Muhammad Ali to be buried after final journey through hometown

A funeral procession for Muhammad Ali will travel through his hometown, passing by his childhood home to the first boxing gym where he trained -- the places where the legendary boxer spent his early, formative years.

After the morning procession, The Greatest will be laid to rest Friday.

Throngs of supporters are expected to line the streets of his final journey, including Muhammad Ali Boulevard, as the procession starts at 9 a.m. ET through Louisville. The 16 to 18 car procession is scheduled to pass the Ali Center, go by his childhood home, weave past Central High where he graduated and then continue to the Columbia Gym where he first trained.

The 90-minute procession will end at the Cave Hill Cemetery, where he will be buried in a private ceremony. 

Actor Will Smith, who played the title role in the 2001 film "Ali," and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be among eight pallbearers, according to organizers.

Ali died at the age of 74 a week ago. Three days of funeral proceedings began Wednesday with a downtown festival called "I Am Ali." 

 

'He was this city's hero': Louisville remembers Muhammad Ali

It was Ali who planned his own funeral, laying out plans several years back. True to his giant character, he wanted it as open as possible -- with a chance for his fans to say goodbye. Several of the events, including Thursday's prayer service, Friday's procession and memorial service, were made available to the public. In that spirit of openness, Friday's memorial service, which begins at 2 p.m., will be streamed live from www.alicenter.org.

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is one of the international dignitaries expected to attend the memorial service.

Former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, who will be a pallbearer at the funeral, wrote in the Daily Mail newspaper that "Ali meant everything to me. He motivated me to be a boxer and from being a boxer he motivated me to be the best boxer I could possibly be."

 

Attallah Shabazz is the eldest daughter of Malcolm X, whose friendship with Ali helped spark the boxer's conversion to Islam in the 1960s. She will deliver a poetry reading at the memorial.

Photos: Remembering 'The Greatest': Politicians, stars to pay tribute to Ali

Journalist Bryant Gumbel, right, will be among those eulogizing Ali on June 10. Ali was a good friend to the former "Today" show host and sportscaster, the show said.

Former President Bill Clinton will eulogize Muhammad Ali at a memorial service Friday, June 10, in Louisville, Kentucky. Clinton, here with Ali at 2000 gala, awarded the boxing great the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001. He said he went on "to forge a friendship with a man who, through triumph and trials, became even greater than his legend."