Laila Ali Reflects on the Life of Her Father, Muhammad Ali, on ‘Today’

The world was shocked and saddened by the loss of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, who passed away June 3 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Laila Ali was on Today and opened up about the death of her father. “I prepared mentally for many years that, you know, obviously, one day, I was going to lose my father,” she said. “I think the whole world is sad. Anybody who ever loved him, and so many people do. I don’t feel alone. It’s not just our family — it’s the whole world.”

Muhammad Ali was loved and revered by many not only for his athletic talent but also for his personality and humanitarian work outside the ring. “He always puts children first. His humanitarian work is about making sure kids have a brighter future,” said his daughter. “That’s what I remember, just being kissed and hugged and him being that person that would give you anything you want because he wants to see a smile on your face.” Host Matt Lauer asked if her father had grown weary of his long fight with Parkinson’s, a disease he had dealt with since being diagnosed in 1984. “Never to the point where he wanted to move on,” she explained. “I know that my father — one of the things he was afraid of was death. He definitely wouldn’t want to just move on.”

Muhammad’s legacy lives on through Laila — and also through her son, Curtis, who bears a striking resemblance to the legendary heavyweight champion. “My son is a spitting image of my father when he was young,” she said. “He has so many of the same characteristics and qualities. He’s definitely going to live on through him. He’s learning more and more as he gets older how special Papaw actually was.”

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