He told me to come on down and join them boxing. But there was also a dark side to Trevor Berbick. He turned pro that fall and went on to win 18 of his first 20 professional fights (one loss, one draw), earning him a shot at Larry Holmes heavyweight crown in April 1981. If ever a fighter personified the concept of a world champion, it was Muhammad Ali. Former world lightheavyweight champ Freddie Mills died of gunshot wounds to the head in 1965. More in News . This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Failed to delete memorial. In a closely contested fight, Berbick was able to narrowly earn the victory by unanimous decision to capture his first major heavyweight title. Ali wasnt punching and Berbick was taunting him. He fought in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and stayed there to turn professional, winning his first 11 fights (10 by knockout) before losing for the first time to Bernardo Mercado in 1979. Former world and Canadian heavyweight boxing champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday morning in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, with chop wounds to his head in an apparent homicide, police said. Even hard-bitten veterans Bob Waters, Dick Young, Dave Anderson and Ed Schuyler were moved by the occasion. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Even at 39 Ali owns a far better chin than Tate does and hes still a bit quicker on his feet than the cement-footed Weaver. Im happy Im still pretty. His future as a backwater professional seemed assured until Top Rank Promotions miscast him as a stepping stone for Big John Tate on the undercard of the Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard I extravaganza in Montreal. Theyd drink and let off steam, and theyd fight anybody in the streets. Family members linked to this person will appear here. By Carlos Acevedo, Chris Eubank Jnr vs. Conor Benn is officially OFF, Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn: The story of a grim day for British boxing, Chris Eubank Jnr says there was no phone call with Conor Benn, but does expect their fight to still go ahead. Ali landed just 51 power punches in his losses to Berbick and Holmes. The more energetic Berbick bounded into the squared circle four minutes later and as he danced around the ring a stony Ali ignored him instead of launching into his usual pre-fight antics. O'Connor Mortuary 25301 Alicia Pkwy Laguna Hills, CA 92653 | FD 1293. How dare he try to play with Alis mind? With Mills Lane tolling the count, Berbick again tried to rise, and again his legs mutinied beneath him, sending him dive-bombing to the canvas with a thud. KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) A nephew of the former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was convicted along with another man of killing Berbick. Alis reflexes are gone, Dunphy declared as round two began its final minute. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Trevor Berbick with his lawyer Heron Dale in 2003 Trevor Berbick with his lawyer Heron Dale in 2003 I dont remember if Ali started punching him at that point, but Berbick was asserting his dominance and playing with Alis mind. Part 5: https://youtu.be/eFE4kjKdG5sPart 1: https://youtu.be/0fXoOz9MIRo-----In this clip, Larry Holmes opens about beating Trevor Berbick, who Larry expl. Read more on Wikipedia. The proof of Alis continued relevance lies in the fact that his grandson, middleweight Nico Ali Walsh, will compete inside Madison Square Garden on this special day. His problems with the law continued and he was again deported in 2002. (4), The main event almost didnt happen because Berbick had received only $100,000 of his $350,000 guarantee and said he wouldnt fight until he was paid the full amount. Try again later. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Trevor Berbick, who made his reputation by beating the legendary Muhammad Ali in a 10-round unanimous decision in 1981, was found dead the morning of Oct. 28 in a church courtyard next to his . The judge ordered both men jailed pending their Jan. 11 sentencing. Though Berbick was believed to be 52, according to boxing records, other reports said he was as old as 56 or as young as 49. Weve updated the security on the site. Everybody knew that this was really it, he continued. Market data provided by Factset. Here, there was no reason for him to quit and there was no time in which I felt like yelling, stop the fight. . Berbick, whose contempt was now replaced by compassion, yelled at Clayton to stop the fight but the onetime Harlem Globetrotter held firm and allowed the battering to continue. Verify and try again. And dont forget: I was coming to the Bahamas off Leonard-Hearns. According to Sports Illustrated, Ali's purse was $1.1 million and Berbick's was $350,000. He had watched him grow up, leave the island, become a world-famous boxer and return, only to die in a pool of blood, a $100 bill lying . The fight was competitive enough where I was hoping he was going to do it, he said in a July 2017 phone interview. Those interested in ordering a copy of the book can do so by clicking here and purchasing from Amazon. The baton had been passed to the non-heavyweights at that point. The same fears had been expressed when giants like John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano had left the scene and each time boxing produced a new focal point. But while Hunsaker couldnt touch the whippet-quick teen-age gold medalist, Berbick feasted on the geriatric shell that remained. Maybe Ali was right about blaming the weight loss and the prescription drugs concealing his true ability in the Holmes fight. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Police have arrested a man and. In November, Berbick was charged with aggravated assault after he menaced his ex-financial manager at gunpoint. One measure of a fighters worth is whether he left the sport in better shape than it was when he first arrived. He served 15 months in a Florida jail for sexual assault and was later deported from the United States. Hes one of just two boxers to fight both Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, the other being Larry Holmes, and was a big part of an often-overlooked era in the sport in the early 1980s. Even before the end of round one, blow-by-blow commentator Don Dunphy declared the first a very good round for Ali, and he was right. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. In 1991, Berbick was convicted of misdemeanor assault for attacking his former business manager, who testified the boxer put a gun to her head and accused her of stealing money from him. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Portrait. The accuser claimed that Berbick had driven to her apartment in Miami (FL) on Halloween in 1991 to pay her for her services but then physically assaulted her, ripped off her clothing, and then raped her. Resend Activation Email. Cornelius persisted, and eventually he found a place willing to stage an Ali fight. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Berbick served a combined 15 months for both convictions and was ordered deported back to Jamaica. A jury Thursday found Harold Berbick, 21, guilty of murder and Kenton Gordon, 19, guilty of manslaughter in the death of Berbick, who was 54. The 52-year-old boxer represented Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics before settling there for a number of years. Inspired by Ali, a plethora of stars spanning dozens of pounds built on the foundation Ali assembled. Photo by The Ring Magazine/ Getty Images. Not only was Alis speech slurred and gravelly, his movement and general coordination had decayed and, without the aid of the Thyrolar that helped him shed more than 30 pounds in less than two months before the Holmes fight, his physique had the thickness and softness expected of someone five weeks short of 40. The story of the former WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick who shared a ring with Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes before he was savagely murdered. Let the New Era begin. Alonzo Butler submitted the kindest card at 97-94 while colleagues Jay Edson and Clyde Gray delivered harsher news by seeing Berbick the 99-94 winner. However, Berbick fled to Montreal before his impending removal. Trevor Berbick (1 August 1954 - 28 October 2006) was a Jamaican professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 2000. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Berbick was gracious and Schuyler set the tone. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. One of the few Lost Generation pugs not associated with Don King, Tate had won the vacant WBA heavyweight title in October 1979, but his championship reign barely lasted six months. Thanks for your help! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. (5), For a fight of this magnitude, this tops it all, Eddie Futch, who guided Pete McIntyre to a 10-round decision win over Mike Fisher, told the New York Times George Vescey. After his release, Berbick returned to the ring in the mid-1990s and only a failed CAT Scan in 2000 kept Berbick from continuing his farcical career into his fifties. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Failed to remove flower. Of course, Ali finally walks in, a little bit late, and one of the first things I remember hearing was Ed Schuyler, this great old tough reporter from the AP who had been around the world with Ali in places he probably never even heard of before he went there, and he just looked at Ali and said, thanks, champ, for a helluva ride. It was an emotional moment for the hard-core guys, and they didnt cry in their beer too often. During his trial, Harold Berbick claimed that his uncle had physically abused his mother and that Berbick had also threatened him. El 22 de marzo de 1986, Trevor Berbick gan el ttulo mundial de los pesados del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo al derrotar al estadounidense Pinklon Thomas por decisin unnime. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The ploy had convinced the likes of Frazier, Shavers and Spinks to throttle down their attacks but Berbick did what they should have done: Hit Ali even more. Berbick, beset by legal problems following his retirement from the ring, lost his heavyweight title to Mike Tyson and was the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali. A mad scramble ensued before police officers could separate the impromptu combatants. Learn more about managing a memorial . TREVOR BERBICK, who reigned briefly as the WBC heavyweight champion in 1986, left behind one of the strangest legacies in boxing history: for being the last man Muhammad Ali faced in the ring, in a shambolic promotion exiled to the Bahamas; for being the first title-fight victim of Mike Tyson (in which Berbick suffered such a spectacular kayo loss that he became a permanent Youtube loadstone, like Baby Shark or Gangnam Style); for a bonkers parking lot melee with comebacking ex-champion Larry Holmes seen coast-coast on every sports newscast in America; for his savage murder in Jamaica, after years of scandalous headlines had made him a laughing stock across the globe. These grim footnotes are hardly surprising when one considers that Berbick was an entrenched member of The Lost Generation of heavyweights, a motley, miserable, and morose collection of overweight and undermotivated malcontents who would eventually disintegrate in various blowouts of marijuana, cocaine, Colt 45, late-night revels, Twinkies and Whoppers. There, while Holmes celebrated his kayo win, stood an impassive Trevor Berbick. The bout was Ali's last in a career that spanned three decades. He threw 100 punches and landed 45, including 36 of 86 power shots. Berbick might have believed his words, but when he got the chance to dominate inside the ring he took it with both hands. Beverly Howell said Berbick's body was discovered around 6:30 a.m. in a church courtyard in Portland parish. Despite competing in just 11 amateur bouts, he represented Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, losing to eventual silver medalist, Mercia Simon. His record was 50 wins (33 by knockout), 11 losses, and 1 draw. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Today marks the 40th anniversary of the final fight of Muhammad Alis professional career, his 10-round decision defeat against Trevor Berbick in what was incongruously called The Drama in the Bahamas. Although the event was enveloped by sadness and dreariness, the impact of Alis legacy remained unaffected, for not only did his entry into the sport come at a most fortuitous time, he laid the groundwork for the glorious era that was already in progress by the time he entered the ring against Berbick: The era of The Four Kings.. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? A man has been arrested. He briefly held the World Boxing Council heavyweight title before losing it to Mike Tyson in 1986. His breakdown began in the autumn of 1990 when he was arrested for assaulting a man he believed had been courting his wife, Nadine. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. For Berbick, the loss was humiliating. It . On November 26, 1986, Berbick squared off against Tyson at the Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas. A thudding left hook landed on the forehead and produced a delayed effect that would eventually give way to one of the most frightening examples of what a precise blow from a professional boxer can do to the nervous system. Name: Trevor Berbick Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Birthplace: Port Antonio, Jamaica Died: 2006-10-28 (Age:52) Stance: Orthodox Height: 188cm Reach: 198cm Pro Boxer: Record Amateur Boxer: Record Trainers: Sam Solomon, Eddie Futch, Angelo Dundee Trevor Berbick Gallery Contents 1 Career Review 2 Personal Life 3 Legal Troubles & Death Police did not have a motive and there was no word yet on what kind of weapon was used or how many people were involved in Berbick's death. Ali had carried boxing in America, almost-singlehandedly, in the 1970s but the early 1980s was a great time. After beating Ali in 1981 in a unanimous decision in the Bahamas, Berbick went on to win the WBC heavyweight title four years later in a decision over Pinklon Thomas. The following is an excerpt from Muhammad Ali: By the Numbers co-written by CompuBox founder and president Bob Canobbio and punch-counter/historian Lee Groves. Learn more about merges. But I learned a little martial arts from the Special Forces and handled him pretty well. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. I pray he never fights again, added referee Davey Pearl, who, along with Randy Shields, served as Dunphys color commentator. If nothing else, Ali could be proud that he earned the privilege of ending this fight on his feet instead of on his stool. Rounds five, six and seven delivered a sobering and punishing message to Ali while allowing Berbick to separate himself on the scorecards and the statistics. Market data provided by Factset. Berbick, always a rebel at heart, had other things in mind. Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Berbick was arrested several times and served 15 months for sexually assaulting the family babysitter in 1992. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Everybody was really quiet. He went to Canada, where he lived for a time following the 1976 Olympics. Ali, looking bored at times, said nothing as he shadowboxed while Berbick refused to look Ali in the eyes. Ali was 39 years old at this time, and Berbick was 27 years old. The onetime Ali Circus appeared flat emotionally, for they knew Ali had shown woeful energy throughout the 11-week training cycle. Berbick's death a homicide: police | CBC Sports Loaded. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Trevor Berbick was the last fighter to face Muhammad Ali in the ring. Berbick died on October 28, 2006 at the age of 52 years. (2) While the exotic locale stacked up well with other Ali fight sites, everything else connected with the venture was anything but paradise. As he sat ringside, he was optimistic that Ali still had enough in reserve to wring out another victory. Sorry! The first was the only instance in which Ali out-landed Berbick, and the effort required to keep the rugged Jamaican at bay had already cut into his gas tank more than it should have. The REAL " Trevor Berbick" Story- His Life,Career,Conviction and Murder! Boxing was on TV like crazy and we had the big closed-circuit fights. In December 1991, Berbick was charged with grand theft and mortgage fraud, just a few days before he lost a farcical boxer-wrestler match to Nobuhiko Takada in Japan. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He had watched him grow up, leave the island, become a world-famous boxer and return, only to die in a pool of blood, a $100 bill lying . Often in trouble with the law, he once spent 15 months in prison for rape. First, there was the opponent. Former Canadian heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica, according to police. The connection was deep, heartfelt and beyond debate. Alis immense pride, the asset that fueled his greatest triumphs, couldnt stomach the thought that a TKO loss while sitting on the stool would be the final scene of what had been a theatrical boxing career. His body was found at the. If the slurring were due to permanent damage, it would be there all the time, he said, adding that fatigue and stress were the most common triggers. I came out all right for an old man. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. He was brutalized in that fight and he wouldnt quit. Try again. Berbicks body blasts and hurtful hooks broke the spell that had ensnared so many others. With barely a dozen fights as an amateur, Berbick turned pro on September 27, 1976, scoring a TKO in Shediac, New Brunswick, known as The Lobster Capital of the World.. Berbick continued to fight, with his final bout being a 2000 win over Canadian journeyman Shane Sutcliffe. In fact, his loss to Tyson seemed to mark a grim turning point. As excited as I was (to be there), I felt like I didnt belong because I looked around me and I saw all these writers like Michael Katz, Eddie Schuyler, Dick Young, all these writers who I had grown up reading. Despite all of his troubles, Trevor Berbick was seen as a legendary hero in Jamaica. The shadow of Ali, 9 of 60 overall and 3 of 22 power, paled in comparison. He also was convicted in 1992 of second-degree grand theft for forging his ex-wife's signature to get a mortgage on a home. Among his losses were those to Buster Douglas, Renaldo Snipes and Larry Holmes. 0 cemeteries found in Norwich, Portland, Jamaica. Just as he had against Weaver a few months earlier, Tate opened a wide lead before imploding late. Search above to list available cemeteries. Trevor Berbick, boxer: born Port Antonio, Jamaica 1 August 1954; twice married (six children); died Norwich, Jamaica 28 October 2006. As if to underscore just how far Holmes had drifted from his days as a headliner in glitzy hot spots such as New York and Las Vegas, the low-rent press conference after the fight degenerated into one of the trashiest boxing highlights of the last 30 years. There was a brief pause after Tyson connected and then Berbick plummeted, seemingly in slow motion, and crashed onto his back. FORMER world heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick became another name on the long list of boxing's tragic figures when he was hacked to death in a Jamaican churchyard. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The former champ was also deported from the U.S. on two separate occasions and his life came to a tragic end in 2006 when he was brutally murdered in his home country of Jamaica by his very own nephew. His midnight-blue suit, gaudy tie, white pocket square kerchief, and sunglasses out of place among the pastel shirts, Zubaz, and tracksuits. But while a dishevelled Berbick aired his grievances to a gathering crowd, Holmes charged out of the hotel, face contorted in anger, and raced across the parking lot. I had a buddy with me and we went there and it was similar to waiting for a funeral to begin. Referee Zach Clayton, who counted Foreman out the night Ali regained the title, delivered the final instructions. Although Mercado had been stopped in his only fights against recognisable opposition, his clubbing right hand was a legitimate weapon. Berbick, who claimed that the incident was consensual, was sentenced to five years in prison but served just 15 months. After Holmes I had excuses: I was too light, I didnt breathe right. The 548th round of Alis 21-year professional career started as the first against Tunney Hunsaker had on his toes, using the jab and firing right hands over the top. Trevor Berbick had much to suggest that he would have had a. GREAT NEWS! Ali seemed fine with it and I didnt remember feeling sad for him. The . This was during the Vietnam War and a lot of guys there were going wacko; some guys were waiting to be shipped off to war, others were coming back all busted up, legs gone, nerves shot. Const. He then headed west to British Columbia to attempt a boxing comeback, despite thewarrant for his arrest in Florida. Berbick vaulted to world prominence with a stunning ninth-round KO of former WBA titlist John Tate on the Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard I Brawl in Montreal card in June 1980, and since then he had gone 4-1 with four early-round knockouts, the most recent of which was a two-rounder against Conroy Nelson in July.