Muhammad Ali’s daughter is comforted by the fact he won’t be suffering any more.
The boxing legend died aged 74 on Friday (03.06.16) from septic shock, days after being treated for respiratory complications and Laila Ali, 38, is thankful he is now free of the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 1986.
Speaking on ‘Today’, she said: "It was time for him to go. I know he’s in a better place now and he’s talking again and moving again and doing all the things that he couldn’t do in his body.
"I’m happy for that even though I will miss him deeply."
And Laila admitted seeing her father struggle with the condition was just as "sad" as his passing.
She told ‘Good Morning America’: "I can say that I’m obviously really sad, but I’ve been sad for a long time just watching my father struggling with Parkinson’s disease.
"You know, you hold your head up and you say, ‘Yeah, he’s doing great,’ but I felt like [Muhammad] was trapped inside of his body. So I have comfort knowing that he’s not suffering anymore."
The legendary fighter’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the world, and his daughter – who has son Curtis Jr., seven, and daughter Sydney, four, with husband Curtis Conway – wasn’t surprised.
She told ‘Today’: "The whole world is sad … I don’t feel alone. It’s not just our family, it’s the whole world."
And the former boxer can see her father will "live on" through her son.
She said: "My son is a spitting image of my father when he was young and he has so many of his same similar characteristics and qualities.
"[Muhammad is] definitely going to live on through him. He’s learning more and more as he gets older how special papa actually was."
Laila Ali thankful Muhammad won’t suffer any more
