Rahaman Ali, who gave up a boxing career of his own to become a chauffeur, sparring partner, gofer, chef and cornerman for his older brother, Muhammad Ali, died on Friday. He was 82.

The death was announced by the Muhammad Ali Center, a museum in Louisville, Ky., the brothers’ birthplace. The statement did not include further details.

In the 1960s and ’70s, when Muhammad Ali was generally considered the world’s most thrilling boxer, he developed a sizable entourage of aides, buddies and hangers-on. The innermost member of the inner circle tended to be Rahaman (pronounced ROCK-mon).

Labeled Muhammad Ali’s “best sparring partner” by the writer Jonathan Eig in his biography “Ali: A Life” (2017), Rahaman helped him prepare for major bouts with Archie Moore, Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson.

While Muhammad worked a punching bag, Rahaman watched closely. He cheered from the corner during fights. He made breakfast to order. Muhammad did not wear a watch, instead asking Rahaman the time. Muhammad could summon Rahaman with a special cluck of the tongue, and he could dismiss Rahaman without expecting a complaint.