Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer, had a private life that was far from perfect.
Despite being an immortal figure in the world of sports, Ali had a tumultuous love life, having been married four times and fathering at least nine children.
This complicated family dynamic threatens to tarnish the memory of the great athlete.
In the years leading up to Ali’s death, public disputes erupted between his last wife and widow, Yolanda “Lonnie” Williams, and Ali’s younger brother, Rahman, as well as his estranged biological son, Muhammad Ali Jr. Lonnie has been accused by Ali’s cousin, Charlotte Waddell, of controlling everything Ali does, leading to a strained relationship between them.
Lonnie, who married Ali in 1986 after moving to California to become his full-time nurse following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, has allegedly used her power of attorney to distance unwanted family members from Ali’s life.
Muhammad Ali Jr., for example, has claimed that he has been largely excluded from his father’s life since 2004, residing in a modest dwelling in a Chicago ghetto.
Rahman Ali, now 72 and once a professional boxer himself, has reportedly been forced out of the family home by Lonnie into a more humble abode.
However, Lonnie’s supporters argue that she has brought stability to Ali’s chaotic life, helping him regain financial security in 2006 when he sold his image rights for £30m.
Lonnie and Ali did not have any biological children together, but they adopted a five-month-old boy named Asaad Amin shortly after getting married.
Throughout Ali’s final days, Lonnie remained by his side along with their daughters Hana Yasmeen Ali and Laila, who were from Ali’s third marriage to Veronica Porsche.
Laila Ali, who followed in her father’s footsteps and became a professional fighter, had a close relationship with her father and he often attended her matches.
One notable fight was against Jackie Frazier-Lyde, daughter of Joe Frazier, in 2001.
Ali’s second marriage to Belinda Boyd ended due to his involvement with Veronica Porsche, whom he met during the 1975 fight against Joe Frazier.
Belinda, who converted to Islam and changed her name to Khalilah Camacho-Ali, had four children with Ali before their divorce.
She fought hard to keep her husband from straying, but ultimately couldn’t compete with his infatuation for Porsche.
After their divorce, Belinda married three more times and even pursued an acting career.
During his marriage to Belinda, Ali reportedly had two love children.
The first, Miya, was born in 1972 to Patricia Harvell, and the second, Khaliah, was born in 1974 to Wanda Bolton, who later changed her name to Aaisha Ali.
Khaliah and her mother lived at Ali’s training camp, where Belinda also played a role in raising her.
There have been other individuals who claim to be Ali’s children, including Kiiursti Mensah Ali, who bears a striking resemblance to the late boxer and whose mother, Barbara Mensah, alleges to have had a relationship with him.
By the time of his death, Ali had been married four times.
His first marriage to Sonji Roi, a model and cocktail waitress, lasted only 16 months.
Roi blamed their separation on the immense pressure she faced to adopt Muslim attire and convert to Islam, claiming that she was threatened with reprisals if she didn’t comply.
Muhammad Ali’s legacy as a sports icon will forever be remembered, but his complicated personal life and family disputes continue to overshadow his achievements.
The tangled web of relationships and controversies surrounding his marriages and children have left a troubled legacy that threatens to tarnish his memory.
