Rahaman Ali, the younger brother of the iconic Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 82, the Muhammad Ali Center announced on August 1, 2025.
He was born Rudolph Arnett Clay on July 18, 1943, and devoted much of his life to boxing, family, and preserving his brother’s legacy.
Cause of Death: A Quiet Departure
It’s got that hush‑down‑low vibe—you know, when the newsroom catches wind but the details hang back.
The Ali Center confirmed Rahaman’s passing, but “cause of death not disclosed” was their call. Some reports floated that he’d been in hospice care during his final weeks in Louisville.
That’s all public officials would say for now—no more smoke signals, just a respectful silence. So, we don’t have a medical cause or anything flashy to share. It was gentle, just as you’d hope.
A Boxing Career in the Shadow of The Greatest
Now, that old adage “It runs in the family” sure applied. Following in Muhammad’s footsteps, Rahaman turned pro on February 25, 1964, the very night his big brother climbed the heavyweight throne by beating Sonny Liston.
Talk about timing! For eight fight‑packed years, he hit the ring a total of 18 times, winning 14 bouts, losing 3 (only one by KO), and drawing once.
Sure, he didn’t reach the hype level his brother did, but hey, 14 wins? That’s nothing to sneeze at. Seven of those victories came by knockout—he clearly knew how to land a punch. And after a couple of back‑to‑back losses in 1972, he figured it was time to step off the canvas and hang up the gloves.
If you’ve ever read his old stories or heard folks talk, they’d call him reliable—not just in the ring, but in life. The kind of guy who didn’t crave the spotlight but knew exactly where he belonged: in the corner, helping the champ.
From Sparring Partner to Keeper of a Legacy
When he retired, he wasn’t gonna just fade away. Nope. Instead, he stepped back, slid right into that famous brother’s shadow—but not out of envy. He was Muhammad’s loyal road dog, chief sparring buddy, unofficial bodyguard, and first‑hand witness to history unfolding.
In the ringside tents, at airports, even at quiet family dinners, Rahaman was there. It’s like he was part coach, part brother, part walking memory.
DeVone Holt, head of the Ali Center, put it plainly: “You can’t tell Muhammad’s story without mentioning Rahaman. He was one of the most constant sources of support ... a true example of ‘my brother’s keeper.’” And I bet that statement caused more than a few tears in the office.
The Books: A Brother’s Voice on the Undercard
He didn’t just let the stories slip away. In 2014, he wrote That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard, sharing personal snippets from their gloves‑on days and off‑camera life.
His second book came out in 2019, titled My Brother, Muhammad Ali – The Definitive Biography, offering deeper looks at the man behind all that fame.
These books are like love letters—told from the porch of that little pink house where they grew up, or from the corner of Rumble in the Jungle.
He painted pictures that only a brother could paint: quiet mornings, playful childhood games, the times when Muhammad’s sparkle needed a nudge, and the times his heart did, too.
Earnings & Life After Boxing
Here’s where things get a tad foggy, like static on a radio—there’s no big check to wave around or flashy business deal whispered in press releases.
Rahaman wasn’t in the millionaire league, at least not in the way you hear about the big-time boxing stars.
His income was more modest, from small fight purses and book royalties. Yet, everyday folks will tell you—priceless doesn’t always show up on a balance sheet.
He spent later years greeting folks at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, which he loved dearly. He’d meet fans, share stories, sign books, and give that characteristic quiet glint in his eye.
People fell slightly harder for him each time—a gentle soul who knew greatness and lived it from the sidelines.
Tributes from Family & Community
Family talk? That’s when the room hushes and someone swallows hard. Muhammad’s daughters—Hana, Laila, and Rasheda—overflowed with love via social media.
Hana wrote her uncle was a “sweet, gentle soul with a heart as big as the world,” saying he sparkled like Muhammad did. Laila said they’re reunited “in the arms of their beloved parents.”
And Rasheda said, “May Allah ease our heart and grant Uncle Rahman the highest place in Jannah … Uncle Rock was a source of love, laughter, and light.”
That’s hope carrying a message, plainspoken but loaded with meaning. It’s full‑stop real.
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