Family spokesman Bob Gunnell says Ali was accompanied by his wife, Lonnie, and other family members and friends.
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Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and comedian Billy Crystal were among those previously announced as participating in public events as the world grieves the loss of the boxer, showman and antiwar activist who captivated global attention in the 1960s and 1970s.
Smith received an Oscar nomination for portraying the boxing champion in Michael Mann’s Ali (2001).
The 47-year-old actor will join former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, Jerry Ellis, the brother of Ali’s former sparring partner Jimmy Ellis and friends and family of the late boxer to make up the party of eight pallbearers at the memorial service in Kentucky on Friday (06.10.16).
Fischer said: “Ali is now home”.
A public memorial service is planned Friday in Louisville.
“My father tells me that Muhammad Ali gave him strength to change his name when he converted to Islam”, said Nadir. “So imagine my surprise to receive a call on Sunday morning from Muhammad Ali’s family who invited him to be a speaker at the funeral/memorial ceremony”.
A procession will take place through the streets of Louisville before a private burial at Cave Hill Cemetery.
His funeral will be preceded by a Jenazah – an Islamic funeral prayer programme – which will also be open to the public at midday on Thursday at the Freedom Hall, where Ali made his professional debut with victory over Tunney Hunsaker in 1960. “He was the people’s champ, so we wanted the memorial service to reflect that”. For four or five months at a time, I get to wear people’s lives, so I got to wear Muhammad Ali’s greatness.
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One thousand volunteers will be on hand to assist visitors expected from around the globe.
