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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He won the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 by defeating Pinklon Thomas, then lost it in his first defense in the same year to Mike Tyson. 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. I had a buddy with me and we went there and it was similar to waiting for a funeral to begin. This was like putting the period at the end of the sentence. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He built his reputation by beating the legendary Muhammad Ali in a 10-round unanimous decision in 1981. Drag images here or select from your computer for Trevor Berbick memorial. (1). The assembled media had either followed Ali from the very beginning or jumped on the bus sometime during its 61 stops. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Trevor Berbick (16356139)? Search above to list available cemeteries. Or, visit our funeral home in person at your convenience. His stories A Darkness Made to Order and A Ghost Orbiting Forever both won first place awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America. In December, he was arrested in an alleged plot to commit mortgage fraud. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. As the crowd chanted Alis name, Berbick gestured with his gloves as if to say why are you cheering him? Berbick's body was discovered about 6:30 a.m. in his hometown parish of Portland, constable Beverly Howell said. In November, Berbick was charged with aggravated assault after he menaced his ex-financial manager at gunpoint. (2) While the exotic locale stacked up well with other Ali fight sites, everything else connected with the venture was anything but paradise. He told me to come on down and join them boxing. Even when Holmes, from the dais, insulted him, Berbick remained motionless. 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Recently, he had been coaching boxing at clinics in Trinidad. To put it in perspective, Im 24 years old, Farhood said during a June 2017 phone interview. At one point I heard Berbick say, cmon old man, show me your speed. I was lividlivid! Hobson remembered. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Try again. 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. The statistics backed up the judges while also delivering a brutally honest assessment. Thanks for signing up! This was about Ali. But in the fall of 1981 rumors of yet another Ali comeback began to stir. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Berbick was arrested several times and served 15 months for sexually assaulting the family babysitter in 1992. Portrait. Market data provided by Factset. Trevor Berbick, a former opponent of Holmes, showed up at the post-fight press conference looking to stir the pot. Try again later. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Failed to delete memorial. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The punishment Berbick dished out was extraordinary. Resend Activation Email. I came out all right for an old man. 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. Ali's final pro bout was a 10-round non-title affair against Canadian contender Trevor Berbick. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. Inspired by Ali, a plethora of stars spanning dozens of pounds built on the foundation Ali assembled. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Trevor Berbick, boxer: born Port Antonio, Jamaica 1 August 1954; twice married (six children); died Norwich, Jamaica 28 October 2006. 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 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. The venue bore a regal name Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre but in reality, it was a converted baseball stadium that was still under construction. Try again later. Careening around a ring that seemed more like the playfield of a pinball machine designed by Playmatic or Bally Midway Night Rider, say, or Moon Flight seemed to shatter his already frail psyche. Chop wounds to the head gave police a clear indication that this was a homicide and his 20-year-old nephew, Harold Berbick, and 18-year-old Kenton Gordon were picked up the next day. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Berbick wins by unanimous decision. 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. But he insists the best of him is still to come, writes Declan Taylor. 0 cemeteries found in Norwich, Portland, Jamaica. He had a gaping wound to his head. At the sound of the bell, Berbick summoned enough energy to stick out his tongue at Tyson, but it was more than just false bravado: it was a sign that Berbick was already disoriented. But Ali displayed his trademark courage in surviving that round as well as announcing his permanent exit from the sport as an in-ring participant. 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 . Berbick fought from 1976 to . He served 15 months in a Florida jail for sexual assault and was later deported from the United States. His work has appeared in Inside HBO Boxing, Undisputed Champion Network, Remezcla, and Boxing Digest Magazine. Why Michael Spinks Didnt Want to Leave His Dressing Room to Fight Mike Tyson. 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. From now on, it would be one calamity after another, a seemingly endless series of tribulations. Berbick (left) stood up to Larry Holmes rocket left jab for 15 rounds. She was the second . Ali wasnt punching and Berbick was taunting him. You are welcome to call us any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. He briefly held the World Boxing Council heavyweight title before losing it to Mike Tyson in 1986. If Ali gets himself into prime shape, if everything falls into place during the fight and if he stays away from that big left hook he might shock the world one more time.. 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. The Ali Era was over. 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. 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. But I learned a little martial arts from the Special Forces and handled him pretty well. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. After Holmes left to conduct a TV interview, Berbick (who'd lost to Holmes by unanimous decision in a WBC title fight 10 years prior), claimed to the media that the boxer had been involved in the break-up of his marriage. The press conference was actually on my floor where I was staying. But what most people might not know is that just two weeks later, Trevor Berbick was convicted of rape as well. But Ali was such a charismatic and financial force that some were still willing to move mountains for him. He eventually moved back to the U.S., but was deported a second time. 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. 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,. Not only did Berbicks legs stand up to Holmes bombs for 15 rounds, he stood up to Holmes himself by spewing taunts throughout the early rounds before The Easton Assassin pulled away in the championship rounds. While Ali historically had done well against aggressors, Berbicks persistent smashmouth style was not what Ali needed at this stage of his life. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Berbick led 279-129 in total connects and pounded out an enormous 236-45 gap in landed power shots. Heavyweight Boxing Champion. I thought, knock it off, show some respect. I wanted to climb into the ring and backhand him. Trevor Berbick had much to suggest that he would have had a. Then Im coming home. Berbick had said before the fight that if Ali was hurt, he would let up on him. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Try again later. The overarching issue one that should have been disqualifying was Alis health, which was in clear decline. There Berbick worked at a variety of jobs to make ends meet. 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. In retrospect, all of it was wishful thinking. I dont remember if Ali started punching him at that point, but Berbick was asserting his dominance and playing with Alis mind. After serving 15 months in prison, Berbick was deported from the United States. In January 2003, The Guardian reported that he was on the run from police in his hometown of Port Antonio, accused of stealing a TV and stereo equipment. 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. In that round Berbick out-threw Ali 89-28 overall (including 72-9 power) and out-landed him 41-8 overall and 39-1 power. Berbick fought from 1976 to 2000, finishing with a record of 50-11 with a draw and 33 knockouts. 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. Instead, they got an old Ali. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. A press conference was conducted at a makeshift pressroom on the second floor of a Holiday Inn undergoing renovation at Paradise Island at 10:30 a.m. the day after the fight. But in boxing, landed punches are the ultimate currency. Argentine middleweight legend Carlos Monzon was sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing his wife by throwing her out of a window and died in a car crash while out on parole. 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. When his immigration status in Canada lapsed, Berbick snuck back into the U.S. illegally. 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%). Berbick made his professional boxing debut at the age of 22 on September 27, 1976. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. I pray he never fights again, added referee Davey Pearl, who, along with Randy Shields, served as Dunphys color commentator. His nephew, Harold, and an accomplice were arrested and later convicted of murdering Berbick. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Berbick continued to fight, with his final bout being a 2000 win over Canadian journeyman Shane Sutcliffe. All rights reserved. February 17, 1999. The connection was deep, heartfelt and beyond debate. (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 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. 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. When Cassius Marcellus Clay broke into the professional boxing scene following his triumph in the 1960 Rome Olympics, the sport was hurtling toward the abyss. Berbick won the WBC world heavyweight title by upsetting Pinklon Thomas in March, 1986. Former Canadian heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica, according to police. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. Legal Statement. Six months later, on April 7, 1991, Berbick took part in a fracas with Larry Holmes that epitomised his now-disordered life. The fight went the distance with Berbick winning through a unanimous decision on points. 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. 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.. Sheldon Francis said. 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. There was a problem getting your location. After this fight a CAT scan revealed a blood clot on Berbick's brain, and his boxing license was revoked. The youngest heavyweight champion earned $1.5 million against Berbick; on the other hand, his opponent, who got dropped in round 2 . He was brutalized in that fight and he wouldnt quit. It . Fittingly, for Berbick, at least, the HBO card was billed Judgment Day. Without the mobility of a James Tillis or Mitch Green, the only men to have gone the distance with Tyson in 27 starts, Berbick would be more than just the 3/1 underdog looking for the upset: he would be the sporting equivalent of a ritual sacrifice. He knows what to do but he cant do it. Then, ever the hopeful soul, Dunphy added, at least he cant up to now. His right hands, once crisp and stinging, lacked speed and were occasionally delivered with an awkward downward chop. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Those interested in ordering a copy of the book can do so by clicking here and purchasing from Amazon. 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. 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. Read Chapel of Flowers obituaries, find service information, send sympathy gifts, or plan and price a funeral in San Jose, CA. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. The . If Ali had any doubts before they were erased now: The jig was up, and the Ali Mystique was no more. 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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Funeral Home; Death of Trevor Berbick. There are claims he fell foul of the Mafia. Trevor Berbick - Professional Boxing Record Professional Boxing Record Read more about this topic: Trevor Berbick Famous quotes containing the words professional, boxing and/or record: " In European thought in general, as contrasted with American, vigor, life and originality have a kind of easy, professional utterance. Ali seemed fine with it and I didnt remember feeling sad for him. In a stroke of dubious luck, a warped Muhammad Ali chose Berbick for his comeback opponent. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Now operating under the umbrella of Sports Internationale Ltd., Cornelius put together a fight between Ali and onetime title challenger Trevor Berbick that was to be staged December 11, 1981 on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Weve updated the security on the site. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Two minutes into the round, Tyson opened up with a combination as Berbick tried to crowd him in centre ring. Tel: 408-998-2226. With this running start, Holmes vaulted himself over the bonnets of two cars (a Toyota Supra and an Oldsmobile) and sailed through the air like a Wuxia star and dropkicked Berbick to the pavement. A man has been arrested. Failed to report flower. He also fought for Jamaica at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. O'Connor Mortuary 25301 Alicia Pkwy Laguna Hills, CA 92653 | FD 1293. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. If nothing else, Ali could be proud that he earned the privilege of ending this fight on his feet instead of on his stool. God raised me up for a purpose! But there was also a dark side to Trevor Berbick. "I have no age.". That lead to Nadine initiating divorce proceedings. Berbick won the WBC world heavyweight title by upsetting Pinklon Thomas in March, 1986. Win, lose or draw, I hope he doesnt fight again, Dunphy said between rounds nine and 10. Beverly Howell said Berbick's body was discovered around 6:30 a.m. in a church courtyard in Portland parish. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Trevor Berbick I found on Findagrave.com. Cornelius persisted, and eventually he found a place willing to stage an Ali fight. 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. Tyson took control of the fight from the start and levelled Berbick in the second with a vicious right hand,knocking the champion down. He later reentered the US and worked as a trainer and coach. Although Mercado had been stopped in his only fights against recognisable opposition, his clubbing right hand was a legitimate weapon. He was a strong puncher who moved well and had the potential to be a lasting force in the heavyweight division before the emergence of Tyson. In retrospect, all of us had done our mourning after the Holmes fight. In 1997, he violated his parole and was deported. Oops, something didn't work. Anyone can read what you share. He also said Alis slurring was circumstantial rather than innate. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. He enjoyed the city so much he decided to move there to continue his training, later moving to Florida. Quite literally. The fight was shown on closed circuit television and was available to about three million homes in the United States . Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. This browser does not support getting your location. The Brooklyn was coming out in me. Upon returning to his home country, it didnt take long for Trevor Berbick to find trouble. Though no longer able to contribute, Ali surely must have surveyed the scene, took it all in and exhaled in satisfaction. His problems with the law continued and he was again deported in 2002. 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. . 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. The promoters just didnt understand the details. Trevor Berbick holds an interesting place in boxing history. All rights reserved. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. The bout was Ali's last in a career that spanned three decades. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Because of me, Ali said, the whole world watches boxing now. (11), Years into his retirement, Ali gets ready to participate as a guest referee in the inaugural Wrestlemania at Madison Square Garden in 1985. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Berbick continued to fight, with his final bout being a 2000 win over Canadian journeyman Shane Sutcliffe. 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. Eventually, Berbick spent 15 months in prison. Recognizing his depleted state, Ali set a modest goal for himself. 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. 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. With seven WBC title defenses since 1978, Holmes was an established champion coming off the first marquee win of his title reign: a pitiful butchering of the feeble Muhammad Ali. In round two, Berbicks steady pressure forced Ali to retreat more quickly than he wanted and his rights to the ribs during clinches inflicted damage that registered on Alis face. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16356139/trevor-berbick. Im finished. Norma "Jean" Sooter passed away on December 20, 2022, at 90 years of age after a short illness. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. They beat Berbick with a crowbar and a pipe, leaving him mortally wounded on a dirt path. Berbick lost a title fight to Larry Holmes by unanimous decision in 1981. 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. Read more on Wikipedia. It saved him in all four bouts and he had every reason to believe it would help him again. 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. 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. Former world and Canadian heavyweight boxing champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday morning in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, with chop wounds to . (9). Berbick's body was found on Saturday in a church courtyard with wounds to the back of his head. 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.