The Greatest.. Muhammad Ali passes aged 74.

On Saturday Morning the former 3 time heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali passed away in Phoenix Arizona aged 74..  Ali formerly Cassius Clay won the Olympic light heavyweight gold medal in Rome 1960 and turned pro the following year..  Ali would be remembered for his three marvellous fights with Joe Frazier and his return to the ring aged 32 to defeat the previously considered unbeatable George Foreman in Zaire in 1974..  Ali regained his title for a third time by beating 1976 Olympian Leon Spinks in 1978..  Ali would unfortunately make an ill advised return in 1980 where he was stopped for the only time in his career by former sparring partner a new champion Larry Holmes at the age of 38.  Ali would once again be lured back into the ring in 1981 to box Canadian Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas. Ali's ring record was 56/5.  Muhammad Ali was much more than just a fighter, in his finest years Ali stood by his principles and refused to be drafted into the forces for the Vietnam war on principle of his religious beliefs, a decision that cost him three years of his ring career from 1967 to 1970..  Upon returning to the ring it was evident that Ali had lost some speed, but it was in different ways Ali showed spirit and determination to compensate..  Ali had been suffering from Parkinson's syndrome since the late 1980s but would stay active venturing into the political forum and campaign for many years for civil and human rights..  Ali had shown signs of decline in recent years but lived quite privately..  An articulate, compassionate, generous, unique and inspirational man Muhammad was a champion in and out of the ring that we will always regard as 'The Greatest.'

Funeral services for legendary three-time world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali will take place on Friday morning in Louisville, Kentucky. Starting at 9AM, a procession will bring the champ all over town so people can say their goodbyes. The motorcade will pass by the Muhammad Ali Center and through Ali’s old neighborhood before heading to Cave Hill National Cemetery where Ali will be buried in a private ceremony.