Muhammad Ali’s funeral Friday

The world is invited to the funeral of Muhammad Ali in his hometown on Friday where the boxing legend's life will be celebrated with a public funeral procession and memorial service, a family spokesman said, reports AFP from Louisville. Ali, a three-time world heavyweight champion and civil rights activist who was an iconic figure of the 20th century, died Friday aged 74 after health problems complicated by a long battle with Parkinson's disease. The official cause of death was septic shock due to unspecified natural causes. The dazzling fighter — whose words, often delivered in catchy rhymes, were as devastating as his punches — had been admitted to an Arizona hospital earlier in the week. Political leaders, sports figures, celebrities and fans around the world paused to remember “The Greatest,” whose career spanned three decades. On Sunday, Ali’s relatives will accompany his body from Scottsdale, Arizona to Louisville, his hometown in the southern state of Kentucky. After a private family funeral on Thursday, Ali’s coffin will be transported through the streets of Louisville on Friday, before a public memorial service at an arena, with former president Bill Clinton among celebrities expected to offer eulogies. The procession has been organised to “allow anyone that is there from the world to say goodbye,” family spokesman Bob Gunnell told reporters.

Muhammad Alis funeral Friday

The world is invited to the funeral of Muhammad Ali in his hometown on Friday where the boxing legends life will be celebrated with a public funeral procession and memorial service, a family spokesman said, reports AFP from Louisville. Ali, a three-time world heavyweight champion and civil rights activist who was an iconic figure of the 20th century, died Friday aged 74 after health problems complicated by a long battle with Parkinsons disease. The official cause of death was septic shock due to unspecified natural causes. The dazzling fighter whose words, often delivered in catchy rhymes, were as devastating as his punches had been admitted to an Arizona hospital earlier in the week. Political leaders, sports figures, celebrities and fans around the world paused to remember The Greatest, whose career spanned three decades. On Sunday, Alis relatives will accompany his body from Scottsdale, Arizona to Louisville, his hometown in the southern state of Kentucky. After a private family funeral on Thursday, Alis coffin will be transported through the streets of Louisville on Friday, before a public memorial service at an arena, with former president Bill Clinton among celebrities expected to offer eulogies. The procession has been organised to allow anyone that is there from the world to say goodbye, family spokesman Bob Gunnell told reporters.