Muhammad Ali's coffin arrives in Louisville

USA

The body of boxing legend Muhammad Ali has arrived in his hometown Louisville, Kentucky where his funeral will take place on Friday.

The 74-year-old’s coffin was driven from Arizona, where he died on Sunday to Louisville airport into the city in a convoy.

A public funeral procession and service is expected to draw huge crowds in honor of “The Greatest” on Friday.

Our hearts are literally hurting. But we are happy daddy is free now.

Family spokesman Bob Gunnel said Ali was accompanied by his wife, Lonnie and other family members and friends.

According to him, the body was taken to a local funeral home.

Police escorted the casket wrapped in a black cloth bearing Arabic scripture in gold on it.

Muhammad Ali's body arrives back in his home town of Louisville escorted by his familyhttps://t.co/2l503R4TT5
— RT UK (@RTUKnews) June 6, 2016

Meanwhile, tributes to late Muhammad Ali continued on Sunday as the death of the former heavyweight triggered an outpouring of affection and admiration for one of the best-known figures of the 20th century.

Despite Ali’s failing health, his youthful proclamation that he was “the greatest” rang true until the end for millions of people around the world who respected him for his courage both inside and outside the ring.

Along with a fearsome reputation as a fighter, Ali spoke out against racism, war and religious intolerance, while projecting an unshakable confidence that became a model for African-Americans at the height of the civil rights era and beyond.

The three-times heavyweight champion and outspoken civil rights activist died on Friday night at age 74 after health problems complicated by a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Our hearts are literally hurting. But we are happy daddy is free now,” one of Ali’s nine children, daughter Hana, wrote on Twitter.