Ali’s daughters deny health decline

Rumours of the demise of Muhammad Ali have been greatly exaggerated, but they've certainly given the boxing legend a chuckle.

Ali's daughters have said their father is not near death, as many have claimed. Maryum and Hana Ali said that while the former heavyweight champion of the world continues to battle Parkinson's disease, the 72-year-old remains in active and in high spirits. 'He likes being talked about. He thinks it is funny and says he isn't dying,' Hana told the BBC. 'Even when these stories come out he gets excited and thinks he is going to make the front page of the papers.' Maryum added: 'He has never been on his deathbed. He has Parkinson's, he has had it for 30 years and it is a progressive degenerative disease but he does well and is healthy outside the Parkinson's. 'For some people it is so hard for them to see the old Ali and this Ali suffering with Parkinson's but he is doing well. He enjoys his life and he is clear-minded - he doesn't have dementia or Alzheimers and understands who you are.'