Sugar Ray Leonard: I'm Going to Ali Funeral ... 'Paying My Respects'

Sugar Ray Leonard is heading to Louisville to attend Muhammad Ali's funeral -- telling TMZ Sports the man had a tremendous impact on his life and he wants to pay his respects in person.

Leonard says he's not scheduled to speak at the event -- but would if he was asked. However, he admits it's a pretty tough task to eulogize a man who accomplished so much.

He also has a message to the fans caught up in the melee over funeral tickets this morning -- CALM DOWN!!!!