Ill Ali home on birthday
BOXING legend Muhammad Ali gets a hug from his daughter before his 73rd birthday yesterday after medics allowed him home from hospital.
The three-time world heavyweight champion was rushed to a medical centre in Arizona on Thursday night after worried friends found him “unresponsive” in bed at his home in Scottsdale.
There was relief after his daughter Maryum, 46, tweeted this picture of herself with the idol and said: “My father, aka Muhammad Ali, is at home and looking forward to celebrating his 73rd birthday tomorrow.”
Doctors initially released Ali a week ago after he was treated for a urinary tract infection. He had been in hospital for two weeks. But he was readmitted for the same condition after guests staying at his home couldn’t wake him up.
Battle
His worried wife Lonnie and another daughter, Hana, were at his hospital bedside as fears grew for his health. But Ali was soon deemed fit enough to go home.
Family spokesman Bob Gunnell said Ali was looking forward to celebrating his birthday surrounded by friends and family.
Ali, who retired from boxing in 1981, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984.
Over the past five years he has made fewer public appearances as he continues the battle the debilitating condition.
He failed to attend the Hollywood premiere of I Am Ali, a documentary telling his life story.
But a post on his Twitter feed later read: “Don’t believe the hype, feeling great earlier today at @BoarsHead Resort.”
Ali beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to take the heavyweight crown. After losing the title, he won it back by beating George Foreman in 1974 and Leon Spinks in 1978.