EXCLUSIVE - 'My father can't do a thing for me, it's the same as not having one': How Muhammad Ali Jr - who lives on food stamps in a ghetto - stopped speaking to the boxing legend two years ago

  • Muhammad Ali hadn’t seen his only natural son for two years 
  • Ali Jr, 43, had been living on poverty line for last decade in Chicago 
  • Ali Jr, his wife and two children were living off handouts from charities 
  • He admitted that he ‘doesn’t care’ what happened to his father 
  • And he has been looking after his grandfather who also has Parkinson’s 
  • It appears Ali Jr was at father's bedside but unclear if they made amends
  • In 2014 interview Ali Jr described his relationship with his father and his father's wife Yolanda 'Lonnie' Williams
  • See more Muhammad Ali news at www.dailymail.co.uk/muhammadali 

Muhammad Ali was alienated from his only natural son right up until the day he died.

Muhammad Ali Jr had been living on the poverty line for the last decade in one of the toughest neighborhoods on Chicago's notorious South Side.

In his last interview just before his father died two months ago, he admitted that he didn't even care what happened to his father and has been looking after his grandfather from his mother's side, who ironically also has Parkinson's.

Despite it all, it appears Ali Jr was by his father's side, but it's not known if they made amends. 

Family spokesman, Bob Gunnell, told WHAS 11: 'They [family] were all there to say their final goodbyes...Every member of his family was there.'   

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Muhammad Ali was alienated from his only natural son, Muhammad Ali Jr (pictured) up until the day he died
Ali Jr said in an interview that he hadn't seen his father in two years and didn't care what happened to him

Muhammad Ali was alienated from his only natural son, Muhammad Ali Jr (left and right) up until the day he died. Ali Jr said in an interview that he hadn't seen his father in two years and didn't care what happened to him

In his last interview just before his father died two months ago, he admitted that he didn't even care what happened to his father and has been looking after his grandfather from his mother's side, who ironically also has Parkinson's

In his last interview just before his father died two months ago, he admitted that he didn't even care what happened to his father and has been looking after his grandfather from his mother's side, who ironically also has Parkinson's

Ali Jr (left, as a child) was woefully neglected by his absentee father as a child, and badly bullied by boys who wanted to prove they could beat up the legendary champion’s son

Ali Jr (left, as a child) was woefully neglected by his absentee father as a child, and badly bullied by boys who wanted to prove they could beat up the legendary champion’s son

Ali Jr, who is the son of Ali's first wife Khalilah Ali, said he did see his father on his 72nd birthday and 73rd birthdays. He's pictured fighing in the 1970s with his dad who introduced him to a crowd

Ali Jr, who is the son of Ali's first wife Khalilah Ali, said he did see his father on his 72nd birthday and 73rd birthdays. He's pictured fighing in the 1970s with his dad who introduced him to a crowd

For the past decade, Ali Jr, 43, had been living off handouts from charity to clothe himself, wife, Shaakira, and two children - Ameera, 8, and Shakera, 7 - and rely on charities for food. 

Although Ali Jr was in contact with his sisters, he said they never spoke about his dad and he had no one to confide in about how the estrangement really affected him.

Junior, who is the son of Ali's first wife Khalilah Ali, says: I'm trying to live life, and be good. I saw him on his 72nd birthday, then on his 73rd birthday, I sung happy birthday to him, and I heard nothing back, he didn't respond and I know it was the Parkinson's. I knew he was in a pretty bad shape.

'I don't discuss my father to my sisters about anything, I don't have anybody I can confide in, so I don't do that. I don't really care anymore about being cut off from the family.

'I've got through so much things in my life, I've got to the point where it doesn't matter anymore, I live for me. I live life.

'I know that the last thing about Parkinson's is being bed ridden, and he's been laid up in bed for months. 

'My grandfather also has Parkinson's, I don't think about my father, when my grandfather is in Flossmoor, I'm close to him, more than I am my father, I've got to serve my purpose and help my grandfather Sada Ali-Din, at least I'm helping somebody. 

'He's got Parkinson's, my mother's father. He lives with Amina.

'It's just not something that I worry about, I've got more things to worry about than my father, I got to live life, I've got to have a roof over my head, whether someone else is doing good or not, is no concern to me. 

Although Ali Jr was in contact with his sisters, he said they never spoke about his dad and he had no one to confide in about how the estrangement really affected him. He's pictured with his sisters on the set of The Cosby Show 

Although Ali Jr was in contact with his sisters, he said they never spoke about his dad and he had no one to confide in about how the estrangement really affected him. He's pictured with his sisters on the set of The Cosby Show 

Muhammad Ali is pictured with his second wife Belinda Boyd  and their four children, twin daughters Reeshemah (left) and Jamillah, son Muhammad Jr and older daughter Laila

Muhammad Ali is pictured with his second wife Belinda Boyd  and their four children, twin daughters Reeshemah (left) and Jamillah, son Muhammad Jr and older daughter Laila

Muhammad Ali lookalike Dwayne Walker
In the interview two months ago, Ali Jr said that his father can't do anything for him so 'in reality, it's like not having one'

Ali Jr said that, in a bizarre twist of fate, the one person who has helped pull him out of the mire is a former Muhammad Ali lookalike Dwayne Walker (left). He said: 'He used to work as a lookalike to my father. He'd dress up in boxing trunks and act like him. He's now my mentor'

'No one else is helping me out here, I've got to help me. So really it doesn't matter to me at all.

'I'm not concerned about getting Parkinson's, if I die, I die, whatever, I don't fear that or Parkinson's. The only thing I fear is God. 

'I have more fear in God than anything else in life, there's nothing in life that can do worse than God, so I fear God more.

'I need a home where I don't feel homeless anymore. I used to say that I felt hurt not having my daddy in my life and it's still not a good feeling. 

'In reality, it's like not having one. My father can't do a thing for me, it's the same as not having one.'

But Muhammad says that, in a bizarre twist of fate, the one person who has helped pull him out of the mire is a former Muhammad Ali lookalike.

He says: 'His name is Dwayne Walker, he used to work as a lookalike to my father. He'd dress up in boxing trunks and act like him. He's now my mentor. I met him at a barbers shop called Celebrity Cuts. 

'The owner Abdul Shabbah used to cut my father's hair. One day, he walked in and I got off my seat and shouted: 'Daddy,' and we've known each other ever since. He's been a mentor.' 

'MY FATHER CAN'T DO A THING FOR ME, IT'S THE SAME AS NOT HAVING ONE': MUHAMMAD ALI JR, 2014 INTERVIEW

'My kids have never met their granddad apart from one time in Phoenix, they were so small though, but they talk about him all the time, saying: “When we’re going to see granddaddy?” It’s a shame that they can’t have any relationship with the greatest sportsman alive,’ says Ali.

'I’m looking at my own apartment, the showers don’t even run, the sinks don’t drain properly. Some of that money could have at least got me into a house, could have got my life back, given me a job, make some money for my family, given to his own grandkids.

‘They’re getting as, they get them every week, they’ll doing so well, I just wish my dad could see it. I’m living in a place where there’s shooting all the time. 

'I’m just trying to get some water to wash my arse and need food stamps to get food for my kids. If I had some money, it would change things for me. But I’ll survive. The state my father is in, he can’t do a thing for me.

The 43-year-old had been living off handouts from charity to clothe himself, wife, Shaakira (second left), and two children - Ameera, 8, and Shakera, 7 - and rely on charities for food

The 43-year-old had been living off handouts from charity to clothe himself, wife, Shaakira (second left), and two children - Ameera, 8, and Shakera, 7 - and rely on charities for food

'The water is cut off, no one is paying the bill, I can’t even wash my arse. I have a jug to piss in. I’m going to school [college], trying to do the best I can. I don’t have any money, what do people expect me to do? My wife is always asking me for money, she works at a children’s hospital, give me some money, help me out, but what can I do?

'I need water, I need a home where I don’t feel homeless anymore. We could get kicked out any minute. I used to say that it felt hurt not having my daddy in my life and it’s still not a good feeling. In reality, it’s like not having one. My father can’t do a thing for me, it’s the same as not having one.

'I blame myself the most, I didn’t listen to things when I really needed to do, didn’t do those certain things, now I’m hurting for it, it’s my own doing. But if my father had all the faculties, then he’d be right by side and give me whatever I need. 

'He’s always given for the children, but he always said: "I think this disease cursed me, because I did all these bad things in life, and now it’s cursing my children, as I wasn’t there for them all the time.” I said: "No daddy, it’s the people around you who don’t give a damn."

'She doesn’t care about the man, she just cares about the trappings, the man [Ali] just cares about his kids. That’s the only people who he really ever cared about, and they’re the only ones that cared about him. Outside of those people, no one. We love him as a human being.

'That woman can’t love her own soul, so how can she love anyone herself? She was jealous of our relationships, and the fact she couldn’t have any children. She’s very bitter. Her mother pushed Lonnie onto my father, her mother used to be with my mother’s father for a long time, it was her long time ambition to be Mrs Ali. 

Ali Jr said his kids had only met their grandfather on one occasion, but they asked about him all the time. His wife, Shaakira is pictured with their two children at their home in Chicago 

Ali Jr said his kids had only met their grandfather on one occasion, but they asked about him all the time. His wife, Shaakira is pictured with their two children at their home in Chicago 

'She wanted to be Mrs Ali so she can control him, but she didn’t get time to do that until he got sick. She also wanted to control his money.

'She’s spent a good amount of the fortune - an apartment for her [adopted] son Assad, got a house in Arizona, in California, in Kentucky, and a farm in Michigan. I think she’s spent more than half of the fortune, even the name got sold, the rights to his name, can you believe?

'I’m looking at all his money being spent. I’m looking at my own apartment, the water cut off, the showers don’t even run, the sinks don’t drain properly. Some of that money could have at least got me into a house, could have got my life back, given me a job, make some money for my family, given to his own grandkids.

'I’m living in a place where there’s shooting all the time. I’m just trying to get some water to wash my arse and need food stamps to get food for my kids. If I had some money, it would change things for me. But I’ll survive. Lonnie has never given me a damn dime.

'One time she could have given me his number. She would never let me get another picture of my father ever again, and I’ll never be seeing him again. I just don’t care anymore. But I”m the only son.

‘Even my dad said: "Lonnie is a test from Allah” - because she’s not a believer, she doesn’t want to be a Muslim. I think Lonnie is evil and I believe she will cut me out of the Will. How can she care about children if she’s never had any of their own?

'If we were ever in a room, I’d be respectful, but if she speaks for my dad, I would say you are nobody, you are just married to him, but I happen to be his son, that isn’t no coincidence, you just got him on the tail end of the illness, you kicked a man when he was down. I would never get on with Lonnie.

He said that some of his father's money could have 'at least got me into a house, could have got my life back, given me a job, make some money for my family, given to his own grandkids'. He's pictured with his daughter Shakera at his home in Chicago

He said that some of his father's money could have 'at least got me into a house, could have got my life back, given me a job, make some money for my family, given to his own grandkids'. He's pictured with his daughter Shakera at his home in Chicago

'She cut off the ties with the family dead, it was instant, although she had to get the claws into the family first, then it was instant.

'My kids have never met their granddad apart from one time in Phoenix, they were so small though, but they talk about him all the time, saying: “When we’re going to see granddaddy?” It’s a shame that they can’t have any relationship with the greatest sportsman alive and it’s because of her.'

He then adds: 'Every time I want my father to come and see me she says that: "We have to come up to Michigan, gas is too expensive and we don’t have money like that”. Then she takes him all around the world. And I’m living here on 71st & Western, off of Lincoln, here in Chicago, Illinois.

'Do not depend on family. Do things yourself if you want to get things done. I’d like to say something else: 'If anybody in your family or you get famous, leave something for your children, before you get married to somebody else. Leave a Trust Fund; leave something in the world for your children. 

'I know how it is not to be left anything. I would also like to let the world know that my fathers’ wife married him for money. She does not love him, because if she did, she would help out his kids in need, she wouldn’t let us go hungry and it’s just terrible how people do things. But that’s life. If you need to fight for something, fight for it while you can.’

Muhammad Ali Jr, 2014 never published interview 

 

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