Muhammad Ali on life support as medical condition worsen

Muhammad Ali has been placed on life support as his medical condition continues to worsen, while his family is now rushing to be by his bedside.

The legendary boxer, 74, has been hospitalized at an undisclosed facility since Thursday when he was discovered at his home 'barely breathing' according to Radar Online.

'He had an unshakeable cough and they had to bring him to hospital and sedate him,' said a source.

He has since been dealing with respiratory problems which are further complicated by his Parkinson's disease.

'Doctors are telling the family that it likely won’t be long until he passes away,' said one insider.

Another insider reported that his vitals 'are terrible,' adding; 'Ali is in dire straits and is rapidly deteriorating.

'His breathing has become very shallow, requiring tubes.'

His third wife Veronica Porche also said in an interview on Friday that her two daughters with Ali, Laila and Hana, were on their way to see their father.

'My daughters have both flown there and I will be hearing from them when they arrive at the hospital,' Porche told Radar Online.

'I can’t comment more than that but I will say it is not so great, I’ll just say that much. He’s a real hero. It’s a sad situation.'

Ali's second wife, Khalilah, also said that one of her daughters was rushing off to see the boxer in the hospital.

A source told Radar; 'The family feels that even if he somehow survives this setback, he’ll be left in a vegetative state.

'He can’t stand due to stiffness in the legs. Before this incident, he would sometimes freeze upon standing, like his feet are stuck to the ground. Now he cannot even do that.'

They then added; 'Doctors fear he’s in the early stages of dementia. Or possibly beyond that.

'The family has gathered around him and is prepared for the worst.'

Ali's spokesman, Bob Gunnell, said in a statement on Thursday that the boxer was being treated for a respiratory issue at a hospital he would not name and refused to elaborate any further on the matter other than to say his client was in 'fair condition' and that the hospital stay would be brief.

'He is being treated by his team of doctors and is in fair condition,' said Gunnell.

'A brief hospital stay is expected. At this time, the Muhammad Ali family respectfully requests privacy.'

He then released another statement on Friday stating that there had been no change to Ali's condition.

Ali has been hospitalized several times in recent years, most recently in early 2015 when he was treated for a severe urinary tract infection initially diagnosed a month prior as pneumonia.

He has also been battling Parkinson's for decades now, and brought much awareness to the disease thanks to his high profile and willingness to share his very public struggle since being first diagnosed in the early 80s.

The boxer has looked increasingly frail during public appearances over the past few years, including one in April 9 where he wore sunglasses and was hunched over at the annual Celebrity Fight Night dinner in Phoenix, which raises funds for treatment of Parkinson's.

His last public appearance prior to that was in October of last year when he appeared at the Sports Illustrated Tribute to Muhammad Ali at The Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. 

Credit: DailyMail