Thousands gather for Muhammad Ali’s funeral

Ali died last Friday at 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Ali’s famous quotes, including, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, excited boxing fans.

Louisville residents line the street in Ali’s hometown. “We’re all going to make that trip”.

After the service, a private reception for friends and guests is scheduled at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

The funeral will be livestreamed on the internet and he will be buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. After finishing his routine, Ali gave him a nickname he’d keep for the rest of his life: “Little brother”.

She spoke of his love of travel, and of everyday people.

The interfaith memorial service led by an imam began in the mid-afternoon at a huge sports arena, bringing together VIPs and fans alike – more than 15,000 people in all. Tina is from Louisville and as the family was visiting Ali’s museum years ago, they heard a sudden announcement. Others admired him for making Islam more acceptable and giving U.S. Muslims a hero they could share with mainstream America.

Eulogies will also be delivered by Ali’s widow Lonnie Ali, his daughter Maryum Ali, University of Louisville student Natasha Mundkur and family friend John Ramsey. He discovered something new, that the world really wasn’t black and white at all. He was our most basic freedoms: “religion, speech, spirit”, Obama said.

And, as he moved easily around the world, the rich and powerful were drawn to him, but he was drawn to the poor and the forgotten.

Comedian Billy Crystal prompted laughter from the crowd as he impersonated Ali on stage in a moving tribute.

Billy Crystal, who recounted personal memories of their friendship, began, “Thank you ladies and gentleman, we are at the halfway point”. Tyson said. “In this situation, every head must bow, every tongue must confess, [Ali] is the greatest of all time”. He did things nobody would do.

The heavyweight champ often predicted when he would knock out his opponents. The brash and outspoken athlete transcended sports to become a powerful source of black pride and a symbol of professional excellence recognized around the world.

“It’s the gift we all have that should be most honoured today”. We were way too arrogant. “It was selfish for us to think that we could hold on to him forever”.

“He gave us levels of strength and courage we didn’t even know we had…”

Former US president Bill Clinton referred to Ali as an undisputed cultural figure. “I think he decided very young to write is own life story”.

WILL SMITH is honored to have played a part in MUHAMMAD ALI’s grand funeral on Friday, insisting it was a “beautiful” celebration of the great sportsman’s life.