Muhammad Ali’s Brother Rahaman Ali Dies at 82 in Low-Key Farewell
Avery Sinclair here. Can’t wait to see how this pans out.
The Muhammad Ali Center confirmed Saturday that Rahaman Ali, the lesser-known but ever-loyal younger brother of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, passed away at 82 on Friday. The announcement, issued by the Louisville memorial institution that bears his elder brother’s name, offered no cause of death and left fans and family alike hanging until funeral plans are finalized. We reached out to a center representative who politely declined to elaborate, leaving official details as scarce as last month’s title fight drama.
Most boxing fans remember Rahaman for stepping into the ring himself from 1964 through 1972, compiling a professional record that never quite matched the world championships his brother claimed. Yet public records and archived fight footage show a solid contender who earned respect in regional circuits. According to a statement on Muhammad Ali Center letterhead, Rahaman was more than a boxer; he was “his brother’s biggest supporter,” offering behind-the-scenes loyalty that no sporting headline could capture.
Rahaman also turned his family ties into literary ventures. In 2014, he released That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard, a memoir that promised a ringside seat to Ali family anecdotes. Five years later, he upped the ante with My Brother, Muhammad Ali – The Definitive Biography, which drew on personal archives, interviews, and never-before-published letters to paint a fuller portrait of a boxing icon. Both titles are still sold through major retailers and cited by sports historians as primary source material.
Outside the written word, Rahaman’s social media presence was modest yet heartfelt. Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Hana Ali, shared an Instagram selfie alongside her uncle accompanied by a touching tribute, calling him “a sweet, gentle soul with a heart as big as the world.” She praised the “extraordinary” bond he shared with her father. Sister and fellow boxing champ Laila Ali also took to Instagram, noting, “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 Ali himself died in 2016 at a Phoenix-area hospital from respiratory complications, a fact still fresh in public memory. Now, with Rahaman rejoining his famous sibling and their parents, the Ali family ring has finally gone silent. There’s no word yet on a public memorial or private service, but loyal followers and casual observers alike will be watching the Muhammad Ali Center announcements for closure.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Muhammad Ali Center, Instagram
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
