Muhammad Ali, won a gold medal in the light-heavyweight division at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. He is welcomed home by his brother Rahaman, and the city of Louisville, Kentucky. He discovered he could not out box the racism in his hometown, he threw the medal into the Ohio River.  In 1996, he was presented with a replacement medal and famously lit the Olympic flame for the Atlanta Games.

In Atlanta, Georgia, suffering with Parkinson’s disease, Ali carried the 1996 ceremonial Olympic Torch into the Olympic Stadium. He was the definition of courage throughout his pro boxing career.

Rahaman Ali had his brother’s back, and front during their journey in the seedy cut-throat world of professional boxing.

When Keith Winstead called to tell me that Rahaman Ali had been admitted to hospice in Louisville, Kentucky, we knew that he soon would be in a better place.

When Rahaman died, he was confined to a wheelchair. He could no longer walk or talk. He suffered three strokes. August 1, 2025, not knowing where his next meal was coming from, he went home to be with the Lord. The family that his brother left behind to look over him, had gone their separate ways.

When his older brother died in 2016, Rahaman said, “My bother was a really sweet, kind, loving, giving, affectionate, wonderful person.” Those same characteristics, he inherited from his brother.

Rahaman, fell on hard times trying to survive after his brother died in 2016; His family was nowhere to be found, sisters-in-laws, children, nieces, nephews, and keepers of the Ali estate (Museum). They never reached out to the younger brother, who was like Ali’s shadow his entire boxing career.

Ali sold the rights to his name, likeness, and images for 50 million-dollars, plus 20% of the advertising to a group out of New York City in 2006.

The deal was made with CKX, Inc., an entertainment company that also controlled the rights to Elvis Presley’s name and image.  CKX later renamed itself Core Media Group and eventually sold the Ali business to Authentic Brands Group, sold after they made billions of dollars using Ali’s name and likeness in advertising ads around the world. 

I never knew or heard whether the champ had left a will that included his only brother.

The Ali family home in Louisville was sold, and again Rahaman never received any compensation. I often wondered where his so-called extended family was when he needed them.

I often wondered what happened to the 50-million-dollars cash, and the 20% of the advertising dollars Ali received to relinquish the rights to his name and likeness to a marketing group in New York City in 2006?

There are many lies on social media describing the homegoing of Rahaman Ali, the brother of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali. One popular YouTube video had Rahaman’s services being held the day after he died.

The video described how Iron Mike Tyson had delivered a tribute that rocked the foundation of the church. The daughter of Muhammad Ali, Laila, was in attendance and paid tribute to her uncle. None of the stories are true.

Laila Ali fought Erin Toughill in Washington, D.C. on June 11, 2005 at the MCI Center, winning by TKO in the third round to claim the vacant WBC female super middleweight title. The fight was part of a Mike Tyson undercard event.  

The Greatest did not want Laila to follow him into the ring, it was all hugs and kisses in DC.

Mike Tyson, now 58, retired from professional boxing two decades ago. In his last official bout in 2005, Tyson opted to quit on his stool before the seventh round against Kevin McBride

Even though Tyson quit on his stool, he went out like a champion. After the fight he came out of the dressing room, and sat on the steps at ringside. He answered questions from the media for almost an hour. He made no excuses for his defeat. I have never forgot that moment with Iron Mike!

Thanks to Rahaman, I got a chance to spend a few moments with the Champion as he walked to his limo. He was like the Piped Piper, hundreds of fans were following him. The scene reminded me of when we first met on the Howard University campus in 1967. As we walked together down the Georgia Avenue NW corridor, only to see hundreds of students were following us.

Gene Kilroy was Ali’s business manager throughout much of the champion’s career. He traveled the world with Ali, and Rahaman. Kilroy told friends he was going to be at Rahaman’s service, but he was a no-show. I was not surprised!

Kilroy, had plenty of company; no one from the museum was in attendance at the Memorial Service, and city leaders all called in sick.

Minister Louis Farrakhan prayed over Rahaman during his hospital stay and made sure the Nation was represented at the service. Muhammad Ali’s second wife, Khalilah, was there with her four children.

Louisville City leaders, Ali Museum staff and CEO, family and friends were far, few, and nowhere to be found at the Memorial Service on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. Lonnie Ali, Laila Ali, and the so-called family members should be ashamed of themselves.

Lonnie Ali and the museum administrators never encouraged Rahaman to be a part of the museum family that bore his brother’s name and honored him worldwide.

Rahaman, never benefited from the family name in Louisville. A family friend once suggested to the CEO and President of the Museum to add Rahaman to the staff as a ‘Greeter’, but the suggestion fell on deaf ears.

The museum will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary of its opening, and 9th anniversary of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award this year. Name one person, who deserved to receive the award more than Rahaman-he should have been the first. They swept him under the rug like a piece of dirt!

They are all living off the blood, sweat, tears, and the name of Muhammad Ali, blood brother of Rahaman!

Keith Winstead the cousin of Muhammad Ali lives in Louisville. He is also the historian for the Ali family. He and Glenn Singleton of New Orleans made every effort to support Rahaman as much as possible.

Muhammad Ali, met Glenn in New Orleans when he fought Leon Spinks for the Heavyweight Championship of the World in 1978. He tagged Glenn as his “Best Fan.”

Keith, and Glenn were there for Rahman when his brother went home to be with the Lord in 2016.

Rahaman, took his brother’s death rather hard right up until his own death.

In a recent annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards Ceremony at the Ali Museum, Glenn and Keith teamed up to buy Rahaman a suit for the tribute for his brother, only to discover Rahaman and Carolyne had not been invited.

Long before, pretty women, the Olympic Gold Medal, scam promoters, and insiders took his personal belongings, jewelry, robes, shoes, and gloves to sell to the highest bidder, Rahaman, was trying to do the right thing.

Ali, ignored the thieves, and looked the other way. He truly cared less about material things.

As a professional boxer, Rahaman won 14 bouts, lost 3, and had one draw. In his career, he knocked out seven opponents and was himself knocked out once. He retired from professional boxing after back-to-back losses, he was knocked out by future Superman film series actor Jack O’Halloran in what was his only knockout defeat. 

The brothers pose together after a sparring session.

After his career ended, Rahaman would travel, and also train, with his brother.  He would later appear as himself in his brother’s 1977 biopic “The Greatest.” 

In 2014, Ali released his autobiography, That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard, which was co-authored by H. Ron Brashear.

In 2019, Rahaman released his second book titled My Brother, Muhammad Ali – Biography. It was co-authored by Fiaz Rafiq, with the foreword written by NFL legend Jim Brown.  

In 2021, he appeared in the documentary Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali.  The same year, he appeared in three episodes of his brother’s documentary miniseries Muhammad Ali. 

I met Rahaman in 1972, five years after I met his brother on the campus of Howard University in 1967.  

In 1972 I found Inside Sports my pioneering and trailblazing radio sports talk show, in Washington, DC. The one of a kind sports talk show revolutionize sports talk, and included politics with no cut card.

J. D. Bethea, was a sports columnist for the Washington Star Newspaper and Harry Barnett was a local attorney, one day I heard them planning a road trip to Cleveland at Billy Edwards’ Boxing Gym in NW DC.

The occasion, Muhammad Ali was participating in a charity boxing exhibition to raise money for a failing Children’s Hospital. I asked if I could ride with them to see ‘The Greatest’ in action. They said, “No problem.”

When we arrived at the hotel, Ali was doing what he did best, entertaining a group of reporters who were hanging on and laughing at his every word. The scene reminded me of when I first saw him entertaining the students on the campus of Howard University. Someone once said, “Ali could have been a great comedian.” He kept us laughing, when we should have been crying.

We tried to walk around the throne of fans and reporters to get to the front desk to register for our rooms. Suddenly, Ali’s voice boomed, “Harold Bell what are you doing this far away from home?” I almost fell to the hotel lobby floor. I felt like, I was caught playing hooky from school. I regained my composure and waved a hello, “Hi Champ.”

Rahman, would later find me in the hotel lobby, and take me to the Champ’s suite. Ali would introduce me to everyone. I would meet Lloyd Price, Don King, Drew ‘Bundini’ Brown, Pat Patterson, and “The Usual Suspects.”

Later that year, Rahaman called to invite me to the Ali Deer Lake Training Camp in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. I would drive to the camp once, and sometimes twice, weekly. I became a regular face.

In 1974, I became, “The Chosen One.” I will never forget the day Rahaman came to me, and whispered, “The Champ wants you to sit next to him.” There were around a dozen media reporters in the camp that day; I was the only brother. There I sat on a rock on the mountain top with ‘The Greatest’!

SITTING ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP WITH MUHAMMAD ALI

After the press conference, Rahaman, invited me to have lunch with Ali and a few members of the training staff in the log cabin. The chef was their mom, Odessa. The menu was hot dogs and beans. I had two helpings, mom offered me a second helping saying, “Harold, you look like you have not eaten in a couple of days.” Everyone laughed, as I gladly excepted the second helping.

The Champ and family: Rahaman-Mom, Odessa and Dad, Marcellus. The champ was, ‘Mommy’s baby, daddy’s maybe.’

MEMORIES: BIRDS/BROTHERS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER-MUHAMMAD & RAHAMAN ALI!

“I remember a dinner at the Alladin Hotel in Vegas. They were honoring all the living heavyweight champions with a presentation of a diamond ring. They were beautiful rings full of stones. Ali got his and was walking off of stage he passed a little girl sitting in a wheel chair. The girl’s mother asked if Ali could pose for a picture, without batting an eyelash, Ali hugged the little girl, kissed her and put the ring in her hand. That ring was worth thousands of dollars, but it didn’t mean a thing to him compared to the pleasure he got from giving the ring to a little child.” Chuck Bodak (Boxing cut man)

“Ali was such a generous person, he made sure everyone got paid for their services. If someone took a suitcase out of his car, Ali always tipped them right, he never left a restaurant without making sure the waitress got a good tip. He understood these people had bills to pay, buy clothes and food and a place to live. He never felt he was using his money right if he spent it on himself instead of helping other people out. One time we were in Haiti driving to the airport and Ali all of a sudden said, “Stop the car!” There was an old Haitian woman sitting by the road, and Ali got out of the car, walked over to her and handed her a handful of bills. The woman could not believe it. Ali did things like that all the time, money and possessions never mattered to Ali. He spent it on everybody but himself. I’m telling you if someone cut Ali open, they’d find his heart was made of pure gold.” Lloyd Wells (Ali confidant)

I was just a phone call away when “The Greatest” landed in New York City by a private jet from Zaire, Africa in 1974. His companions were his brother Rahaman Ali, wife Kalilah, the other woman, Veronica Porche and a briefcase with a million dollars. He made sure, this was one million Don King would not get an opportunity to steal.

“Harold, Ali had all these plans, in the locker room before fights, he be waiting and wondering like you do sometimes. And out of nowhere, Ali would ask a question, what could he do to help the poor? And believe me, as you well know, you could walk into any locker room in professional sports-baseball, football, basketball; I don’t care what sport you are talking about, and those brothers are not thinking about helping poor people. But that was the way my brother was, he wanted to help poor people.” Rahaman Ali

Rahaman, was right on the money when he summarized the mindset of today’s pro athletes. In my exclusive one one-on-one interview in 1974 with Ali regarding the meaning of Friendship, Helping others, the thought-provoking interview still helps me, not to forget who I am and where I came from.

My deepest sympathy went out to his Rahaman’s wife, Carolyne, who was by his side for 14 years she endured the naysayers, heartache, pain, and suffering of this sweet human being. During his illness, she slept in a chair in the hospital for two weeks. They both deserved better.

Boxing history has proven that the sport has been engulfed by thieves, liars, and cowards. The brothers, Muhammad and Rahaman Ali’s names, will not be embedded in that history.

Despite the racism they experienced in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, Ali and Rahaman, lived by these words. I was a witness. RIP my brothers from another mother!