Jean was born on September 2, 1932, in Hayti, Missouri. But that wasnt Berbicks only crime that year. 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. His problems with the law continued and he was again deported in 2002. 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. (8) Ali and his retinue knew full well that the string that Ali had played the past few years was frayed and nearing disintegration. We all lose sometimes. When his immigration status in Canada lapsed, Berbick snuck back into the U.S. illegally. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. His 20 year old nephew Harold Berbick and Kenton Gordon, an 18 year old friend of Harold's were charged with the crime. Berbick won the WBC world heavyweight title by upsetting Pinklon Thomas in March, 1986. He also fought for Jamaica at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Only two pairs of gloves were available for the five-fight undercard, forcing each corner to unlace the gloves after each bout so that the next pair of fighters could use them. 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. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Market data provided by Factset. Photo by The Ring/ Getty Images. Or, visit our funeral home in person at your convenience. Obituaries Funeral Homes Newspapers Send Flowers News & Advice Memorials. However, the post-Ali era was especially blessed because the sport would be fueled not just by one fighter, but several. 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. His blood tests indicate he has the vessels of a young man.. Trevor Berbick was an extremely talented fighter with a lot of natural ability. Cornelius persisted, and eventually he found a place willing to stage an Ali fight. Berbickwas also convicted of second-degree grand theft in 1992 for forging his ex-wife's signatureto get a mortgage on a home. Failed to delete memorial. 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. This account has been disabled. The fight went the distance with Berbick winning through a unanimous decision on points. Berbick lost a title fight to Larry Holmes by unanimous decision in 1981. In the second, a wobbly Berbick shuddered every time Tyson connected, until, finally, barely 20 seconds into the round, a barrage of punches floored him. Theres absolutely no evidence that Muhammad has sustained any injury to any vital organ brain, liver, kidneys, heart, lungs nervous system, or muscle or bone systems, Dr. Demopoulos said in William Nacks Sports Illustrated story. In a stroke of dubious luck, a warped Muhammad Ali chose Berbick for his comeback opponent. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. "I have no age.". At one point I heard Berbick say, cmon old man, show me your speed. I was lividlivid! Hobson remembered. In Halifax, Berbick developed a local following and lumbered his way to an 11-0 record before facing Colombian mauler Bernardo Mercado. How sad is that: Somebody playing with Alis mind. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Directions. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. That lead to Nadine initiating divorce proceedings. 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. THE RING SHOP (CLICK HERE). But there was also a dark side to Trevor Berbick. 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. Yes, his punches were slow and lacked snap and his legs shuffled rather than danced, but he began most of the skirmishes and connected more often. Berbick, who claimed that the incident was consensual, was sentenced to five years in prison but served just 15 months. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? The bludgeoning Ali received from Holmes should have resulted in the end of his career, and when he surrendered his boxing license to the Nevada State Athletic Commission in late December and promised not to pursue reinstatement it certainly looked as if that was the case. 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. Police have arrested a man and. They were convicted in December, 2007, and sentenced to life in prison. A mad scramble ensued before police officers could separate the impromptu combatants. All rights reserved. In spanning the Ali and Tyson eras, Berbick beat such fighters as Iran Barkley, Greg Page and John Tate. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Try again later. While Berbick never seriously threatened Holmes, he underscored his ruggedness and raised his profile enough to qualify for another significant payday. 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. For the next year, Berbick drifted across Canada, building his record up to 14-1-1 against an assortment of palookas. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. According to Sports Illustrated, Ali's purse was $1.1 million and Berbick's was $350,000. Ali, looking bored at times, said nothing as he shadowboxed while Berbick refused to look Ali in the eyes. His record was 50 wins (33 by knockout), 11 losses, and 1 draw. Wide-eyed, groggy, and surprised, Berbick took the mandatory-eight from Referee Mills Lane, and when the fight resumed, he braced himself for the worst. 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. After this fight a CAT scan revealed a blood clot on Berbick's brain, and his boxing license was revoked. Read Chapel of Flowers obituaries, find service information, send sympathy gifts, or plan and price a funeral in San Jose, CA. 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. Berbick entered the fight as the Canadian and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, as well as the WBA's fourth-ranked heavyweight contender. In his first title defence, Tate was shockingly poleaxed by Mike Weaver with only 45 seconds left in the 15th round. He eventually moved back to the U.S., but was deported a second time. 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 . One night a marine jumped me coming home from work. Alis reflexes are gone, Dunphy declared as round two began its final minute. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Berbick (left) stood up to Larry Holmes rocket left jab for 15 rounds. A final attempt to regain verticality ended with Berbick tottering into the arms of Mills Lane, who promptly halted the massacre. (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. More in News . But then he got tired and he just couldnt (keep going). 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.. INSIDE THE NUMBERS: In his Last Hurrah, Ali, approaching his 40th birthday, landed an average of 8.4 jabs per round, 3.1 more per round than the heavyweight average. (3) It was just another illustration of how far Ali had declined physically and in terms of his own expectations. The fight card started late because organizers couldnt find the key that unlocked the front gate of the stadium. Ali landed just 51 power punches in his losses to Berbick and Holmes. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. But Ali was such a charismatic and financial force that some were still willing to move mountains for him. Im here, God!, Trevor Berbick was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica, in either 1952 or 1954, and spent five years in Guantanamo Bay as immigrant labour. Just as he had against Weaver a few months earlier, Tate opened a wide lead before imploding late. Berbick, always a rebel at heart, had other things in mind. Just three years earlier in New Orleans, a 36-year-old Ali made good on his promise to dance for nearly all 15 rounds in regaining the title from Leon Spinks. Berbick attempted to get up twice, but stumbled to the canvas both times. 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. Youve got to understand this, he told the Miami News. Learn more about merges. The overarching issue one that should have been disqualifying was Alis health, which was in clear decline. In his loss to Tyson in Las Vegas, Berbick was knocked down twice in the second round. Berbicks second-half surge allowed him to pull away on the scorecards. Two fights later, he became the last man to ever fight three-time heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, winning a 10-round unanimous decision. Two minutes into the round, Tyson opened up with a combination as Berbick tried to crowd him in centre ring. God raised me up for a purpose! He's 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. KINGSTON, Jamaica - A 20-year-old nephew of former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick has been charged with killing him, police said Friday. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Trevor Berbick I found on Findagrave.com. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. For a man who had mastered the 15-round distance, 10 rounds now seemed an eternity. A system error has occurred. To combat those concerns, Ali underwent a battery of tests at New York University in October 1981 with pathologist Dr. Harry Demopoulos heading the 30-doctor team that was involved in the studies. 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. (9). All rights reserved. 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. The former fighter, believed to be 52, was pronounced dead by a doctor in the church courtyard. (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 The lone defeat in that stretch came against WBC champion Larry Holmes, who was looking to break Tommy Burns all-time record of eight consecutive knockouts in heavyweight title fights. Already manifesting symptoms of his future affliction (Parkinsonism), Ali was not fit to enter the ring again. The fight was shown on closed circuit television and was available to about three million homes in the United States . 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. That was, to me, the official ending of it all. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Recognizing his depleted state, Ali set a modest goal for himself. 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. He had a gaping wound to his head. For Berbick, the loss was humiliating. The . Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Trevor Berbick was a Jamaican professional boxer. 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. Their money ran out before the details could be taken care of. (6), Despite the chaos, the event was blessed by a comfortable moonlit night and, thanks to ticket prices being slashed from $50 to $5, a decent turnout of 8,000. The authorities said Harold Berbick and Gordon beat Trevor Berbick to death in October 2006, leaving his body in a church courtyard in Portland, Jamaica. Trevor Berbick was the last fighter to face Muhammad Ali in the ring. Berbick further separated himself in the ninth as he upped his work rate to 70 punches to Alis 41 and out-landed him 23-11 overall, including 20-0 in power shots. 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. He is a member of the BWAA and the International Boxing Research Organization. 0 cemeteries found in Norwich, Portland, Jamaica. Thanks for signing up! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? They didnt anticipate the expenses. And Tyson, conqueror of Berbick, is a convicted rapist and deep in debt. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. 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. On April 11, 1981, Berbick became the first title challenger to last the distance against Holmes, but that was as much credit as he could wrangle from the loss. February 17, 1999. It was awkward because this guy just won the fight and he might as well have been a kid filling the soda machine. The overriding theme of it, being a young kid, was, this is something Im never going to forget, this is something I probably dont deserve to be at, and this is the end of the greatest athlete in the history of the world. . Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The Jamaica Observer later reported that Berbick had been bludgeoned to death with a four-foot-long metallic pipe and a crowbar. However, Berbick fled to Montreal before his impending removal. Although Mercado had been stopped in his only fights against recognisable opposition, his clubbing right hand was a legitimate weapon. You are welcome to call us any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. 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. Contact Us. That realization hit hard and the emotions enveloping the room were raw and real. The promoters just didnt understand the details. 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. His difficulties between the ropes had nothing to do with binge eating, womanising, cocaine, or liquor. 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. After serving 15 months in prison, Berbick was deported from the United States. But there was also a dark side to Trevor Berbick. 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.
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