Tributes cover the pavements of Louisville in memory of boxing legend Muhammad Ali as actor Will Smith and former boxing world champion Lennox Lewis prepare to serve as pallbearers at the funeral.
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Last year, Smith presented the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award to Jack Nicklaus at Sports Illustrated’s annual Sportsperson of the Year dinner, where he praised The Champ.
Ali died last Friday (Saturday NZ Time) in Arizona following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Before his death, Ali rebuked Trump in December when the businessman turned politician called for temporarily barring all Muslims from entering the United States.
Tickets for the service, which will begin at 2 p.m. EDT in the 22,090-seat KFC Yum!
Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s heart kept beating for a full 30 minutes even after the rest of his body shut down, his daughter has said. Center in Louisville, Ky., Ali’s birthplace. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell says Ali was accompanied by his wife, Lonnie, and other family members and friends.
Muhammad Ali aged prematurely owing to the punishment he took during his boxing career and “never knowing when to quit”, says sparring partner Larry Holmes, a claim the icon’s doctor played down in an interview Sunday. Centre, which will be open to the public and live-streamed on the internet. “He was more of a people’s champion, not just a champion but a people’s champion and that’s how I want to be”.
Ali, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease for many years, and his family had planned his funeral for a decade. Center on Friday afternoon, when Clinton and Crystal are scheduled to deliver eulogies.
“What do you think Muhammad Ali is saying as he looks down at all the support from the people?”
It will be preceded by a Jenazah – an Islamic funeral prayer programme – on Thursday at the Freedom Hall, where Ali made his winning professional debut. “A great fighter, a guy who wasn’t only just a fighter but also a great personality outside the boxing world as well”, said the 29-year-old.
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About 300 fans who could not wait gathered on Monday outside Ali’s childhood home for a memorial led by Islamic leaders, a dance group and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
