As reported by his family spokesperson, former world boxing champion Muhammad Ali has been hospitalised for a respiratory problem. The family representative, Bob Gunnell said on Thursday that the 74-year old is being treated by the doctors as a “precaution” and added that he is in “fair condition” now.
Talking to the Associated Press, Gunnell refused to disclose the hospital that was nursing him or when he was initially admitted but said that the legend's condition may be more serious this time than his previous hospital stays. The three-time heavyweight champion is expected to have a “brief stay” where his situation will be regularly monitored.
Nicknamed “The Greatest”, Ali has been hospitalised a few times in recent years. In December 2014, he was admitted to hospital with what was supposed to be a mild case of pneumonia but later in January ‘15, doctors determined it as severe urinary tract infection.
Ali, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than three decades now. He was first diagnosed with it within three years of his retirement.
He has looked increasingly frail in public appearances and kept a low profile in past few years. His last public appearance was in April at the 'Celebrity Fight Night' dinner in Phoenix, which raises funds for ‘Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center’.
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Ali, who is considered by many as the greatest boxer of all time retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record. At the height of his career, he was known for his quick hands, dancing feet and his ability, or as he says it, “to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”.
News of his hospitalisation has brought well wishes from his fans and boxers from all corners of the world on Twitter, including Sugar Ray Leonard, who modelled his career after Ali.
As the whole world prays, we hope he has a speedy recovery and gets well soon.
