Thousands gather for Muhammad Ali’s funeral service

Thousands of people of all races and creeds gathered for a Muslim funeral service in Muhammad Ali’s hometown in Kentucky to pay their respects to a man who fought in the ring and sought peace outside it.

The jenazah, or funeral in Arabic, took place at a convention space in Freedom Hall, the complex where the former heavyweight world champion defeated Willi Besmanoff on November 29, 1961 in his last fight in Louisville. An estimated 14,000 attended the service.

Ali, known for his boxing prowess, showmanship and political activism in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, died last Friday of septic shock in an Arizona hospital. He was 74.