Actor Will Smith and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will be among the pallbearers for Muhammad Ali's funeral on Friday, joining a list of notable athletes, entertainers and politicians to mourn the boxing legend.
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Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky will come to a halt as they lay to rest their most famous son, who had spent more than ten years planning for his funeral.
Among those set to attend are former US President Bill Clinton, who was a personal friend of Ali as well as comedian Billy Crystal.
Lewis, like Ali, won an Olympic Gold Medal. The Canadian-born Lewis was also the last man to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Ali stressed that his funeral was not only an event for the great and the good. He wanted the ordinary people to witness the event, in what is planned to be an inclusive, multi-denominational service.
Regarded as the greatest boxer of all time and renowned for his work outside the ring, Ali died on Friday aged 74.
Family spokesman Bob Gunnell announced the details of the memorial services on Monday.
Smith played Ali in the 2001 movie of the same name, earning an Oscar nomination and becoming a family friend. London-born Lewis, who went on to represent Canada in the Olympics, is one of three boxers along with Ali and Evander Holyfield to have held the heavyweight title three times.
They will be joined by relatives and family friends in carrying the casket through Ali's home town of Louisville, Kentucky on Friday.
More than 30,000 tickets will be distributed to the public for two memorials scheduled for Thursday and Friday in sports arenas in the city.
About 300 fans who could not wait gathered on Monday outside Ali's childhood home for a memorial led by Islamic leaders, a dance group and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
Dwight Richardson, 32, a youth counselor, brought seven kids he works with so they could learn about Ali's message.
'People might not like it, but if you stand up for what you believe in, then you won't be a pushover,' Richardson said.
Ali, who suffered from Parkinson's disease for many years, and his family had planned his funeral for a decade.
Official events start with a private ceremony on Thursday, followed by an Islamic service for the public at Freedom Hall, where he defeated Willi Besmanoff on November 29, 1961. The service will be led by Imam Zaid Shakir of California.
On Friday, Ali's family will gather for prayers, to be followed by the funeral procession through Louisville. The route will include a boulevard bearing Ali's name on the way to the Cave Hill Cemetery.
The main service will take place at the KFC Yum! Center on Friday afternoon, when Clinton and Crystal are scheduled to deliver eulogies.
In addition, Fischer announced an 'I Am Ali' Festival on Wednesday with programming for children.
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