Lewis is to help carry Ali’s coffin

LENNOX Lewis will be a pall-bearer at the funeral of his idol Muhammad Ali in Louisville on Friday. As Britain’s most prominent representative, he will be joined by actor Will Smith, who played Ali in the movie of that name, in helping Ali’s family and friends carry the coffin. Lewis, still the last completely undisputed world heavyweight champion, has been close to Ali for many years. He said: ‘I am humbled, and honoured, beyond words to help see my hero, Muhammad Ali, off to his final resting place. Ali has always been an enormous inspiration to me, not only in my boxing career, but also in life. His journey began 74 years ago, and in that time, he not only transformed the world of sport, he used sport to transform the world. ‘It’s my extreme pleasure, and complete honour, to be asked to help him complete the final steps of his life journey.’ A host of other famed boxers, celebrities and world leaders — including Bill Clinton who will deliver the eulogy in a sports arena — are expected to be among the thousands now flocking to Kentucky. The other pall-bearers will be Jerry Ellis — the brother of Jimmy Ellis, Ali’s former sparring partner and fellow world heavyweight champion — and Ali’s cousins John Grady and Jan Wadell, nephew Ibn Ali, former brother-inlaw Komawi Ali and family friend John Ramsey. Family spokesman Bob Gunnell said: ‘Everything that we’re doing here was blessed by Muhammad Ali and was requested. He was the people’s champ and he wanted the memorial service to reflect that.’