Rahaman Ali, the younger brother of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 82, the Muhammad Ali Center announced Friday. Rahaman passed away on August 1, leaving behind a legacy deeply intertwined with that of his iconic older brother.
Born Rudolph Arnett Clay on July 18, 1943, Rahaman idolized his brother Muhammad—born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.—and followed his footsteps into the boxing ring. Competing professionally from 1964 to 1972, Rahaman made a name for himself while also passionately supporting Muhammad’s legendary boxing career.
Rahaman’s life alongside “The Greatest” was detailed in his 2014 autobiography, That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard, and again in 2019 in My Brother, Muhammad Ali—The Definitive Biography. Through these works, Rahaman provided a unique, personal perspective into the lives and bond of the iconic Ali brothers.
“You can’t tell Muhammad’s story without mentioning Rahaman,” DeVone Holt, president and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, shared in a heartfelt statement. “He was one of the most constant sources of support for Muhammad during his career, and their relationship was a true example of what it means to be ‘my brother’s keeper.’”
Muhammad Ali’s daughter, retired boxing champion Laila Ali, also paid tribute to her uncle Rahaman in an emotional Instagram post. “My father loved his brother Rahaman so deeply,” she wrote. “They are now back in the arms of their beloved parents. May they all rest in eternal peace together.”
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So Cassius Clay\’s brother also changed his name to Ali?
Don’t think they understood what Muslims were really about back then…