- The three-time heavyweight champ checked in to a hospital at an undisclosed location on Saturday
- 72-year-old Ali has battled Parkinson's disease for years, an illness that can cause problems with swallowing and sometimes lead to pneumonia
- He and his wife Lonnie have homes in Arizona, Michigan and in Louisville
- His daughter Rasheda Ali-Walsh tells DailyMail.com she will see her dad at Christmas - as his spokesman says he's 'vastly improved'
Rasheda Ali-Walsh, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, says her father is 'doing fabulous' as he battles pneumonia in hospital.
The former heavyweight champion,72, was admitted to a Kentucky hospital with a mild case of pneumonia at the weekend.
But
his spokesman today said Ali's doctors hope to discharge him soon, and
Rasheda, 44, told DailyMail.com her father is recovering well, adding:
'He's doing fabulous, he's quite remarkable.'
On the
mend: Boxing great Muhammad Ali has 'vastly improved' following a bout
with pneumonia for which he was hospitalized at an undisclosed location
Saturday morning
Prayers: Rasheda Ali-Walsh says her dad is 'doing fabulous' and that she hopes to see him for Christmas
Rasheda
- one of Ali's nine children, who has a twin daughter Jamillah- added:
'We're all so pleased that he's recovering, he's quite the champion.
'We're
going to see him in a couple of days over Christmas and I'm looking
forward to it, you never know with pneumonia, but we're going to see him
and I want to thank everyone for all of their prayers.'
Ali
spokesman Bob Gunnell said today that Ali's doctors hope to discharge
him soon from the hospital where he was admitted on Saturday, adding his
condition had 'vastly improved'
'Because the pneumonia was caught early, his prognosis is good with a short hospital stay expected.' Gunnell said.
Ali and his wife, Lonnie, have homes in Arizona, Michigan and in Louisville.
Ali,
who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was diagnosed with the brain
disease about three years after he retired from boxing in 1981.
Ali's
public appearances have diminished in recent years as he continues to
battle Parkinson's disease, but he still enjoys getting out and watching
sports and visiting friends.
Beloved: Rasheda Ali-Walsh with her dad, champion Ali in July
Happy birthday Daddy! Rasheda posted this picture of her with her father on his birthday in Janary
'Greatest of all time': Ali, who
suffers from Parkinson's disease, was diagnosed with the brain disease
about three years after he retired from boxing in 1981. Here, he's
pictured at after beating Sonny Liston to gain the heavyweight title in
February 1964
Ali
appeared in public in September at a ceremony in his hometown of
Louisville for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards. Ali did not speak
to the crowd but posed for photos with award winners, including former
NFL great Jim Brown.
Brown
leaned over and whispered to the seated Ali during the photo session.
Later, Brown said he told Ali: 'You're the greatest of all time.'
Ali
retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He
traveled the world on humanitarian missions, mingling with the masses
and rubbing elbows with world leaders.
Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005.
The Muhammad Ali Center, in Louisville, is dedicated to Ali's humanitarian causes and showcases his boxing career.
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