He was missing the fastball and he was not getting there in time. (3) It was just another illustration of how far Ali had declined physically and in terms of his own expectations. 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. Berbick might have believed his words, but when he got the chance to dominate inside the ring he took it with both hands. Market data provided by Factset. Still, Berbick was an authentic spoiler, and when he scored upsets over David Bey and undefeated Mitch Blood Green in 1985, he qualified for a shot at undefeated WBC titleholder Pinklon Thomas. Portrait. Berbick (left) stood up to Larry Holmes rocket left jab for 15 rounds. But in boxing, landed punches are the ultimate currency. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. That was, to me, the official ending of it all. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. For $2.1m, Berbick signed a contract that put the entire blood sport concept of risk-and-reward in stark context: he agreed to defend his WBC title against the rampaging terror, Mike Tyson. The victory made Tyson, 20,the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Editor's Pick: The life and death of Trevor Berbick The punishment Berbick dished out was extraordinary. Add to your scrapbook. One measure of a fighters worth is whether he left the sport in better shape than it was when he first arrived. 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. He later reentered the US and worked as a trainer and coach. After that, I figured I had a shot at being a pretty good fighter., From Guantanamo Bay, Berbick returned to Port Antonio, and, after one walkover after another, he eventually wound up representing Jamaica in the Montreal Olympics without having thrown a single punch. He was a heavyweight world champion. ). In spanning the Ali and Tyson eras, Berbick beat such fighters as Iran Barkley, Greg Page and John Tate. As the bell sounded for round eight Ali broke out the old butterfly float and a facsimile of the bee-like sting. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. 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. There was a problem getting your location. There is a problem with your email/password. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Nephew charged in Berbick murder | CBC Sports Ali was the master of that game and here was Berbick talking to Ali. He has been writing for Boxing News since 2015. But there was also a dark side to Trevor Berbick. The assembled media had either followed Ali from the very beginning or jumped on the bus sometime during its 61 stops. His record was 50 wins (33 by knockout), 11 losses, and 1 draw. But then he got tired and he just couldnt (keep going). Thanks to the gold medalists savant-like skills in terms of self-marketing he revived his sport in a way few others had and the results spoke for themselves. He won the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 by defeating Pinklon Thomas, then lost it in his first defense in the same year to Mike Tyson. 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. 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. Berbick claimed that the stolen goods had been stashed at his residence without his knowledge. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. He also fought for Jamaica at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Trevor Berbick (1955-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial Heavyweight hope Jared Anderson does not want to be famous but realises that is a necessity if hes to realise his dreams for both himself and his brother, Kevin Lerena explains to Thomas Gerbasi how a call from Frank Warren convinced him to pack his bags, Dillian Whyte is coming off the most convincing defeat of his career and tragedy in his personal life. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This is a carousel with slides. The REAL " Trevor Berbick" Story- His Life,Career,Conviction and Murder! Ali wasnt punching and Berbick was taunting him. Berbick was there first and he was speaking and nobody wanted to hear what he had to say. 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 Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Berbick drove Ali toward the ropes with a series of heavy body shots, then maintained the pressure as Ali desperately tried to fend him off with clinches and the Rope-a-Dope. The crowd tried to spark Ali with Ali, bomaye chants but even the ghosts of Kinshasa couldnt regenerate the Ali of old. In his loss to Tyson in Las Vegas, Berbick was knocked down twice in the second round. Berbick made his professional boxing debut at the age of 22 on September 27, 1976. 387 Trevor Berbick Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Please try again later. First, Im going to destroy all the devils, I mean the fighters, who stand between me and the unified heavyweight championship of the world, Berbick declaimed after beating Pinklon Thomas for the WBC title in 1986. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Trevor Berbick - BoxRec Despite competing in just 11 amateur bouts, he represented Jamaica at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, losing to eventual silver medalist, Mercia Simon. Obituaries Funeral Homes Newspapers Send Flowers News & Advice Memorials. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. On November 26, 1986, Berbick squared off against Tyson at the Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas. Berbicks late rally overcame Alis early surge as he out-landed the legend 22-17 despite being out-thrown 59-56 and forged a huge 18-6 lead in landed power shots. All rights reserved. Lambert had known Trevor Berbick from the day he was born. Learn more about managing a memorial . Despite all of his troubles, Trevor Berbick was seen as a legendary hero in Jamaica. But Ali was such a charismatic and financial force that some were still willing to move mountains for him. Berbick's body was found on Saturday in a church courtyard with wounds to the back of his head. I dont know that we necessarily knew at that point, as Ali was retiring, that it was going to be as great a period as it was, but in fact, the era was in very good hands and didnt need Ali at that point. Hobson, who was also in the room, agreed with Farhoods description of the experience. 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. Win, lose or draw, I hope he doesnt fight again, Dunphy said between rounds nine and 10. According to Berbick, it was his gig as a matre d at a rowdy mess hall that led him to boxing. But I learned a little martial arts from the Special Forces and handled him pretty well. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. One time 50 ships were in the harbour and a lot of the guys were all there for liberty. The Brooklyn was coming out in me. Berbick died on October 28, 2006 at the age of 52 years. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. 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. Berbick wins by unanimous decision. 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. 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. The former fighter, believed to be 52, was pronounced dead by a doctor in the church courtyard. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Im happy Im still pretty. The venue bore a regal name Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre but in reality, it was a converted baseball stadium that was still under construction. Failed to remove flower. Instead, they got an old Ali. Round four was a wipeout for Berbick as he landed 38 of 68 punches to Alis 9 of 51 as well as 33 of 59 power shots to Alis 5 of 21. Even a late flurry of body shots from Berbick couldnt negate Alis good work in the first three minutes, which saw Ali throw 66 punches to Berbicks 41 and out-land him 16-12 overall as well as 7-2 in jabs. 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%). The Berbick fight was Alis first loss in 16 appearances outside the United States. 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. The following year, he was convicted in Florida of raping a family baby sitter and was sentenced to four years in prison. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Former world and Canadian heavyweight boxing champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday morning in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, with chop wounds to . Ali's final pro bout was a 10-round non-title affair against Canadian contender Trevor Berbick. Berbick's death a homicide: police. 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. The fight was shown on closed circuit television and was available to about three million homes in the United States . Berbick lost a title fight to Larry Holmes by unanimous decision in 1981. In 1984, he moved to Florida and signed with promoter Don King. If ever a fighter personified the concept of a world champion, it was Muhammad Ali. 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. Berbicks second-half surge allowed him to pull away on the scorecards. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Legal Statement. 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. Ali, on the other hand, required more time than the sport of boxing could grant him. Berbickwas also convicted of second-degree grand theft in 1992 for forging his ex-wife's signatureto get a mortgage on a home. But he insists the best of him is still to come, writes Declan Taylor. As one of the few heavyweights not given to waddling around the ring, Thomas had a chance to improve the lowly reputation of his division. His body was found at the. Im finished. GREAT NEWS! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Police have arrested a man and were interrogating him at the Port Antonio police station in Portland, Constable Sheldon Francis said. Try again. God raised me up for a purpose! The fights opening seconds yielded an encouraging sign for Ali fans because in walking out of the corner, firing three soft jabs and landing with an overhand right, he already showed more life than he had in most of the Holmes bout. 2023 RING TV LIVE. Berbick's death a homicide: police | CBC Sports However cocksure Berbick was outside of the ring, there was nothing he could do once the opening bell rang, although he tried shoving Tyson several times to assert his ruggedness. Larry Holmes on Trevor Berbick Murdered by Nephew: He Deserved It The onetime Ali Circus appeared flat emotionally, for they knew Ali had shown woeful energy throughout the 11-week training cycle. He briefly held the World Boxing Council heavyweight title before losing it to Mike Tyson in 1986. As Berbick pounded away, Ali dug into that bag of tricks by widening his eyes and opening his mouth in mock duress. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. San Jose, CA 95112. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. His shock win over Thomas, who had been a 6/1 favorite going into the fight, set Berbick on the path to an astronomical payday. Berbick was arrested several times and served 15 months for sexually assaulting the family babysitter in 1992. (9). Berbick's career was marred by personal problems, although he will probably be remembered as the last man to fight, and beat, beat Muhammad Ali. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. His work has appeared in Inside HBO Boxing, Undisputed Champion Network, Remezcla, and Boxing Digest Magazine. 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. There was a brief pause after Tyson connected and then Berbick plummeted, seemingly in slow motion, and crashed onto his back. It was not that sad a time for boxing fans it was sad in one sense because it was the end of Ali but it wasnt that sad in terms of will the sport flourish? The sport was flourishing at that exact point.. In his first title defence, Tate was shockingly poleaxed by Mike Weaver with only 45 seconds left in the 15th round. Muhammad Ali's last stand and the sad, sorry tale of Trevor Berbick's Darling & Fischer Garden Chapel & Cremations - San Jose, CA He threw 100 punches and landed 45, including 36 of 86 power shots. In the ninth round, a right hand sent Tate wobbling across the ring, and Berbick, in hot pursuit, clubbed him repeatedly until Tate was out cold on the canvas. For a man who had mastered the 15-round distance, 10 rounds now seemed an eternity. 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. When his immigration status in Canada lapsed, Berbick snuck back into the U.S. illegally. She was the second . Sorry! That fight was like watching a mugging. Instead, he battled delusions of grandeur. 0 cemeteries found in Norwich, Portland, Jamaica. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Already manifesting symptoms of his future affliction (Parkinsonism), Ali was not fit to enter the ring again. BERBICK: A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN - Mirror Online On November 22, in his first title defense, the fight was stopped in the second round after he was knocked down three times by 20-year-old Mike Tyson. 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. A crowd of more than 10,000 horrified fans gathered at the Halifax Metro Centre on April 3, 1979, to see Berbick plunge to the canvas, unconscious, after absorbing a booming overhand to the jaw in the first round. A man has been arrested. His nephew, Harold, and an accomplice were arrested and later convicted of murdering Berbick. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Muhammad Ali-Trevor Berbick: The Greatest takes his final - The Ring Thats the story everyone knows. In a stroke of dubious luck, a warped Muhammad Ali chose Berbick for his comeback opponent. The baton had been passed to the non-heavyweights at that point. 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. 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. La gloria, el drama y un final abrupto: quin fue Trevor Berbick, la Ali, looking bored at times, said nothing as he shadowboxed while Berbick refused to look Ali in the eyes. You have chosen this person to be their own family member.