Muhammad Ali Will Be Laid To Rest At Public Funeral in Louisville

Those not ready to say goodbye to legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali will have one last chance at his funeral on June 10 in the champion's hometown of Louisville.

Ali died late Friday night of septic shock after being hospitalized for five days with a respiratory issue, family spokesman Bob Gunnell told reporters in Phoenix on Saturday. He had battled Parkinson's Disease for 32 years.

Ali's wife and children were at his bedside in his final moments.

One of his daughters, Hana Ali, recalled how even after all of his organs had failed, his heart kept beating for 30 minutes.

We all tried to stay strong and whispered in his ear, "You can go now. We will be okay. We love you. Thank you. You can go back to God now.

"All of his organs failed but his HEART wouldn't stop beating. For 30 minutes...his heart just kept beating," Hana Ali wrote in a message posted to Twitter.

Flags in Louisville were lowered in mourning and a makeshift memorial with flowers and tributes cropped up outside the Muhammad Ali Center.

On Sunday, Louisville Orchestra conductor Teddy Abrams performed a special tribute to Ali.

Ali was born in Louisville on Jan. 17, 1942, in a segregated part of the city. He was 12-years-old when his bicycle was stolen and he told Louisville police officer Joe Martin that he wanted to beat up the culprit.

Martin, who was also a boxing trainer, told Ali he should learn how to fight first and took the young Ali under his wing.

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• The World Remembers Muhammad Ali, 'The Greatest'
• WATCH: Billy Crystal's Epic Tribute to Muhammad Ali

What he achieved in sport and beyond is left behind in an unparalleled legacy. A three-time heavyweight boxing champion, he is remembered today for his actions both inside and outside the ring.

A man who stood for what he believed in, Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. Today, he is remembered as a racial and political activist and a champion of religious liberty.

Remembering the champion, President Barack Obama said in a statement Saturday that Ali's victory, "helped us get used to the America we recognize today."

On Saturday, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer remembered his many achievements.

"This man, this champion, ended his 74 years yesterday as a United Nations Messenger of Peace; a humanitarian and champion athlete who earned Amnesty International’s Lifetime Achievement Award; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century," Fischer said.

Before he became a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998, Ali came to the United Nations in the 1970s to campaign against apartheid and racial injustice.

"Mr. Ali was far more than a legendary boxer; he was a world champion for equality and peace. With an incomparable combination of principle, charm, wit and grace, he fought for a better world and used his platform to help lift up humanity," a spokesman for United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement.

The funeral service, which is open to the public, will be held at the KFC YUM! Center at 2 p.m. Information on tickets is not yet available.

Former President Bill Clinton, journalist Bryant Gumbel and comedian Billy Crystal will deliver eulogies at the funeral. He will be buried with only family watching.

A funeral procession throughout Louisville will begin at 9 a.m., allowing the public to pay their final respects to, "The Greatest."

More details on the procession:

The procession will travel northbound on Bardstown Road, westbound on the Watterson Expressway, and then north on I-65 to westbound I-64 (exiting 9th Street ramp). Then traveling west on Muhammad Ali Blvd to 34th Street, left on 34th street to Broadway, making a left on Broadway and then traveling to Cave Hill Cemetery. The route includes locations that were historically important to Ali.

"Muhammad Ali belongs to the world, but he only has one hometown," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said Saturday. "The Louisville Lip spoke to everyone, but we heard him in a way no one else could – as our brother, our uncle, and our inspiration."

Mourners will also be allowed to pay their respects at the Muhammad Ali Center. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Muhammad Ali Center and to continue Ali’s legacy of humanitarianism.

The funeral will also be streamed live.

Image Credit: By Unknown - [1] Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 bekijk toegang 2.24.01.04 Bestanddeelnummer 924-3060, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl,https://commons.wikimedia.org/...