Nine years ago, Muhammad Ali passed away forever. Now his younger brother has followed him. Rahaman was closer to “The Greatest” during his lifetime than almost anyone else.
Rahaman Ali, the younger brother of Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 82. This was announced by the “Muhammad Ali Center” in Louisville, Kentucky (USA). Rahman, who used to box himself and fought 18 professional heavyweight fights, suffered from Parkinson’s disease like his brother. An official cause of death was not given by the non-profit museum dedicated to the boxing icon. According to reports, Rahaman was admitted to hospital on July 19 and was in hospice care.
“My brother’s keeper”
“You can’t tell Muhammad’s story without mentioning Rahaman,” said DeVone Holt, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center. “He was one of Muhammad’s most consistent supporters throughout his career, and their relationship was a true example of what it means to be ‘my brother’s keeper’.” Laila Ali, Muhammad’s daughter and Hall-of-Famer, shared on Instagram, “My dad loved his brother Rahaman so much. They are now back in the arms of their beloved parents. May they all rest together in eternal peace.”
Boxer and book author
Born Rudolph Arnett Clay on July 18, 1943, Rahaman found his way into boxing just like “The Greatest”. Rahaman, aka Rudy Clay, made his professional debut on February 25, 1964 – the night Ali won the heavyweight title against Sonny Liston. “Muhammad and I have trained together since we started boxing as boys,” Rahaman once told BOXSPORT. “We went to the gym together and trained and sparred there. During his career, I was his best sparring partner and we sparred regularly.”
Rahman ended his professional career in 1972 (14-3-1, 7 knockouts). Like his 18-month-older brother, he had already converted to Islam in the 1960s. In 2015, Rahaman Ali wrote his first book entitled “That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard”. Four years later, he published the biography “My Brother, Muhammad Ali”.
Text: Frank Schwantes
BOXSPORT had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with Rahaman Ali in 2021. In it, the younger brother of Muhammad gives deep insights into the soul of the greatest boxers of all time and their relationship with each other. You can find the interview under “Exclusive” in the BOXSPORT app!