Muhammad Ali Hospitalized

It was announced today that Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized in the city in which he currently lives, Phoenix, Arizona. He was reportedly placed in the hospital in the earlier hours of the day due to respiratory issues. The family spokesman stated the following regarding the situation:

“He is being treated by his team of doctors and is in fair condition. A brief hospital stay is expected. At this time, the Muhammad Ali family respectfully requests privacy”.

The 74 year old boxing legend has become rather familiar with the hospital setting, as he has been visiting frequently, and even more so in recent years. Although the most recent visits were due to a diagnosis of pneumonia, the health issue actually turned out to be a urinary tract infection; however these visits are nothing new to him, as his Parkinson’s disease has often landed him in hospitals in the past.

Former Olympic boxer Ray Leonard paid his respects to the three time heavyweight champion in a tweet which read the following:

“Prayers and blessings to my idol, my friend, & without question, the Greatest of All Time

@MuhammadAli ! #GOAT”

There is no doubt that Ali’s Parkinson’s disease is certainly a long term result of his boxing career. Perhaps Muhammad Ali is an example of why the sport of boxing will one day provide a solution that will allow fighters to live a healthier lifestyle once their boxing career come to an end.