Summary Muhammad Ali is often hailed as "The Greatest" -- a boxing champion, a civil rights icon.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Muhammad Ali is often hailed as "The Greatest" -- a boxing champion, a civil rights icon.
On Hollywood s Walk of Fame, he is also one of a kind. His star is the only one of more than 2,500 honoring celebrities that is not on the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
It s at eye level, on a wall next to the Walk of Fame, just in front of the Dolby Theatre -- home to the Oscars.
As usually happens when an actor or singer honored with a star dies, mourners have flocked to Ali s star to snap pictures and leave flowers since the heavyweight champion died Friday in Arizona at age 74.
In 2002, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce placed Ali s star at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, honoring him in the "live performances" category for his fabulous success in the boxing ring.
But mounting the star on the wall was a break with tradition. Ali did not want people to walk upon his name.
"I bear the name of our beloved prophet Muhammad, and it is impossible that I allow people to trample over his name," said Ali, who converted to Islam in the 1960s.
Johnny Grant, chairman of the Walk of Fame committee, said at the time: "Muhammad Ali is one of the most famous showmen in the world."
