The 72-year-old former three-time heavyweight world champion and under 81 kilogram gold medallist at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games is said to be in a stable condition and likely to make a full recovery.

Ali, who has suffered with Parkinson's disease since 1984 - three years after his retirement from boxing, is not expected to have more than a brief stay in hospital.

"He was admitted earlier this morning and because the pneumonia was caught early, his prognosis is good with a short hospital stay expected," spokesman Bob Gunnell said.

He gave no further details but asked that the privacy of Ali's family be respected.

Muhammad Ali, with his wife Lonnie, at the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony ©Getty Images


Although he is now making few public appearances, Ali attended a ceremony for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky in September.

In 2012, he carried the Olympic Flag into the Olympic Stadium at the London Olympics Opening Ceremony in front of 80,000 spectators and his lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the Atlanta 1996 Opening Ceremony has gone down as one of the most iconic moments in sporting history.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2014: Alan Hubbard - Ali is ailing but I hope he sees 40th anniversary of Rumble in the Jungle
February 2014: Alan Hubbard - How Ali humbled Liston half a century ago
February 2012: Angelo Dundee, former trainer of Muhammad Ali, dies at 90
August 2010: Alan Hubbard - Celebrating 50 years since Muhammad Ali's Olympic gold medal