Ali Funeral to be Attended by Bill Clinton, Turkey’s Erdogan

Two public memorial services will be held on June 9 and 10 in stadiums in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky where more than 30,000 tickets will be distributed for the public.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan had been scheduled to speak, but lost their speaking spots because two other speakers will be added later, Gunnell said.

The official cause of Ali’s death was septic shock due to unspecified natural causes. “We idolized him, and let’s be honest, we idolized him for things that he stood for”, Faulk said.

Ali, a Muslim, died Friday at the age of 74 as one of the most revered people on the planet, at a time when his fellow Muslims face increasing prejudice around the world, the kind of prejudice Ali himself often faced.

Actor Will Smith and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be among the eight pallbearers at Muhammad Ali’s memorial service Friday in Louisville, Ky.

Family and close friends will bid farewell to the legend in a private ceremony on Thursday in Louisville, said family spokesman Bob Gunnel on Saturday.

As the nation continues to reflect on the life and legacy of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, his family continues to show extraordinary strength by giving fans and supporters an intimate glimpse into his final moments and into how they are all coping with the tremendous loss.

Some of the NFL’s best players remember the boxer known as “the greatest of all time”, Muhammad Ali. He was admitted to a hospital in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale, where he had lived with his wife Lonnie.

Ali’s self-confidence soared as his career took off, but much of the brashness was aimed at garnering attention, said Gordon Davidson, the attorney for the group of Louisville businessmen who sponsored Ali in the early years of his professional career. His heart ached. In a statement, Ray said that he admired, idolized and loved Muhammad Ali.

Rahaman Ali and his brother Muhammad Ali in 2005. We all have the same God, we just serve him differently…It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew.

Asked Monday if Ali blamed boxing for the disease, Lieberman said the fighter didn’t think that way.

Information about securing tickets for an Islamic prayer service on Thursday at Freedom Hall arena and an interfaith service at KFC Yum! It will be open to all.

Every seat was filled and people lined the walls of the building. In 1964 he won his first world heavyweight title by defeating Sonny Liston.

Gunnell said Ali, who converted to the Islamic faith in the 1960s, started planning his own funeral almost a decade ago.

Tuesday morning, Louisville leaders and an Ali family spokesman talked about a few additions to Friday’s events. The service is to be led by Imam Zaid Shakir of California. Eulogies will be given by former President Bill Clinton, Bryant Gumbel and Billy Crystal, who famously has done a masterful impression of Ali.