I am a survivor of child kidnap..I came to Ireland to prove I am Ali's son

Man insists he can recall being raised by boxing legend

- PAUL HEALY

A MAN who swears he's the long-lost son of Muhammad Ali has told how he's sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin - and gets abuse over his claims.

Ibn Muhammad Ali, who found himself before the courts this week, insists he's no criminal and that he's here to prove he is the son of the boxing legend.

He told the Irish Mirror: "I'm living in pain. I haven't seen my mother for 40 years. I'm a survivor of child kidnapping.

"I've never been arrested before in my life. I've seen things, I've been through things. But I'm not a criminal. I don't rob from people, I don't steal from people. I keep to myself."

He claims he came to Ireland in June in an effort to retrace his family history and prove beyond doubt that he's the son of Muhammad Ali.

"My nan is Irish, my dad's mum, her name is Odessa O'Grady. She was married to Cassius Clay Sr, so my bloodline is Irish," he insisted.

"So without my nan giving birth to my dad, my dad wouldn't exist and I wouldn't exist. So I'm having complications with certain people when I say I'm actually the son of Muhammad Ali.