Rahaman Ali, the brother you can’t leave out of the Muhammad Ali story, dies at 82

Rahaman Ali, younger brother of boxing icon Muhammad Ali and a former professional heavyweight boxer, has died at the age of 82, the Muhammad Ali Center confirmed Saturday(August 2). He passed away on Friday, August 1. The cause of death has not been released.

Born Rudolph Arnett Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1943, Rahaman was just 18 months younger than Muhammad, then known as Cassius Clay Jr. The brothers grew up in a modest pink house in Louisville’s West End, where they wrestled and played basketball.

Rahaman followed his brother into the boxing ring, competing professionally from 1964 to 1972. Over the course of his career, he amassed a respectable record of 14 wins (7 by knockout), 3 losses, and 1 draw. Though never as famous as his older brother, Rahaman carved out his own place in the sport and remained a dedicated figure in Muhammad’s corner throughout his career.


“Rahaman was his brother’s biggest supporter,” the Muhammad Ali Center said in a statement. “You can’t tell Muhammad’s story without mentioning Rahaman.”

After retiring from boxing, Rahaman remained by Muhammad’s side, traveling with him and participating in training camps. He was often seen ringside, not just as a sibling, but as part of the inner circle that supported the world champion through the highs and lows of his career.

Rahaman also sought to preserve his brother’s legacy. In 2014, he published a memoir titled That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard, co-authored with boxing journalist H. Ron Brashear. Five years later, he released My Brother, Muhammad Ali - The Definitive Biography, offering a deeply personal look into the family life of the world’s most celebrated boxer.

“He was a sweet, gentle soul with a heart as big as the world,” Muhammad’s daughter, Hana Ali, wrote in a tribute on social media. “He had that same sparkle in his eye that my father had.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days, according to the Muhammad Ali Center.