Muhammad Ali, Legendary African American Boxer, Dies At 74

by Benson Agoha | Sports

* Mohammed Ali. (Credit: via VLAD TV)

Muhammad Ali, the three-time heavyweight champion boxer whose electrifying prowess in the ring and controversial outspokenness outside of it, made him one of the world’s most recognizable personalities of the 20th Century, has died, Fox News reports in a breaking news.

The boxing great, was 74, and for the past few hours emerging reports from his home was that he was rushed to a hospital where he was placed on a life support. His family were subsequently told to expect the `worse'.

Mohammad Ali was so outspoken that he declared himself to be `America'. In many sense, he was just that.

An African American from a mixed raced background, he experienced what racism was and openly decried it. It did not win him many friends, but Ali wasn't a man that was easily fazed either.

On his many fights in the 1970's, his fight in Zaire was one of the most popular in Africa.  It was hosted by the late Mobutu Sese Seko.

But for the past 30 years, he has lived with the Parkinson's Disease and when he was hospitalized for respiratory complications, Doctors at the Phoenix hospital in Arizona, told his family, that may have to prepare for the worst.

According to VLAD TV, sources close to the boxing legend say his respiratory complications have become more severe because of his Parkinson's, a disease he was diagnosed with back in the 80s.

"Doctors are working to regulate his breathing but it is being hampered by his Parkinson's," stated the source.

Four of Ali's nine children, including Laila are at the hospital as the others are rushing to his beside. Doctors fear that the 74-year old heavyweight champ is "near the end."

Ali had visited Brixton and was said to have been very fond of and had soft spot for the UK in general. May his soul rest in peace.

(* With contribution from Fox News, VLAD TV, BBC).