Muhammad Ali was in the news during the Super Bowl amidst reports that he was feeling ill, not his brother says that his sibling is being mistreated and that his wife is only interested in his money and financial rewards.
According to the Daily Mail, Rahman, who is younger than Muhammad by two years, said his brother is a "prisoner in his own home." The report went on to say that Rahman Ali told the National Enquirer of his sister-in-law: "I think [Lonnie] married my brother just for the money. She talks to him bad. He doesn't even get fed properly. The last time we were together [for a July gala in London honoring Ali], he was so dehydrated. You could tell from his lips."
Rahman went on to say: "His wife Lonnie and her family are draining him and there's nothing I can do about it. In my opinion. Lonnie's evil."
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1980s but he has consistently remained in the public eye, including when he lit the flame at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. At the London 2012 opening ceremonies he looked thin, but was able to make his appearance with no problems.
Recently, reports came out during the Super Bowl that Ali was ailing and was near death, but the family came out an refuted those claims soon afterwards.
This is not the first time Ali's brother has made remarks like this and Muhammad Ali's daughter has previously countered similar remarks, saying he's "fine." She said he watched the Super Bowl from his home in Arizona.
"He's fine, in fact he was talking well this morning," she said in a telephone interview with CBS this week. "These rumors pop up every once in a while but there's nothing to them."
Rahman may have financial issues of his own which is one reason why he had made the statements. According to The Daily Mail, he lives in a $512-a-month apartment in the family's hometown of Louisville, Ky., with his sixth wife Caroline. Ali has been married to his wife for 26 years.
The brother says he is afraid he will be cut out of the will by Ali's wife.
"When he dies, no one will get anything - zero," he said of himself and Muhammad's nine children. "I'm still in contact with his children. I just spoke to Muhammad Jr., and he was concerned about his dad. They've all tried to get in contact with him, but we've all been pushed out."
The most recent health issue for Ali came in 2011 when he needed to got to the hospital after collapsing at his home. He also made an appearance at the funeral of boxer Joe Louis and has been active with his charity for many years.
Following the Super Bowl reports, a spokesman released a statement.
"He looks great," family spokesman Bob Gunnell told the Louisville Courier-Journal. "He's having a Super Bowl party."
