Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was rushed to the hospital this week after having a brief scare over a respiratory issue. The boxer is said to be in fair condition now as the family issued a brief statement regarding the champ’s health.
As reported by Sports Illustrated, Ali’s representative shared a family statement with a reporter from NBC News which asks the public to respect the privacy of the famed pugilist.
From SI:
Ali, 74, suffers from Parkinson’s disease. According to the statement, he is in fair condition, and expected to be released from the hospital soon.
“A brief hospital stay is expected,” family spokesman Bob Gunnell wrote. “At this time, the Muhammad Ali family respectfully requests privacy.”
The Associated Press reported Thursday night that Ali is hospitalized in Phoenix with a condition that “may be more serious than his previous hospital stays.” The respiratory issues are reportedly complicated by his Parkinson’s.
The AP’s report was widely circulated, thus raising concerns among Ali’s many fans over the reality of his condition. In recent years, Ali has been hospitalized for other reasons with speculation swirling about regarding his Parkinson’s condition worsening.
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Photo: By pablo.raw (Flickr: Muhammad Ali) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
