Muhammad Ali back in hospital for ‘follow-up care’

FILE - Former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali displays his signature boxing pose after honoring outstanding surgeons and physicians at St. Joseph's Hospital Barrow Neurological Institute, in this Feb. 22, 2012 file photo taken in Phoenix. Retired boxing champion Muhammad Ali will be awarded the medal on Thursday Sept. 13, 2012 at a ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The honor is given annually to an individual who displays courage and conviction while striving to secure liberty for people worldwide. It comes with a $100,000 cash prize. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

A spokesman for Muhammad Ali says the boxing great is back in the hospital for follow-up care related to a urinary tract infection.

Mr. Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell said on Thursday that the former heavyweight boxing champion was admitted to an undisclosed hospital earlier this week. He says Mr. Ali is expected to be released on Friday.

Mr. Ali was

>initially hospitalized on December 20 for what turned out to be a severe urinary tract infection. That hospitalization ended last week.

Mr. Gunnell says Mr. Ali hopes to celebrate his 73rd birthday on Saturday at one of his homes with family.

Mr. Ali has also waged a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.