Rahaman Ali, Muhammad Ali’s Brother and Former Professional Boxer, Dies at 82

Rahaman Ali, Muhammad Ali’s younger brother and a professional boxer, has died. He was 82.

Muhammad died on Friday, Aug. 1, according to a statement from the Muhammad Ali Center, shared on Facebook on Saturday, Aug. 2. 

A cause of death has not been released at this time.

“You can’t tell Muhammad’s story without mentioning Rahaman,” DeVone Holt, president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, said in the statement. “He was one of the most constant sources of support for Muhammad during this career, and their relationship was a true example of what it means to be ‘my brother’s keeper.’ ”

Rahaman, who was born on July 18, 1943, followed in his older brother’s footsteps and became a professional boxer. He won “14 out of his 18 professional bouts” between 1964 and 1972, per the Center.

After retiring from his own boxing career, Rahaman began traveling with Muhammad, supporting his brother and helping him train.

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Rahaman wrote two books about his time boxing with his brother: 2014’s That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard (which was co-authored by boxing writer and columnist H. Ron Brashear) and 2019’s My Brother, Muhammad Ali – The Definitive Biography.

Muhammad’s daughter Hana Ali posted a tribute to her late uncle on Facebook on Friday, writing, “Today, the last living member of my father’s immediate family returned to heaven.”

She continued, “My Uncle Rahman, lovingly known as Rock, was a sweet, gentle soul with a heart as big as the world. He had that same sparkle in his eye that my father had… that same light, that same mischief, that same love.”

“Uncle Rock had a heart of gold. He never needed a spotlight to shine, and I believe that now, from above, he and Daddy are part of something bigger… something beautiful… something meant to help heal this broken world,” she added.

Muhammad’s daughter Laila Ali shared a tribute to her uncle on Instagram, writing, “My father loved his brother Rahaman so deeply. They are now back in the arms of their beloved parents. May they all rest in eternal peace together.”

Muhammad died in 2016 at the age of 74 after a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.