Inspired by Ali, a plethora of stars spanning dozens of pounds built on the foundation Ali assembled. Try again later. 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. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Inactive for nearly a year after winning the WBC title, Thomas decided that he would not only be a manager and a trainer but also an R&B singer. If Ali had any doubts before they were erased now: The jig was up, and the Ali Mystique was no more. (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. Now, he just wanted to get by. 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. Berbick died on October 28, 2006 at the age of 52 years. A mad scramble ensued before police officers could separate the impromptu combatants. Legal Statement. KINGSTON, Jamaica Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead in a church courtyard Saturday with chop wounds to his head in a suspected homicide. His future, like that of so many of his contemporaries, would include drugs, prison, privation, early death. We have set your language to Ali was the master of that game and here was Berbick talking to Ali. The Berbick fight was Alis first loss in 16 appearances outside the United States. Berbick continued to fight, with his final bout being a 2000 win over Canadian journeyman Shane Sutcliffe. Berbick was there first and he was speaking and nobody wanted to hear what he had to say. He served 15 months in a Florida jail for sexual assault and was later deported from the United States. Those interested in ordering a copy of the book can do so by clicking here and purchasing from Amazon. Add to your scrapbook. But then he got tired and he just couldnt (keep going). While Ali, Berbick and Thomas Hearns (who fought Ernie Singletary) had their own locker rooms, the other nine fighters were jammed into the remaining dressing room. Your destination for the best boxing news, videos and live streams! As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In a closely contested fight, Berbick was able to narrowly earn the victory by unanimous decision to capture his first major heavyweight title. ). The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Berbick, a 27-year-old Jamaican fighting out of Canada, was rated fourth by the WBA and sported a 19-2-1 record that included 17 knockouts. They didnt anticipate the expenses. Such would also be the case with Ali, and just as it had been with the others, the fears of boxings impending extinction proved unfounded. That was, to me, the official ending of it all. The bout was Ali's last in a career that spanned three decades. His swan song was a pathetic sideshow that featured a fugitive (James Cornelius) dabbling as a promoter, a rickety baseball field with limited amenities used as an arena, a cowbell to toll the rounds, and two pairs of gloves shared by all the fighters on the card. Youve got to understand this, he told the Miami News. Unfocused and underprepared, Thomas dropped a grueling decision to Berbick, who forced the fight on the inside and outworked him. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I know its the end. That made it even more insulting to me. O'Connor Mortuary Arrangement Center - Irvine 4010 Barranca Pkwy, Ste 200 Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Berbick, 52, won the WBC crown in 1986 by beating Pinklon Thomas before losing it to Mike Tyson eight months later. If Ali could do this five more times, he would do enough to earn the decision and make a good case for the fight he wanted next a crack at Mike Weavers WBA title. As the bell sounded for round eight Ali broke out the old butterfly float and a facsimile of the bee-like sting. Today, of course, Guantanamo Bay is notorious for its U.S. detention camp, but in the early 1970s, it was primarily known as a military base. Berbick, always a rebel at heart, had other things in mind. Ali's final pro bout was a 10-round non-title affair against Canadian contender Trevor Berbick. After Holmes I had excuses: I was too light, I didnt breathe right. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. (3) It was just another illustration of how far Ali had declined physically and in terms of his own expectations. He was born in Norwich, Port Antonio, Jamaica on August 1, 1954. Holmes, returning to the ring after an absence of four years, had just won his first fight since 1985, stopping hapless Tim Doc Anderson in one round at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Despite competing in just 11 amateur bouts, he represented Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, losing to eventual silver medalist, Mercia Simon. One night a marine jumped me coming home from work. Berbick's reign was short, however, as a 20-year-old Tyson knocked Berbick out in the second round on Nov. 22, 1986, to become the youngest heavyweight champion. 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. On October 28, 2006, after a night out at a bar, Berbick was on his way back home when he was ambushed by two men in the darkness. Thanks to the rise of pay-cable outlets and pay-per-view platforms, the purses these fighters generated dwarfed those generated by Ali and they, too, became household names worldwide. Quite literally. That realization hit hard and the emotions enveloping the room were raw and real. Six months later, on April 7, 1991, Berbick took part in a fracas with Larry Holmes that epitomised his now-disordered life. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. James Cornelius, described in press releases as a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur, was the man charged with finding those mountains that were willing to be moved. It upset me more that he had the psychological balls to do that.. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. After serving 15 months in prison, Berbick was deported from the United States. The Ali Era was over. 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. A decision over undefeated Greg Page seven months later seemed to solidify Berbick as a legitimate contender, but consecutive losses to Renaldo Snipes and cruiserweight ST Gordon reversed his momentum and branded him a journeyman. Thats the story everyone knows. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. At 5:40 p.m., just hours before stepping into the ring, Berbick got his money thanks to SelecTV, the pay-cable channel airing the card. August 1, 1954 - October 28, 2006 KINGSTON | Age 52 Ex-heavyweight champ Trevor Berbick found dead at 52. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Following the Ali bout, Berbick went on to win 10 of his next 12 fights, earning him a shot at Pinklon Thomas WBC heavyweight title in March 1986. Finally, and most disturbingly, Berbick was accused of raping his babysitter in Miami. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Ali, looking bored at times, said nothing as he shadowboxed while Berbick refused to look Ali in the eyes. Theyd drink and let off steam, and theyd fight anybody in the streets. Trying to intimidate Tyson, 20 years old and permanently in search of bad intentions the same way a Buddhist pursues nirvana, was bound to backfire. Learn more about merges. Photo from The Ring/ Getty Images. 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. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Berbick, who claimed that the incident was consensual, was sentenced to five years in prison but served just 15 months. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. A somber Ali, scaling a pudgy 236 1/4, trudged toward the ring and once there, he and his corner awaited Berbicks arrival. Trevor Berbick was an extremely talented fighter with a lot of natural ability. Berbick served a combined 15 months for both convictions and was ordered deported back to Jamaica. I ended up beating the All-Marine heavyweight champ and winning the service tournament. This browser does not support getting your location. His death, officially from a drugs overdose, in the early 70s remains a contentious subject. Berbick's death a homicide: police. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Berbick was arrested several times and served 15 months for sexually assaulting the family babysitter in 1992. (1) Not With a Bang, But a Whisper, by William Nack, Sports Illustrated, December 21, 1981, (2) Berbick Defeats Ali on Decision, by George Vescey, New York Times, December 12, 1981, (3) Ali Wants Weaver Title Bout, Associated Press, published in the Wilmington Morning Star, December 9, 1981, p. 1D, (4) Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, by Thomas Hauser, Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 1991, p. 429, (5) Berbick Defeats Ali on Decision, by George Vescey, New York Times, December 12, 1981, (7) Berbick Pounds Out Decision Over Ali, by Michael Farber, Montreal Gazette, December 11, 1981, p. 15, (8) Not With a Bang, But a Whisper, by William Nack, Sports Illustrated, December 21, 1981, (9) Ali Wants Weaver Title Bout, Associated Press, published in the Wilmington Morning Star, December 9, 1981, p. 1D, (10) Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times, by Thomas Hauser, Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 1991, p. 430, (11) The Curtain Closes on a Great Act: Alis Traumas in the Bahamas, by Dave Anderson, THE RING, February 1982, p. 37, GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT For Berbick, the loss was humiliating. Berbick made his professional boxing debut at the age of 22 on September 27, 1976. The connection was deep, heartfelt and beyond debate. We all lose sometimes. In fact, his loss to Tyson seemed to mark a grim turning point. If nothing else, Ali could be proud that he earned the privilege of ending this fight on his feet instead of on his stool. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Or, visit our funeral home in person at your convenience. Resend Activation Email. The REAL " Trevor Berbick" Story- His Life,Career,Conviction and Murder! You can always change this later in your Account settings. Father Time has caught up with me, Ali said. A man has been arrested. He won the title via unanimous decision but wouldnt hold onto it for very long. They spoke for themselves, they fought for themselves and the fans who paid to see them, and they fought for the sport that gave them a chance to build new lives. Norma "Jean" Sooter passed away on December 20, 2022, at 90 years of age after a short illness. 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. KINGSTON, Jamaica - Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead in a church courtyard Saturday with chop wounds to his head in a suspected homicide. When we left there that day, you knew it would never be the same because of what he brought to a fight from a writers perspective was unique and was never going to be matched. And Tyson, conqueror of Berbick, is a convicted rapist and deep in debt. For the first time, I feel that Im 40 years old. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. A brain clot forced him to retire from boxing in 2000 (he finished his career with a 50-11-1 record with 33 knockouts) and he returned to Florida to begin training young boxers. If you couldnt beat Trevor Berbick there was really no point in going on. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? In December, he was arrested in an alleged plot to commit mortgage fraud. 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. Unfortunately, thats not his only connection to Iron Mike. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Berbick claimed that the stolen goods had been stashed at his residence without his knowledge. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). But there was also a dark side to Trevor Berbick. In 1984, he moved to Florida and signed with promoter Don King. His first instinct was to scramble to his feet, but his equilibrium was haywire, and he staggered across the ring, tumbling into the ropes, where an errant forearm knocked a ringside photographer out of position. There, while Holmes celebrated his kayo win, stood an impassive Trevor Berbick. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Trevor Berbick, his skull split open by numerous blows, was found only a few feet from the Church of God Chapel. The Jamaica Observer later reported that Berbick had been bludgeoned to death with a four-foot-long metallic pipe and a crowbar. Win, lose or draw, I hope he doesnt fight again, Dunphy said between rounds nine and 10. Berbick did his best to bull Ali and while he got in some heavy blows Ali shook them off and got back on the bicycle. He told me to come on down and join them boxing. When it was over, a police escort lead Berbick back to his home in Miami, and Holmes went on to perform with his R&B band, Marmalade, that night. (1). CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Ali went through hell in his final professional round as Berbick, showing no mercy, threw 100 punches in round ten (86 of which were power punches), the most by an Ali opponent among fights counted. This was like putting the period at the end of the sentence. Trevor Berbick holds an interesting place in boxing history. He was brutalized in that fight and he wouldnt quit. Alis reflexes are gone, Dunphy declared as round two began its final minute. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. He also said Alis slurring was circumstantial rather than innate. The 52-year-old boxer represented Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics before settling there for a number of years. Photo by The Ring/ Getty Images. He lost a unanimous decision but was the first fighter to go the distance with Holmes in a title fight. Even though just nearly 15 years after the Trevor Berbick fight, he would go on to declare bankruptcy, this 2-round bout in 1986 generated one of the first biggest paydays of Mike Tyson's pro-boxing career. In retrospect, all of it was wishful thinking. His body was found at the. 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Following a first-round exit from the Olympics, Berbick eventually settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where boxing was an also-ran against not only hockey but curling as well. Police have arrested a man and. For his part, Berbick out-landed Ali 22-16 overall and landed 19 of his 38 power shots (50%) to Alis 5 of 13 (39%). In his first title defence, Tate was shockingly poleaxed by Mike Weaver with only 45 seconds left in the 15th round. How sad is that: Somebody playing with Alis mind. 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. 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.