Skip to content

Muhammad Ali's body to be returned to Kentucky ahead of Friday funeral

Muhammad Ali
Image: Tributes continue to be paid to the late Muhammad Ali

The funeral of Muhammad Ali will be on Friday with the family revealing he died of a "septic shock due to unspecified natural causes".

The ceremony at 2pm local time (7pm BST) will be preceded by a procession through his hometown of Louisville starting five hours earlier.

In the coming days, Ali's relatives will accompany his body as it travels to Kentucky from Phoenix in Arizona, where the three-time world champion died on Friday night aged 74.

A private service will be held a day before the public memorial, which will be streamed online to fans around the world.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

George Foreman says Muhammad Ali was 'bigger than boxing'

Family spokesperson Bob Gunnell said: "A rather large funeral procession will take Muhammad Ali through the streets of Louisville to allow anyone that is there from the world to say goodbye.

"The celebration will reflect his devotion to people of all races, religions and backgrounds.That procession will end at Cave Hill Cemetery, where Ali will be buried."

Former US president Bill Clinton, comedian Billy Crystal and sports journalist Bryant Gumbel will offer eulogies for Ali which will be led by an imam in line with Muslim tradition.

Also See:

Sting like a bee
Sting like a bee

Muhammad Ali's greatest quotes

A private reception will follow at the Muhammad Ali Center for friends and guests.

The official cause of Ali's death was "septic shock due to unspecified natural causes," Gunnell said, adding that Ali was first hospitalised on Monday.

"We still had a lot of hope it was going to turn around," he said, but it later became clear that the boxer's condition was deteriorating.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Manny Pacquiao says Ali was his inspiration

"His final hours were spent with just immediate family," he added. "He did not suffer."

Earlier in Louisville on Saturday, a memorial service was held at the city's Metro Hall.

"Muhammad Ali belongs to the world," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said. "But he only has one hometown."

Outside Metro Hall, Fischer pointed west, toward Ali's childhood home, about three miles away in one of the city's poorest neighbourhoods.

'The greatest'
'The greatest'

US President Barack Obama pays tribute

Fischer added: "There can only be one Muhammad Ali, but his journey from Grand Avenue to global icon serves as a reminder that there are young people with the potential for greatness in the houses and neighbourhoods all over our city, our nation, our world."

Fischer ordered all of the city's flags to be lowered to half-mast in Ali's honour. He told mourners to teach all children Ali's legacy: that a kid from Kentucky can grow up to be 'The Greatest'.

"That's how we become champions," he said. "Muhammad Ali has shown us the way."

Around Sky