail in public appearances, including April 9, when he wore sunglasses and was hunched over at the annual Celebrity Fight Night dinner in Phoenix, which raises funds for treatment of Parkinson’s.

His last formal public appearance before that was in October, when he appeared at the Sports Illustrated Tribute to Muhammad Ali at The Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, along with former opponents George Foreman and Larry Holmes.

Ali has suffered from Parkinson’s for three decades, most famously trembling badly while lighting the Olympic torch in 1996 in Atlanta. Despite the disease, he kept up a busy appearance schedule until recently, though he has not spoken in public for years.

Doctors say the Parkinson’s likely was caused by the thousands of punches Ali took during a career in which he traveled the world for big fights.

An iconic figure who at one point was perhaps the most recognized person in the world, Ali has lived quietly in the Phoenix area with his fourth wife, Lonnie, whom he married in 1986.

News of his hospitalization brought well wishes from boxers and others on Twitter.

Ali is the biggest name in boxing
Is this information legit ?

Evander wrote:Ali is the biggest name in boxing
Is this information legit ?

It does appear to be for the moment.

Oh dear

Legends never die. He's going to a better place.

I have mixed feelings. Even if I wasn't a huge fan, I'd want him to get better. He was one of the first athletes I was exposed to in the late 70's & as I became interested in boxing, he was the enormous figure I kept coming back to. Definitely my favorite sports figure & one of my favorite celebrities of all time. The thing is, he's been sick for so very long. At least up until around 1990 he seemed fairly healthy. It was just the slow speech that was mentioned. He visited the local golden gloves here every year & looked good. Then as the 90's progressed, he started to deteriorate physically. However, tremors aside, he looked great at the 1996 Olympics. After that he began to look frail & it was painful for me to see him. I don't know. I wish the situation wasn't what it is but I also know he's had a tough 30 plus years. I'm babbling I know. I can't think of many celebrities that would hit me in the heart like this.

Now being reported that he's passed...

Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74. Some would say boxing died before he did.... that is debatable. Hats off to the GREATEST!!

RIP GOAT

Chepppaaa wrote:RIP GOAT

R.I.P. Champ

R.I.P The Greatest.

Muhammad Ali was one of a kind. Rest in peace, Champ.

- Chuck Johnston

RIP to The Greatest of All-Time and always will be.

a great man that transcended sport and put human into humanity will be sorely missed

Oh no!! RIP ALI

RIP Champ!

What do you say

By far and away the most well known boxer of all time

I wish his friends and family the very best, rest well champ

Every signature boxing event around the world will recognize Ali's passing.

One of the All Time Great Heavyweights no matter who ya ask. Even the people that didn't like him have to rate him highly for his accomplishments. A truly great fighter, and a fascinating human being.

RIP Champ. As long as they're talking about Boxing, they'll be talking about Muhammad Ali.