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Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized with a respiratory issue

Fighters Network
02
Jun

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For the second time since Dec. of 2014, boxing great Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized for health reasons.

The 74-year-old heavyweight legend is receiving hospital care for a respiratory issue in his hometown of Phoenix, though his stay is expected to be short, a spokesman for Ali said in a statement.



“Ali, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, is being treated by his team of doctors and is in fair condition,” family spokesman Bob Gunnell said in a statement.A brief hospital stay is expected. At this time, the Muhammad Ali family respectfully requests privacy.”

The three-time heavyweight champion was also hospitalized with a severe urinary tract infection in Dec. of 2014 that was diagnosed at first as a mild case of pneumonia. Ali was released after more than two weeks in the hospital and was able to celebrate his 73rd birthday at home on Jan. 17 after a full recovery.

Ali won heavyweight titles in 1964, 1974, and 1978 and was a part of a number of culturally significant fights with rivals Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. Ali was also known for his ideals outside the ring, such as his refusal to be conscripted into the U.S. military in 1967 because of his religious beliefs and disapproval of the Vietnam War.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1984 but remained publicly active, refereeing at the first installment of WrestleMania in 1985. Even after the Parkinson’s became progressively worse, Ali continued to travel the world on various goodwill missions, visiting Afghanistan in 2002 on behalf of the United Nations. He famously lit the Olympic flame in 1996 in Atlanta at the opening ceremonies. Though his left hand was trembling, Ali held the flame aloft to the crowd, ever the showman, and after steadying himself, ignited the flame to applause. To this day, Ali remains one of the most recognizable and beloved athletes ever.

 

 

 

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