Like many fighters, Mr. Berbick's life outside the ring detracted from his athletic prowess, but for a few fleeting moments he could say something few men ever can. He was the Heavyweight Champion of the World.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct. 28 -- Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead in a church courtyard Saturday with chop wounds to his head in a suspected homicide.
Police have arrested a man and were interrogating him at the Port Antonio police station in Portland, Constable Sheldon Francis said.
Berbick, who was believed to be 52 and was 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.
Berbick's body was discovered about 6:30 a.m. in his hometown parish of Portland, constable Beverly Howell said. He was pronounced dead by a local doctor in the courtyard. Police are treating Berbick's death as a homicide, Inspector Victor Henry said.
Police have no word yet on what kind of weapon was used or how many people were involved in Berbick's death, Howell said.
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. His reign was short, however, as a 20-year-old Tyson knocked out Berbick in the second round of their bout on Nov. 22, 1986, to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Berbick fought from 1976 to 2000, finishing with a 50-11-1 record, including 33 knockouts. He also fought for Jamaica at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. In spanning the Ali and Tyson eras, Berbick beat such fighters as Iran Barkley, Greg Page and John Tate. Among his losses were those to Buster Douglas, Renaldo Snipes and Larry Holmes.
Berbick's career soured following the loss to Tyson and he began to run into legal trouble.
In 1991, Berbick was convicted of misdemeanor assault for attacking his former business manager.
The following year, he was convicted in Florida of raping a family babysitter and was sentenced to four years in prison. He also was convicted in 1992 of second-degree grand theft for forging his ex-wife's signature.
After serving 15 months in prison, Berbick was deported from the United States. He had been living in Portland parish since 2002. Recently, he had been coaching boxing at clinics in Trinidad.
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.
"Legally, I'm a spirit," he once said. "I have no age."
May God have mercy on his soul.
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