The ceremony is holding ceremonies friday and saturday. Locals paying their own respects, attributes on their own, laying flowers and well wishes outside of alley al lis childhood home. The greatest brings everybody together and the best out of them. Whats the call to action . Sure, celebrate him. What are you going to do to make the world a better place. My hope is throughout this week people are asking themselves that question and really respecting those values he stood for. And joining us now is cnn world sports don wooddell with more on alis life. They want this to be a public ceremony. Its going to be held on friday in a basketball arena which seats 22,000 people. We wonder if thats going to be enough. Not just his fans, just the people he inspired zp he and hement so much to so many different people from so many different walks of life. Thats where its going to culminate in this basketball arena. Theres going to be a procession of the hearse through the town. Hes instructed the procession moving slowly so the chance to get a chance to pay their respects and at the final ceremony, its going to be an inner faith ceremony. It will follow muslim traditions. The fact that its going to be interfaith which shows he embodies so much to so many people. Explain to us why Billy Crystal was chosen to give the ewe loling dsh eulogy. There was a day where ali was going for a run in a golf course. He said bud y why dont you come run with me . He said i cant, im jewish. They wont let me run there. Ali was lived. He stood up for what he believed in. And ali refsed to fight in the war. Alis stance really gave families like crystals the strength and the backbone and the inspiration to stand up. No. Were not going either. So mrs. Crystal made this speech to the draft board. She said you are not having our son. Alis stance zp words were words that we needed to hear. Those examples really show what ali stand for. Im curious one of the things thats sort of the dichotomy of its a violent sport, a violent inside the ring but a gentle man outside. Some of his fights were absolutely brutal. Thrilla in manila, these guys pummelled each other for 14 rounds. Its not uncommon for boxers to be a bit more gentle outside of the ring. Hes been described as the fighter who wouldnt fight, and he was so passionate about not going to vietnam, as i said, prepared to go to jail for it. It cost him the best four years of his career, descripd of his boxing title. To then come back and get his license, win the world title again, hes the only guy to whole the title three different times, three different occasions. Remarkable athlete. From fellow boxers to World Leaders tributes have been pouring in for muhammad ali. U. S. President boem says he was the greatest, period. Michelle and i send our deepest condolences to his family and we pray that the greatest fighter of them all finally rests in peace. David cameron says mohammed alley was not just a champion in the ring, he was a champion of civil rites and a role model for so many people. Manny pacquiao said we lost a giant today. Mr. Obama and a former president ial candidate took time to remember ali. He was a beautiful boxer and a great athlete, but the reason that ali struck a chord in the hearts of so Many Americans but not just his great boxing skill. It was his incredible courage. At a time when it was not popular to do so. So many people feeling those words, that was democratic president ial hopeful Bernie Sanders at a Campaign Event in california. And also in california, bill clinton who will eulogize at his funeral on friday. He touched on the box greats talent in the ring. Take a listen. When i was a boy and i saw him box the first time, i thought, you know were looking at something we may never see again. I mean, he was like golden state on the basketball court. Right . It was like watching somebody you couldnt decide if this guy is a boxer or a ballerina, the way he moved, the speed, the grace. And donald trump joined in remembering ali who months ago tore into the president ial candidate who tore into for proposing a ban on muslims entering the u. S. And trump qitd this, obama said in his speech that muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about and who . Is obama profiling . Days later, ali said we as muslims have to stand up to those who use islam to advance their own personal agenda. True muslims knows or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force islam on anybody. Muhammad ali remained a champion of human rights even as we approach the end of his life. You know what muhammad alis passion spanned decades and international borders. In the final months of his life, ali tried to help free an american imprisoned in iran. Im talk about jason resian. Just after his conviction, while jason was hold up in an iranian prison cell, mumed Al L Muhammad Ali wrote to him. To my knowledge, jason is a man of peace and great faith, a man whose dedication and respect for the iranian people is evidence in his work. I support his family, friends, and colleagues in efforts to obtain his relieve. I want to ask you how much this statement meant to you . This call for your release from muhammad ali. Im getting chills as a read that again. It meant so much to me at the time. My wife came to visit me, which she was allowed to do fairly rarely, and she told me this, that muhammad ali had made that statement and i cant tell you i cant express in words how much it meant to me, continues to mean to me. There were so many calls for my release, so much support, but getting the support of the champ touched me in ways that just still ripple through my life. Jason, you say that the Prison Guards actually found out about alis statement of support and started treating you differently. Yes, the statement was covered in the Iranian Press as so many things about my imprisonment were, and they started treating me in a better way. I think it brought some doubt to them about the charges against me, and, you know, along with that, my spirits were really lifted and i felt empowered in a way that nothing else nothing else lifted me throughout that time. Its incredible that statement from so far away could reach you inside that prison cell so many thousands of miles away. I wonder if you could describe you spent a lot of years living in iran, just how important muhammad ali was as an american muslim leader, how important that was in bridging our world with those of a Muslim Country like iran . Well, i think as he was in so many different countries, muhammad ali was somebody that the iranian people had been drawn to for many years, as a sportsman but also as a muslim and somebody who was doing great charitible work throughout his life, and he was he was everybodys champion just like he was here in america and around the world. Yeah. Jason, you were in that iranian prison cell until your release for some 545 days. This is the first chance we get to talk to you. I know a lot of folks back home would like to know simply how are you doing . Better and better every day. I appreciate the support of everybody throughout the world and back here in the United States. Its just great to be home, and im in the process of readjustment. It will still take some time but by and large, im feeling really good. We know you are a warriors front. Well root for them as well. Glad to have you home. Jason rezaian. He certainly had a lot of people telling him how influential he was. He was so influential in the ring but so influential outside the ripping as well. Almost just calling him a boxer doesnt do him justice. Woor going to continue this after the race. Coming, democrats are battling out for the state of california. While, Hillary Clinton inches closer to the conventon, Bernie Sanders predicts a contested convention. Well hear from one of the few men who ever beat ali in the ring, about what he meant to the sport of boxing. Thats coming up. And we are just two days away from the last super tuesday of the u. S. President ial election season and Hillary Clinton could clinch her partys nomination in the next few days. The democratic frontrunner won the Virgin Island caucuses saturday and if she takes suns primary in pr, she could receive enough delegates to put her over the edge. Bernie sanders trailing far behind. The vermont senator says he could still win the california primary. Its a dead heat as you can see there according to a usc Los Angeles Times poll. Clinton does hold the lead among likely voters. 49 to 39 . The Clinton Campaign all but ignoring sanders. Her focus is on donald trump, calling him dangerous. Hillary Clinton Campaigning across the state of california with one rival in mind and that is donald trump. Yes, Bernie Sanders is vowing to fight to the convention and yes there is this democratic primary here in california and five other states on tuesday. Hillary clinton is focusing front and center on donald trump. Shes trying to repeat some of the claims she made earlier that donald trump does not have the temperment and qualified to be president. She mentioned Donald Trumps divisiveness is dangerous. Did the is not just donald trump is not just about wrong about the judge, hes wrong about america. Hes wrong about what makes this country great. And on a day that we are mourning muhammad ali, its worth remembering that we live in a country where people can break down barriers, where they can worship their own god, where they can choose their own name and where they can lead and follow their dreams as far as their hard work and talent will take them. Even though Hillary Clinton is focusing on donald trump as she campaigns in california, which she will do so again today as well as monday. She will be heading to new york on tuesday. She plans to deliver a speech in brooklyn, where she believes that she will hit the number of 2383. Thats the number of pledge and super delegates needed to unofficially clinch the nomination. Bernie sanders is vowing to take this all the way to the convention, but he would need to switch super delegates. Some 300 super delegates, those Party Officials who say there with her. s an uphill climb to say the at least. The Clinton Campaign all but ignoring Bernie Sanders here in the final days. They still want to bridge that gap with him before she turns her attention squarely, fully to donald trump. In the meantime, sanders and his sporters are Still Holding out hope for a victory in california and overall in the democratic race as well, but despite his recent momentum, it is technically make mathematical mathematical mathematically intob impossible for Bernie Sanders to beat Hillary Clinton. While campaigning in los angeles on saturday, sanders vowing the Democratic National convention would be a contested one. At the end of the nominating process, no candidate will have enough pledged delegates to call the campaign a victory. They will be dependent upon super delegates. In other words, the Democratic National convention will be a contested convention. The white House Keeping a neutral tone for now in the u. S. Democratic race as you might expect, and while president obama not calling nis names per se, he is obviously speaking his mind in some very public ways. Its not just president obama. Even mrs. Obama is taking a few subtle jabs at some of the campaign rhetoric. We have more. Reporter this campaign trail or Obstacle Course may be rockier and more twisting than weve seen. But the white house likes to claim that it is staying out of it. President obama never even brings up donald trump by name, though it is lost on no one to whom he is referring virtually every time he speaks now. Just this week. If we fall for a bunch of okeydoke, just because, you know, it sounds funny or the tweets are provocative, then were not going to build on the progress that we started. One day later, making a lengthy case for why america is already great. We lead not by dictating to others but by working with them as partners, by treating other countries and their peoples with respect. Not by lecturing, we need start, steady, principled american leadership. The first lady got on board this week. We dont give into to our fears. We dont build up walls to keep people out. Taking some pages from her husbands playbook, without mention of the single world donald or trump. Some of those to be suspicious with those we whom we disagree. We act as if namecalling is an acceptable substitute for thoughtful debate. President obama is champing at the bit in this political comment to get out there and rev up the democrat base. That he knows his power. His huge Approval Rating among dems. Its almost over. Weve got on tuesday, big states, california and new jersey. I think well probably have a good sense next week of who the nominee will end up being. As soon as there is a democratic nominee, thats when youll see the president unleashed and in their corner. The bun dates, they pun dates, they say one of the reasons that the Republican Party has picked the candidate it has. No booing. Were voting. They have the same answer. The democratic debate has been healthy. There is plenty of time for the president to jump in, but you look at those polls, you talk to insiders and you know president obama is ready for that signal, whatever it may turn out to be, maybe this coming week. For this to be down to one republican and one democrat and for him to play a very big role in it. Michelle kosinski, the white house. The all important california primary two days away. Tune in june 7th for the final super tuesday of the election season. Well, there are very, very few men who can say they ever beat muhammad ali in the ring. Well hear from one man who did and well talk to him about what ali meant to him. And there is relief ahead in europe, where the waters are receding and what play ahead. Xr welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching cnn newsroom. Im michael holmes. And im zain asher. Lets get you caught up on your headlines. U. S. President ial race, Bernie Sanders is predicting julys Democratic Convention will be a contested one. Hes been campaigning in california ahead of the states crucial primary tuesday. Its mathematically impossible for Bernie Sanders to catch up with Hillary Clinton unless he can convince a number of super delegates to switch sides. Hillary clinton crisscrossing the state. She won the Virgin Islands on saturday and if she takes puerto rico she could win enough to clinch the nomination. Maduro is calling for not giving in to u. S. Call to isolate him. And louisville will host ceremonies thursday and friday. Fans are lining up around his childhood home. Star athletes around the world are paying tribute to ali. I cannot imagine any athlete not being influenced in some degree by muhammad ali. He was a hero so so many athletes for so many different reasons. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are in the midst of the nba finals. But their top stars paused to take a moment to reflect what muhammad ali sitting in here today. Without ali, i wouldnt be able to sit here in and talk to you in front of these guys, i wouldnt go anywhere where blacks werent allowed because of guys like muhammad ali. Ali was the example of how you use your platform and speak what you believe, no matter what people say. Look at him as a sense of confidence thats for sure. Lebron james says he watched the thrilla in manila in his hotel room once he heard the night. Michael jordan says this is the sad day for me and the world, muhammad ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. He said he was the greatest and he was right. Serena williams, the true greatest of all kind. What a sad day for everyone to lose someone so brat and kind and someone who really stood up for what they believed in. He was my hero. Mike tyson, god came for his champion, so long great one. Tiger woods youll always be the greatest for more than just what you did in the ring. A champion to so many people in so many ways. And formula one louis hamilton wrote this. Im gutted. Rest in peace champion. Ali faced many boxers. We spoke to larry holmes about what a. L aa ali meant to him. Remembering a legend. I moved around the ring. I used the jab combination. I learned all that from ali. He said he met ali when he was a young fighter. Quickly became his sparring partner. We went to reading, pennsylvania and we boxed. He gave me a blackeye. They wanted to put ice on it. I said no, im keeping. Holmes has all the greatest moments around his house. Including the day he beat him. Ali only lost five times in his entire career. He said i would never do anything to hurt you. You love me . You know i love you, man. He said why you beat me up like that. He remembered his kind heart and willingness to help people. But most of all his jab. They was great, but they wasnt as great as muhammad ali. That was Amanda Van Alan of our affiliate wmz. Mixed emotions i would imagine for larry holmes there. He cried quite a bit after his fight afterwards. He beat up his mate. It was alis penultimate fight. He took an awful lot of punish many from larry holmes that night. With all the punches he took, he couldnt even defend himself. It was a sad fight. There could have been some guilt for larry holmes, possibly. Before his last fight, his trainer told him quit while you are ahead and you kept going. Now to other news, isis militants are under attack on two major fronts in syria and iraq. Lets start with syria. Humanitarian group says