 |
Ali may lose bout with Parkinson's
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is reportedly succumbing in the battle with Parkinson's disease, which impairs certain cells controlling the movement of body. On Friday, an unnamed family was quoted as saying that Ali "may only have months to live."
Ali's marketing agent, Harlan Werner, denied the report by saying: “Muhammad is fine and he has numerous appearances lined up.” He added: “He had surgery on his back and was in therapy for that, but that had nothing to do with Parkinson's. He is fine.”
"(His daughter) Laila feels she is losing him, " said Ali's manager, Howard Bingham. Laila Ali, in fact, confessed as much a story printed in the Los Angeles Times. She said: "I feel like the disease is progressing. Different things start happening as you get older. I have noticed a change in him, something that goes along with Parkinson's.”
His daughter Laila, 27, has followed her father's footsteps by becoming a world champion boxer herself.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's way back in 1985, four years following his retirement from the sport of boxing. The 63-year-old former heavyweight boxing champion is said to be undergoing therapy for neck and back problems. Ali is undergoing treatment for these problems at his home in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
The boxer, who was known as 'The Greatest', won the world heavyweight title three times. He also had 56 professional wins and is supposed to have made an estimated $30 million fortune from his career in the boxing sport.
He is also slated to visit his former hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on November 19 for the opening of the Muhammad Ali Center there.
|
|
Written
by :
Tabitha Ratliff | Published on :
07:33:00
EST
Sat, 05 Nov 2005 |
|
|
