US: Louisville airport renamed to honor Muhammad Ali

Louisville International Airport in the U.S. state of Kentucky has been renamed after the city's legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, where he was born and raised.

The Louisville Regional Airport Authority’s board voted Wednesday to change the name to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

However, the current three-letter code - SDF - will remain same.

The three-time world heavyweight champion died on June 4, 2016 at the age of 74 after suffering from a respiratory illness and a years-long fight with Parkinson’s disease.

According to the Courier-Journal newspaper, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said Ali "only had one hometown, and fortunately, that is our great city of Louisville.

"Muhammad became one of the most well-known people to ever walk the Earth and has left a legacy of humanitarianism and athleticism that has inspired billions of people," he added.

The decision followed a recommendation from a board working group which studied renaming the airport for more than a year.