Trevor Berbick

Trevor Berbick
Statistics
Real name	Trevor Berbick
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Reach	78 in (198 cm)
Nationality	Jamaican Canadian
Born	August 1, 1954 Norwich, Port Antonio, Jamaica
Died	October 28, 2006 (aged 52) Norwich, Port Antonio, Jamaica
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	61
Wins	49
Wins by KO	29
Losses	11
Draws	1
No contests	0

Trevor Berbick

Medal record
Men's Boxing
Representing  Jamaica
Pan American Games
	1975 Mexico City	Heavyweight

Trevor Berbick (August 1, 1954 – October 28, 2006) was a boxer who was the WBC heavyweight champion of the world in 1986. He won the title from Pinklon Thomas via a 12-round unanimous decision, and lost it in his first defence to a 20-year-old Mike Tyson, via a 2nd-round TKO. He was the last man to fight Muhammad Ali, winning a 10-round unanimous decision in Nassau, Bahamas on December 11, 1981.

Biography

Early life

He was born on August 1, 1954 in Norwich, Port Antonio, Jamaica.

Amateur career

At 21, Berbick represented his native Jamaica in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada as a heavyweight boxer, despite having had only 11 prior amateur bouts. His lack of experience was plainly evident as he lost to the eventual silver medalist, Mircea Şimon of Romania. However, he still displayed a lot of promise as a young heavyweight boxer. He lost a decision to future heavyweight champion Michael Dokes in the Pan-Am semifinals.

Professional career

Berbick left Jamaica after the Olympics. He opted to stay in Canada and fight professionally out of Montreal and Halifax. He won his first 11 fights (10 by knockout) before suffering his first pro loss to another rising contender, Bernardo Mercado, on April 3, 1979. As an amateur, Berbick had soundly beaten Mercado. However, with 10 seconds remaining in the first round of their only professional meeting, Berbick walked into a punch and was knocked out cold. Nevertheless, he remained in contention for the heavyweight title.

A 1980 upset of ex-champ John Tate (9th round KO) secured a title shot against Larry Holmes on April 11, 1981, but Berbick lost a 15-round unanimous decision. In his second fight after the loss, he beat 39-year-old Muhammad Ali in the final fight of Ali's career.

In 1982 he beat undefeated prospect Greg Page, and in 1984 he moved to Miramar, Florida and signed with promoter Don King. Wins over undefeated Mitch "Blood" Green and David Bey scored him another title fight, and he won the WBC world heavyweight title by upsetting Pinklon Thomas with an easy unanimous decision on March 22, 1986. However, his reign as champion would be brief.

On November 22, in his first defense of the title, Berbick took on Mike Tyson, who was looking to break Floyd Patterson's record and become, at the age of twenty, the youngest ever heavyweight champion. In the second round, Tyson dropped Berbick with a quick knockdown. Berbick was quickly overwhelmed by his opponent and late in the round, he went down again. The champion rose to his feet, but immediately stumbled backward and fell back to the canvas. Berbick tried twice more to make it to his feet but fell both times, and referee Mills Lane stopped counting and waved the fight off to end Berbick's reign as champion.

Along with Larry Holmes, Berbick is one of only two men in professional boxing history to have fought both Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

In 1991, he went to the UWFI in Japan to fight Nobuhiko Takada in a "boxer vs. wrestler" bout. Berbick claimed that he had been double-crossed and that he had expected the fight to be like American kickboxing, but it turned out that the rules allowed Takada to kick Berbick below the belt. Berbick refused to mount any offense, instead repeatedly complaining to the referee as Takada kicked him repeatedly in the legs. Takada claimed victory by default when Berbick exited the ring.^[1]

Afterwards, his career deteriorated further. He eventually fought his last bout in 2000 against Canadian journeyman Shane Sutcliffe, winning a 12-round unanimous decision. Afterwards, a CAT scan revealed a blood clot in his brain and his boxing license was revoked. His final professional record was 49 wins (33 by knockout), 11 losses, and 1 draw.

Outside the ring

Berbick was a preacher at the Moments of Miracles Pentecostal church in Las Vegas.

Troubles with the law

Berbick was arrested on a number of occasions throughout his life and was sentenced in Florida to 5 years in prison for sexually assaulting his children's babysitter in 1992. He served 15 months. In 1997, he violated his parole and was deported from the United States.

Feud with Larry Holmes

Berbick had a well-publicized feud with Larry Holmes, whom he fought in the ring in 1981. Their feud culminated in a public confrontation and brawl in 1991, which was caught on tape. After a verbal altercation indoors, Berbick was outside complaining about being kicked and punched by Larry Holmes when Holmes climbed atop a parked car and launched himself at Berbick. The footage ends as the two are separated by police and others.^[2]

Retirement

He retired in Florida to be with his wife and four children (he had three children with his first wife in Montreal) and started to train boxers at Kenny Barrett's Gym in Tamarac, Florida. Berbick's problems escalated. He was again deported from the U.S. on December 2, 2002.

Murder

On October 28, 2006, Berbick was murdered at a church in Norwich, Jamaica by an assailant wielding a 2-inch-thick (51 mm) steel pipe. He suffered multiple blows to the head and died at the scene.^[3]

Police arrested two men, one of whom was Berbick's 20-year-old nephew Harold Berbick,^[4] in connection with the murder. They were interrogated at the Port Antonio police station in Portland as of early in the morning of October 29.^[5] Local residents indicated that the suspect was involved in a land dispute with Berbick.^[6] On November 3 it was reported that Berbick's nephew, 20-year-old Harold Berbick, and an unidentified 18-year-old man had been charged with his murder by Jamaican police.^[7] On December 20, 2007, Harold Berbick was found guilty of the murder of his uncle. His alleged accomplice, Kenton Gordon, was found guilty of manslaughter. Both were sentenced on January 11, 2008.^[8] Harold Berbick was sentenced to life in prison; Kenton Gordon was sentenced to fourteen years in prison.^[9] He was buried at the Berbick Family Plot Norwich Portland, Jamaica

In popular culture

Berbick is briefly portrayed as the ghost of Trevor Berbick in the "Ultimate Judgment Day" episode of Mike Tyson Mysteries.

Professional boxing record

References

1. Quebrada.net
2. Canada. "Sports - The Globe and Mail". Globesports.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
3. "Former heavyweight boxing champion found dead". London: The Guardian. October 28, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-28.
4. Sun Sentinel
5. "Former heavyweight boxing champion found dead". Casper Star-Tribune. October 29, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
6. "Jamaican police make arrest in slaying of ex-boxing champ Trevor Berbick". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 30, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
7. "Nephew Charged With Berbick's Slaying". New York Times. November 3, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-03.
8. "Berbick's nephew one of two convicted in boxer's murder - boxing - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
9. "Berbick Killer Gets Life".
10. "Trevor Berbick - Boxer". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Trevor Berbick from BoxRec
• Sports Illustrated Obituary
• American Heritage on Trevor Berbick vs. Muhammad Ali