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Muhammad Ali In Philadelphia To Accept 2012 Liberty Medal

By Al Novack, Natasha Brown

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Retired boxing champ Muhammad Ali comes to Philadelphia today to receive the Liberty Medal. The ceremony will take place this evening at the National Constitution Center.

The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. on the front lawn of the NCC and will recognize Ali, 70, as a champion of freedom and a man who exemplifies everything the award was established for.

PHOTOS: Muhammad Ali Through The Years

The medal honors individuals of courage and conviction who spread the ideals and words of liberty to people around the globe.

The Olympic gold medalist and boxing legend has been an outspoken fighter for civil rights and religious freedom. He was a conscientious objector who took his battle to the Supreme Court and won. Ali has been a tireless humanitarian and philanthropist and he suffers from Parkinson's disease that he has battled since 1982.

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