Muhammad Ali (born “Cassius Clay”), who was voted the sports personality of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, has lost his last fight. Not in the ring but in a hospital. He turned 74 in January.
He was admitted to a hospital in Phoenix in the US state of Arizona for a respiratory disease on Thursday.
The three-time world heavyweight champion had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease from 1984, three years after his retirement.
Condolence messages from sportspeople and statesmen have been pouring in from around the world.
His family has announced that Ali’s funeral will take place in his hometown Kentucky in Louisville, United States of America, on Friday, June 10.
