AP sources: Muhammad Ali hospitalized in Phoenix area

Boxing great Muhammad Ali is hospitalized in the Phoenix area with what two people familiar with his condition say may be more serious problems than his previous hospital stays.

The people told The Associated Press on Thursday that Ali is fighting respiratory issues that are complicated by the Parkinson’s that he was diagnosed with in the 1980s. The two spoke separately in describing Ali’s condition that they say is concerning to family members.

The people declined to be identified because they were not speaking on behalf of the family.

A spokesman for Ali sent out a release earlier Thursday saying the former heavyweight champion is being treated at an unidentified hospital for a respiratory issue. Spokesman Bob Gunnell said the 74-year-old was in fair condition, and that a brief hospital stay was expected.

Ali’s longtime Parkinson’s doctor declined comment when reached by the AP on Thursday night.