Leon Spinks, who shocked the boxing world with his 1978 defeat of Muhammad Ali to claim the heavyweight championship, died Friday in Henderson, Nev. Now, seven months after the death of one of the most legendary figures in sports, his family is again in the news for all of the wrong reasons. His battle with Parkinson's has made keeping in touch difficult in recent years and Rahaman, now 71, is dealing . Ali had suffered for three decades from Parkinson's, a progressive neurological condition that slowly robbed him of both his verbal grace and his physical dexterity. Alis religious views also evolved over time. Before his death last June, Ali is said to have told friends he wanted all of his children to have no money worries. His face lit up and he said: Paddy, my brother., I helped him up out of his chair so he could hug dad and it was such a loving hug. Rahaman was by his side all the way. He retired in 1979, when he was 37, but, seeking to replenish his dwindling personal fortune, returned in 1980 for a title match against Larry Holmes, which he lost. Ab Abd Allh al-usayn ibn Al ibn Ab lib (Arabic: ; 10 January 626 - 10 October 680) was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter Fatima, as well as a younger brother of Hasan ibn Ali. Ali, 74, died Friday night at 9:10 MT, the result of septic shock due to unspecified natural causes, Gunnell said. Ali successfully defended his title until 1978, when he was beaten by a young Leon Spinks, and then quickly took it back. He's the greatest fighter on this planet. The first time the crowd was so big, the police couldnt handle it and had to call in the Army, said Tyrone. There was a death scare in 2013, and last year he was rushed to the hospital after being found unresponsive. Ali told boxing promoters, "She's afraid of him. 14 of 22. His fights against other men became spectacles, but he embodied much greater battles. Ali died at age 74 late Friday night, surrounded by his family in . The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. He said then Rudy, Im going to be world champion, heavyweight champion of the world.. Fans of the pitcher have used the internet to pay homage as word of Matt Pobereyko's passing spreads. SOME say he could have been heavyweight champion of the world. Ali was an anti-establishment showman who transcended borders and barriers, race and religion. Family attorney Jeffrey K Eisen said: Alis trust details were approved by him and reflect his wishes to ensure his legacy would be honoured exactly as prescribed. And he turned his back on him. She was a cocktail waitress and is most known as the first wife to the renowned legend. My Life on the Undercard, which is co-authored by H. Ron Brashear and the foreword written by Gene Kilroy - the longtime business manager of Muhammad Ali. As time went by, that . "Muhammad was 12 years old and I was 10," he said. LOUISVILLE - Rahaman Ali had a ringside seat for nearly all of his brother's life. Seven months later Ali regained the championship with a 15-round victory over Spinks. Alis place in boxing history as one of the greatest fighters ever is secure. Muhammad Ali's birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Ali and Frazier fought again in 1974, after Frazier had lost his crown. In October 1970, Ali was allowed to return to boxing, but his skills had eroded. One of her most notable works is her 2018 personal biography, At Home with Muhammad Ali, where she detailed the ups and downs of her father from the eyes of a daughter. Rahman Ali, Muhammad's brother, stated that the split from his first wife was one of the most difficult experiences that the boxer endured during his life. It is co-authored by Fiaz Rafiq, with the foreword written by NFL legend Jim Brown. That all changed once his father died. Ali married his fourth wife, Lonnie (ne Yolanda Williams), in 1986. There was another fight on at the same venue later that night that got a little more attention Alis victory against Sonny Liston which saw him become heavyweight champion of the world. Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest boxers in history, the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. But he didnt. June 3, 2021. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. Then, on March 8, 1971, he challenged Joe Frazier, who had become heavyweight champion during Alis absence from the ring. Ali was received by the people of Zaire as a conquering hero, and he did his part by knocking out Foreman in the eighth round to regain the heavyweight title. And then one day he did it. But perhaps more important, he had courage and all the other intangibles that go into making a great fighter. He was born in 1878 in Rampur, India. A three-day music festival featuring James Brown and B.B. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Muhammad Ali Jr., the son of the late boxing icon Muhammad Ali, told The New York Post in an hour-long interview that his father wouldn't have supported the Black Lives Matter movement, calling it "racist."; Ali, who died aged 74 in 2016 as a result of complications of Parkinson's disease, was a known activist who in 1964 joined the Nation of Islam. After advancing through the amateur ranks, he won a gold medal in the 175-pound division at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and began a professional career under the guidance of the Louisville Sponsoring Group, a syndicate composed of 11 wealthy white men. So, if youre curious about what happened to Rahman since, weve got you covered. I'm the king of the world.". In Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm's daughter, explained that after he left the organization, Ali contacted her family to reconnect. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. Ali's fiery commentary was praised by antiwar activists and black nationalists and vilified by conservatives, including many other athletes and sportswriters. He is the younger brother of Muhammad Ali.[3]. But he said he did not regret boxing. He was 74. The bout lasted only one minute into the first round. It was following this fight the brothers converted to Islam and changed their names to Rahaman and Muhammad. The siblings were born in Louisville, Ky. Rahamans birth name was Rudolph Valentino Clay, and Muhammads birth name was Cassius Marcellous Clay. "Mandy" Walker of Todd County, Kentucky. In 1996 Ali was chosen to light the Olympic flame at the start of the Games of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, Georgia. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. After that he fought Joe Frazier a second time and won a unanimous 12-round decision. It felt like it was no biggie, said Tyrone. I like to think Muhammad and my dad are up there in heaven now having the best of banter.. Mohammad Ali was born on April 19, 1931, in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was clear for Clay that if he wanted to have any chance of having a career in professional boxing, he would have to hide his relationship with Malcolm X and the NOI. Thats my claim to fame, I was unofficial world champion at 16, said Tyrone. In my heart, in my bones, in my mind. Liston was widely regarded as the most intimidating, powerful fighter of his era. While Cassius was undoubtedly the superior talent and would cap his amateur career with a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph also showed elite ability. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., grew up in the American . Muhammad Ali, the silver-tongued boxer and civil rights champion who famously proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and then spent a lifetime living up to the billing, is dead. Kilroy wrote how Muhammad benefited from how strong Rahaman was. Rahaman Ali wishes his brother, Muhammad Ali, a happy birthday, March 18, 2007, in Louisville, Ky., at the Muhammad Ali Center before the Rumble Replay, a fundraiser showing the eight rounds of the "Rumble In the Jungle" 1974 Ali-George Forman boxing match. Alis later years were marked by physical decline. Then he retired from boxing, but two years later he made an ill-advised comeback and suffered a horrible beating at the hands of Larry Holmes in a bout that was stopped after 11 rounds. Ali's caregiver and sister-in-law, Marilyn Williams . The reaction was swift and harsh. I was 10 when we started boxing, he was 12 years old, Rahaman told voicetribune.com in 2013. At small gyms early in her son's career and later at international arenas when he became world-famous, Clay traveled with her son and was a ring-side regular at his bouts. Sonji Roi (former spouse) Duration of Marriage: 1964 - 1966 (2 years) Date of Birth: November 23, 1945. Something went wrong, please try again later. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The third fight in the Ali-Frazier trilogy followed in 1975, the "Thrilla in Manila" that is now regarded as one of the best boxing matches of all time. Speaking at a press conference in Chicago on Sept. 25, 1970, deposed world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali "Cassius Clay" said he might fight Jerry Quarry in New York if Georgia Gov. 54 of 59 55 of 59 From left, Zubair Ali and his brothers Abdullah and Hamzah arrive with their mother Ruqaya Ali for Muhammad Ali's Jenazah, a traditional Islamic Muslim service, in Freedom Hall . [13] Muhammad Ali was much closer to his mother, whom he lovingly called "Bird", than to his father. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! In 1996, he lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta, lifting the torch with shaking arms. Ali's brother and son Muhammad Ali, Jr., openly criticized his wife Lonnie, claiming that . Ali's Mother Raised Him as a Baptist. [11] The Clays' marriage was troubled. There bare-knuckle boxing champ Paddy Monaghan grieved for the superstar to whom he was so close that they referred to each other as brothers. Shortly after receiving the inheritance though, Ali Jr. reportedly skipped out on his wife, Shaakira, and their two young daughters, Ameera and Shakera. He defeated Jerry Quarry in the third round. She was Leader of the Opposition of Pakistan from . Ali died Friday at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications, a family spokesman confirmed to NBC News. Elijah Muhammads death in 1975 paved the way for his son Wallace D Muhammad to bring the Nation of Islam, and Ali, into the fold of mainstream Sunni Islam. He said, 'Don't cry for me, Rahaman. "I'm in no pain," he told The New York Times. He was wearing the traditional Muslim white robes, wrote Ali, Further signifying his break with Elijah Muhammad. He wouldnt take it easy on him. There were thousands of people, the street was packed.. Ali prevailed in his first two comeback fights, against Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. From Dr. Oz The Good Life. ''. . Muhammad Ali, right, takes a punch from Trevor Berbick, of Canada, during the first round of their 10-round bout in Nassau, Bahamas, in this Dec. 11, 1981 file photo. Through his friendship with Ali, Paddy met many big name stars. Muhammad, the prophet who spread Islam, dies. Corrections? You know what he said to me? After winning dozens of amateur fights, Rahman made his foray into the world of professional boxing on the same night as Muhammad beat Sonny Liston in 1964. The brothers returned to the ring with wins in Atlanta in late 1970 Muhammad against Jerry Quarry and Rahaman on the undercard against Hurricane Grant. He was destined to play second fiddle from the moment he entered this world. Ali successfully defended his title six times, including a rematch with Liston. They came despite the pouring rain to pay tribute to his brother, The Greatest. Finally, Ali delivered a historic performance in the ring, employing a new strategy dubbed the "rope-a-dope," goading the favored Foreman into attacking him, then leaning back into the ropes in a defensive stance and waiting for Foreman to tire. It got pretty nasty down below, there was a crowd of [200], 300 people . Its probably not true but it made me feel great, he said. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. [17] In the 1977 film The Greatest, Odessa Clay was portrayed by Dorothy Meyer, and in the 2001 film Ali she was portrayed by Candy Ann Brown.[18]. In his early bouts as a professional, Clay was more highly regarded for his charm and personality than for his ring skills. Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali chronicles the relationship between its eponymous duo, which would eventually result in one of the greatest regrets of Ali's life.The pair shared a turbulent and ultimately short-lived friendship in the 1960s amidst a complex environment of popular sports and social justice.Blood Brothers Rahaman Ali is two years older than his famous sibling and was also a professional boxer. His final record of 56 wins and 5 losses with 37 knockouts has been matched by others, but the quality of his opponents and the manner in which he dominated during his prime placed him on a plateau with boxings immortals. Two days later Clay shocked the boxing establishment again by announcing that he had accepted the teachings of the Nation of Islam. Then his marriage fell apart a month after his father died. The former British, Commonwealth and European champion fought 55 times and is revered for his 1963 knockdown of Muhammad Ali - then Cassius Clay. But in one of the most stunning upsets in sports history, Liston retired to his corner after six rounds, and Clay became the new champion. Muhammad Alis expansive career was more than just about boxing. Now they feel sorry for me. But he kept his new faith a secret until the crown was safely in hand. He was 74. "Hell always be with me -- in my heart, in my bones, in my mind," Ali said. His stand culminated with an April appearance at an Army recruiting station, where he refused to step forward when his name was called. . It wasnt long before his ambition grew much larger than just dealing with a petty criminal. Jr, and his uncle, Muhammad Ali's younger brother, Rahman, have . "Hell always be with me. My black brother, who lived in Kentucky, became the most famous man in the world. [1][2] She married Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. in the 1930s and worked for some time as a household domestic to help support her young children. That's one hell of a achievement. Then, on March 31, 1973, a little-known fighter named Ken Norton broke Alis jaw in the second round en route to a 12-round upset decision. Inspired by Malcolm X, one of the group's leaders, he converted in 1963. So, if youre curious about what happened to Rahman since, weve got you covered. Then, on April 28, 1967, citing his religious beliefs, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army at the height of the war in Vietnam. Muhammad Ali was married 4 times and had 3 baby mamas. Boxing great Muhammad Ali died on June 3, 2016; His $80million estate was to be divided evenly amongst his wife and nine kids; . That fight began one of boxing's and sport's greatest rivalries. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Ali wished he had never snubbed his former mentor - but Malcolm X was assassinated before he could say sorry, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. I am the greatest! Muhammad Ali's mother was his greatest supporter despite their separate spiritual paths. I beat Muhammad and nobody knows about it, it was just in my back garden.. Absolutely not. And he turned his back on him. Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali dives into Muhammads friendship with the fierce activist. LOUISVILLE, Ky. Five years ago today, boxing legend and Louisville native Muhammad Ali passed away. Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X insisted, was in fact so ignorant of Islam that he didnt know the prayer ritual. In 1984 Ali spoke out publicly against the separatist doctrine of Louis Farrakhan, declaring, What he teaches is not at all what we believe in. [3] She supported and inspired her son throughout his boxing career and was a ring-side regular at his bouts. She taught us to love people and treat everybody with kindness. Terms of the trust are a private matter., Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. The opponents he was besting were a mixture of veterans who were long past their prime and fighters who had never been more than mediocre. But because of his older brother, Rahaman Alis life took a much different path. Paddy then worked in Alis corner when he beat Joe Frazier in New York in 1974. In fact, according to Woods he plans to have Thats Muhammad Alis Brother written on his tombstone when he dies. Al, in full Al ibn Ab lib, also called Al al-Murta, (born c. 600, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]died January 661, Kufa, Iraq), cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, and fourth of the "rightly guided" (rshidn) caliphs, as the first four successors of Muhammad are called. But he was killed before I got the chance.. Nick WheelerSIPA USA. As you can see in the video below, he did his best to grab a bit of the spotlight when Cassius allowed it. "A slight slurring of my speech, a little tremor. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., grew up in the American South in a time of segregated public facilities. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He is also an honorary board member of the Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell . Although they were close, Foreman refused to attend Frazier's funeral, and the reason is a sad one. Muhammads career obviously became the priority and Rahaman only fought four times in the next two years, winning all four. He told me I was as good at fighting as he was at the same age. Rahman has since co-authored two books providing an intimate account of Muhammads life through his memories. And my mother, I'll tell you what I've told people for a long time. While "his motor skills, his physical skills were deteriorating," the icon's "mind was always sharp," he said. On October 30, 1974, Ali challenged George Foreman, who had dethroned Frazier in 1973 to become heavyweight champion of the world. On February 21 1965 Malcolm X was assassinated as he gave a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. Fermanagh-born Paddy got 22,224 signatures on a petition, led protests in Londons Hyde Park and wrote to US President Richard Nixon to plead Alis case. Thats a blessing from God, and I was there from the beginning. Rahman has been married to Caroline for about 15 years now. While he went to the 1960 Olympics, Rahaman was not selected and remained amateur until February 25, 1964, the night his brother won one of his heavyweight titles over Sonny Liston. Odessa Clay died of heart failure on August 20, 1994 at Hurstbourne Health Center, a nursing home in the Louisville, Kentucky area. After discovering boxing, it was his mother with whom he shared his dreams of greatness. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- On June 3, 2016, the death of . Muhammad Ali has one older brother, Rahaman "Rudy" Ali. Entry for Odessa Clay's grave, in Findagrave website (2019). I was proud of my name and dedicated to the Nation of Islam as Elijah presented it. She taught us it was wrong to be prejudiced or hate. Rahman is the younger brother of Muhammad Ali, born Rudolph Valentino Clay in July 1944. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell, a family spokesman, told NBC News. AP. Morehead served in the 122nd United States Colored Troops during the war. He was 22 years old. 2016 was a year when we lost many legends in the world of music, film, and sports. Ali defeated Norton in a rematch. He would keep coming. I could almost feel it. He took it from George Foreman later that year in a fight in Zaire dubbed "The Rumble in the Jungle," a spectacularly hyped bout for which Ali moved to Africa for the summer, followed by crowds of chanting locals wherever he went. He continued to be one of the most recognizable people in the world. He was at Jackie Gleasons birthday party once and Mickey Rooney kept asking dad, Paddy, what line are you in? My dad said, Im in the dole line. He turned professional shortly afterward, supported at first by Louisville business owners who guaranteed him an unprecedented 50-50 split in earnings. "My mother and father were good people and they told us not to hate but to love and be kind and good to people. But Ali Jnr said: It looks like Ive just been cut off. The bout (which Ali referred to as the Rumble in the Jungle) took place in the unlikely location of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His battle with Parkinsons has made keeping in touch difficult in recent years and Rahaman, now 71, is dealing with his own health troubles, revealing hes had at least 15 ministrokes that hes aware of. Jon Schuppe is an enterprise reporter for NBC News, based in New York. The most notable of these bouts occurred on October 1, 1975, when Ali and Joe Frazier met in the Philippines, 6 miles (9.5 km) outside Manila, to do battle for the third time. New York Daily News. Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions; he successfully defended this title 19 times. You won't even stand up for me in America for my religious beliefs and you want me to go somewhere and fight but you won't even stand up for me here at home.". "And I am happy because I will meet him in heaven. Before the rift: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali in March 1964, Muhammad Ali - 'I don't have white friends, they're associates', Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Read more 'The white man is the devil' what the Nation of Islam taught Ali, Bernie Sanders pays tribute to Muhammad Ali for 'courageous' opposition to Vietnam War, How the world paid tribute to Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali was a 'champion of Islam' who wanted to distinguish the religion from Isis, says Muslim leader, Muhammad Ali's one regret: his rift with Malcolm X. rejected Cassius Clay as his slave name. In recent years, Rahman was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, the same affliction that Muhammad had to deal with. Even as his health gradually declined, Ali who switched to more mainstream branches of Islam threw himself into humanitarian causes, traveling to Lebanon in 1985 and Iraq in 1990 to seek the release of American hostages. [13][15] Her body was buried in a grave alongside her husband in Green Meadows Memorial Cemetery, in Louisville. He represents the time of our struggle in the dark and a time of confusion in us, and we dont want to be associated with that at all.. The previous time dad had seen him, they had shadow boxed and played around with each other. King preceded the fight. In 1986, the couple adopted 5-year-old Asaad Amin and remained together until Muhammad's death. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. But it was the following year at Madison Square Garden the night Ali lost the first of three battles with Joe Frazier Rahamans career reached a turning point. My black brother who lived in Kentucky became the most famous man in the world. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Another special memory is of Ali sparring with 16-year-old Tyrone in their back garden and The Greatest letting him win. That's a blessing from God, and I was there from the beginning. Rahman Ali (Brother) Age (At the time of death) 81 Years Old: Height: 6 ft 3 inches (1.91 m) Weight: 107 kg (235.895 pounds) Hair Color: . You my opposer when I want justice. "Hes going to be with God, which is the best thing," Ali said. Where did he get that strength from?, On today, 1975, That's @MuhammadAli Brother! Three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, who became one of the world's best-known sportsmen, dies aged 74 after suffering from respiratory illness. He has problems.' Despite recovering to reel off seven consecutive wins during the rest of a busy 1971, he called it quits in 1972 after being knocked out for the first time at the hands of California state champion Jack OHalloran. 01:53. Larsa Pippen ruffled feathers when she went public with her new flame, the son of an NBA legend and a former teammate of her ex. She married Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. in the 1930s and worked for some time as a household domestic to help support her young children. But he arrived in Ghana just as Malcolm X was visiting, on his slow return from a pilgrimage to Mecca. The couple had been living in a cramped apartment owned by Shaakira's parents in South Side Chicago before Ali Jr. skipped out on the family. She said it seemed like . Alternate titles: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Thomas Hauser graduated from law school in 1970 and began writing in 1977. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? By Tim Smith, Wayne Coffey and Bob Raissman. If I wasnt famous, I wouldnt be able to do what Im doing now.. Muhammad Alis first visit to Paddy Monaghans home in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Paddy Monaghan and Muhammad Ali were like brothers, Paddy's son Tyrone Monaghan has spoken about his dad's friendship with Ali, Ali letting Paddys son Tyrone, 16, beat him in their back garden, Paddy campaigning for Ali and congratulating him on an award, Muhammad Ali Junior fighting in the 1970s and being introduced to the crowd by his famous father. Muhammad Ali is held back by referee Joe Walcott, left, after Ali knocked out challenger Sonny Liston in the first round of their title fight in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. He would start his career 29-0, with one of those wins a unanimous decision over Muhammad Ali in 1971. Then, in 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, Ali was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army. His life story is told in the documentary film I Am Ali (2014), which includes audio recordings that he made throughout his career and interviews with his intimates. My black brother, who lived in Kentucky, became the most famous man in the world. I wish Id been able to tell Malcolm I was sorry, that he was right about so many things. In their last conversation, "he said to me with shaking, he said, 'Rahaman how do I look?' They never lynched me. However, his condition differed from chronic encephalopathy, or dementia pugilistica (which is commonly referred to as punch drunk in fighters), in that he did not suffer from injury-induced intellectual deficits. Dec. 20, 2016. The brothers adopted traditional Muslim names when they became part of the Black Muslims Ministry. The cause of . The three-time heavyweight champion had been at HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn . Muhammads brother, Rahman, was always in his corner, helping him prepare for fights and had a big role in making Muhammad great. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," said family . "My enemy is the white people, not Vietcongs or Chinese or Japanese," Ali told one white student who challenged his draft avoidance. Muhammad Ali later said, "My mother is a Baptist, and when I was growing up, she taught me all she knew about God. Muhammad and his second wife, Belinda Boyd, who later changed her named to Khalilah, had four kids together: Maryum was born in 1968, twins Jamillah and Rasheda were born in 1970, and . With each public appearance he seemed more feeble, a stark contrast to his outsized aura. Soon after that, the brothers joined the Nation of Islam and changed their names. There were reports of conflict between members of Ali's large family in the years leading up to his death. A local police officer, Joe Martin, told Cassius he better learn how to fight if he was going to whup the thief. She doesn't drink, smoke, meddle in other people's business, or bother anyone, and there's no one who's been better to me my whole life. In his career, he knocked out seven opponents and was himself knocked out once. Joe Frazier, who beat Muhammad Ali in the Fight of the Century and battled him nearly to the death in the Thrilla in Manila, died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67. Ali was born to Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Clay on July 18, 1944, 05 months after his brother Cassius. Pobereyko was only 31 years old when he passed away. Ali's only sibling, brother Rahman, was left out of the will, and it was reported this was due to Rahman having a fallout with Lonnie. Clay was raised partly by her aunt. As Alis fame reached new heights, his bond with his brother never weakened. She was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, one of six children of John Lewis O'Grady and Birdie B.