Muhammad Ali funeral: Will Smith and Lennox Lewis to be pallbearers

New Delhi: Famed actor Will Smith and former world boxing champion Lennox Lewis will serve as pallbearers together with six other people during Muhammad Ali`s funeral on Friday, a spokesman said.

Smith famously played the title role in Michael Mann`s film "Ali" (2001), and ever since the 47-year-old actor has became close to the boxing legend. 

Briton Lewis, who himself is considered as one of the greatest boxers, has maintained close friendship with Ali.

The two celebrities will carry Ali`s coffin together with six family members and close family friends, family spokesman Bob Gunnell said.

The charismatic Ali, a dazzling fighter and outspoken civil rights activist who became one of the 20th century`s towering figures, died Friday at age 74 after health problems complicated by a long battle with Parkinson`s disease.

The funeral is set to take place on Friday in Ali`s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky in front of a huge crowd. It will be broadcast around the world.

The funeral will follow a procession through the streets and will be preceded on Thursday by a family funeral and an Islamic prayer service held in the 18,000-seat Freedom Hall.

The Louisville funeral is aimed at sending a universal message of peace and tolerance, according to organizers.

Ali died in Phoenix, Arizona, where he had recently lived. His body was returned to Louisville by private plane on Sunday.

He will be buried at Louisville`s Cave Hill Cemetery.

(With Agency inputs)