Septic shock was the cause of Muhammad Ali's death late Friday night, according to a family spokesman. A public memorial service and funeral procession will be held Friday for Ali in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., where he will be buried.
Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to eulogize Ali, the former three-time heavyweight boxing champion and one of the most iconic sports figures of the 20th century. Actor Billy Crystal and broadcaster Bryant Gumbel are also scheduled to speak. Ali died at 9:10 p.m. local time Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A private ceremony for Ali's family will be held on Thursday in Louisville. A funeral procession through the city, the route passing by his boyhood home, will precede the public ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, Gunnell said.
WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs) gave his thoughts on the passing of Ali during a media gathering with local reporters.
“I did study his style,” Wilder said. “I still have VHS tapes 1-12 of Muhammad Ali. Words can’t express what he meant to me as a fighter coming up. This was even before me lacing up gloves not even knowing this would be my path. He’s one of my idols for sure. There’s not too many people I look up to. As far as sports-wise, he’s one I looked up to.
“The way he was able to taunt his fighters. Sticking his tongue, the bob and weave. All of those were exciting, that’s what people loved to see, to have fun against their strongest opponent. Everybody has their own touch on it, and I dare not touch his.”
“It’s almost like Muhammad Ali passing is giving me even more will, more courage, more motivation to do what I said I would do to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and that’s what I would do because he passed that torch to me."
