Already have an account?
Get back to the

Muhammad Ali Dead: Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal, Bryant Gumbel to Deliver Eulogies at Funeral on Friday

In honor of the world’s greatest. Muhammad Ali’s funeral will be held on Friday, June 10, in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, a spokesman for the late athlete’s family announced on Saturday, June 4.

Family spokesman Bob Gunnell said the funeral will be open to the public and be preceded by a procession through the streets of Louisville.

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Deaths in 2016: Stars We’ve Lost

Former President Bill Clinton, comedian Billy Crystal and journalist Bryant Gumbel will deliver eulogies at the event, which is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center. The procession will begin at 9 a.m. and travel along a route that “includes locations that were historically important to Muhammad,” according to a statement obtained by ESPN.

Gunnell added that Ali died at 9:10 p.m. MST from septic shock due to unspecified natural causes. As previously reported, the boxing legend, who battled Parkinson’s disease for more than 30 years, was hospitalized this week in Phoenix for respiratory problems.

Muhammed Ali Bill Clinton
Muhammad Ali hugs former US President Bill Clinton on November 19, 2005, during the Grand Opening Gala for the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY.

Related: PHOTOS: Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

On Friday, Crystal, 68, shared a sweet throwback video of himself performing a tribute at Ali’s retirement in 1979.

“For the greatest man I have ever known,” the comedian tweeted along with the black-and-white footage.

Former President Clinton similarly shared his condolences in a statement to Us Weekly on Saturday.

“Hillary and I are saddened by the passing of Muhammad Ali,” the statement read. “From the day he claimed the Olympic gold medal in 1960, boxing fans across the world knew they were seeing a blend of beauty and grace, speed and strength that may never be matched again.”

Related: Celebrity Health Scares

“We watched him grow from the brash self-confidence of youth and success into a manhood full of religious and political convictions that led him to make tough choices and live with the consequences,” the statement continued. “Along the way we saw him courageous in the ring, inspiring to the young, compassionate to those in need, and strong and good-humored in bearing the burden of his own health challenges.”

Ali is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Yolonda Williams, and seven daughters and two sons. The champ’s children are among the many who have posted moving tributes to Ali on social media.

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!