Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, 74, is reportedly on life support.

It’s understood the family of the sporting icon has rushed to be at his bedside and that doctors treating the former heavyweight champ have told them they fear he “is near the end”.

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Four of the 74-year-old’s nine children, including daughters Laila, Hana and Maryum, are at the hospital in the Phoenix area where medics continue to fight a breathing problem picked up by the star.

There had been discussions about transporting him to another area of the hospital, but it’s reported that plan was shelved because it “potentially could be deadly”.

Nicknamed the greatest, Ali has suffered numerous health problems in recent years.

For the past three decades he has battled with Parkinson’s disease, while in December 2014 he was admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia.

He was later diagnosed with a severe urinary tract infection, and received further treatment in January 2015.

Ali has kept a low profile as of late, making his last public appearance in April at the ‘Celebrity Fight Night’ gala in his home town of Arizona.

The charity benefits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Centre.

The former heavyweight world champion retired in 1981 with a record of 56-5.