Funeral services for Muhammad Ali
Two days of funeral ceremonies bidding farewell to Muhammad Ali got underway with a Muslim prayer service in the Kentucky hometown of the beloved boxing legend and civil rights hero.
Louisville and the rest of the world said goodbye to The Greatest on Friday, showering affection on Muhammad Ali during a fist-pumping funeral procession through the streets of his hometown, followed by a star-studded memorial service where he was saluted as an outspoken breaker of racial barriers.
An estimated 100,000 people holding signs and chanting, “Ali! Ali!” lined the streets as a hearse carrying his cherry-red casket made its way past his childhood home to Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery, where a private graveside service was held for the three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
The memorial service was held at a sports arena packed with celebrities, athletes and politicians, including former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Orrin Hatch, director Spike Lee, former NFL great Jim Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, soccer star David Beckham, Whoopi Goldberg and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Comedian Billy Crystal cracked everyone up with his career-making impersonation of a boastful, fast-talking Ali and his imitation of Ali’s foil, sportscaster Howard Cosell and rhapsodized about Ali’s charisma, outspokenness and talent in a way that brought the crowd to its feet.
The three-time heavyweight world champion died after a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. (AFP)
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