Bill Clinton to read Muhammad Ali's eulogy as it emerges the boxer planned his own funeral

The former US President Bill Clinton was a long time friend to the boxing legend

Muhammad Ali planned his own funeral to so much detail that the document in which he used was coined 'The Book'.

The boxing icon known simply as 'The Greatest' meticulously planned his farewell with an inner-circle of friends, wishing for multiple faiths to be represented.

Ali also made it clear he wanted fans to attend the funeral as well as VIPs.

Islamic studies scholar Timothy Gianotti was among those who helped plan the funeral with Ali.

He said: "The message that we'll be sending out is not our message - this was really designed by the champ himself.

"The love and the reverence and the inclusivity that we're going to experience over the coming days is really a reflection of his message to the people of planet earth."

Final touches were put to the plans just days before Ali died in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday evening local time after he had been admitted to hospital with respiratory problems following a 35-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

It was decided the initial plan for Ali to be kept at the Muhammad Ali Centre in Louisville would be scrapped as his wife Lonnie was concerned it would cause the centre to be shut down.

Instead, a procession that will go on for miles will carry Ali's body across his hometown of Louisville, past the museum named in his honour and along the boulevard carrying his name.

"It's been a really bittersweet time for our city," Mayor Greg Fischer said. "We've all been dreading the passing of the champ, but at the same time we knew ultimately it would come.

"It was selfish for us to think that we could hold on to him forever. Our job now, as a city, is to send him off with the class and dignity and respect that he deserves."

Former US president and longtime friend of Ali, Bill Clinton, will deliver the Eulogy at the KFC Yum! Centre, where 15,000 seats are expected to be filled.

Ali will be buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, with only a modest marker, in accordance with Muslim tradition, planned.