Turkey's Erdogan to attend Muhammad Ali funeral

ISTANBUL (AA) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office has confirmed the Turkish leader will attend the funeral of Muhammad Ali this week in the United States.

The iconic former boxing champion died on Saturday at the age of 74 in Phoenix, Arizona.

According to presidential sources, Erdogan will depart for the U.S. on Wednesday night.

Ali's funeral will be held on Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky – the boxer’s home city.

Imam Zaid Shakir will lead funeral prayers for Ali, who converted to Islam in 1965.

It is expected that Erdogan will also attend a commemoration and farewell ceremony for Ali on Friday.

Muhammad Ali won the heavyweight title three times and was known for his unorthodox fighting style, merging power and agility.

Outside of the ring, he was famous throughout the world for his charismatic personality, as well as his social and political activism.