The Tragic Death of Trevor Berbick
In 2006, former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was discovered dead in a Jamaican church courtyard with mysterious flesh wounds to the boxer’s face. The Jamaican's butchered body had been rotting in the hallowed grounds of the religious sanctum for some time when the doctor pronounced the pugilist dead.
Trevor Berbick lived in the bygone era of some of the greatest heavyweight fighters to ever grace the boxing circuit, the likes of Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes. The man lived in a time when heavyweight boxing was at the forefront of the world’s sporting vision. Berbick had a part to play in the theatrics of the division's popularity and was considered by many as a malefactor.
This is a man who jostled in the ring with the likes of the great Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson — a bruiser who had menacing power and a pair of gloves filled with dynamite. His untimely end was as cruel as it was unwarranted, and the cold-hearted murder of the former champion should no way reflect the legacy he left in the ring.
Murdered In Cold Blood
Berbick’s lifeless corpse was discovered at around 6:30 am in his home town parish of Portland. The 52-year-old had been caught unaware and viciously attacked—bludgeoned with an archaic weapon on a routine walk home.
The life left Berbick’s body instantaneously as a cohort of killers rained down a barrage of evil and life-ending strikes to turn the lights off in Berbick for the last time. Berbick’s carcass lay stiff in the confines of a bleak church courtyard while his assorted past was a mere afterthought.
The assailants marked with Berbick’s demise was that of family — Harold Berbick, the boxer’s nephew, had pummeled his uncle’s head into the ground with a four-foot metal pipe. Harold’s associate, Kenton Norton, had assisted in the brutal murder armed with a perilous crowbar.
Humble Beginnings
Trevor Berbick began life in Port Antonio, Jamaica, on 1 August 1954. Boxing was a means to an end for Berbick and the Jamcian had been gifted with two meat hooks and imposing size and strength. In 1975, he represented Jamaica in the Pan American Games and won bronze, this was the start of a fruitful boxing career.
The talented fighter was swiftly selected to represent Jamaica in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Berbick raised a few eyebrows, ultimately falling to defeat at the hands of the silver medalist, Mircea Şimon of Romania.
Berbick Turns Pro
After a successful Olympic campaign in Montreal, Berbick decided to remain in the French Canadian city to continue his training, later relocating to Florida.
The Jamaican power-puncher turned professional that fall and continued to ply his trade in Canada. His inaugural pro-journey started with a bang, as he went on to win 18 of his first 20 fights, establishing the foundation to challenge higher calibre opponents.
The brawler’s opportunity came when he earned a shot at Larry Holmes’ heavyweight crown in April 1981. This was a huge opportunity and the Olympian had the chance to carve out a name for himself at the top of the heavyweight boxing ceiling.
Larry Holmes vs. Trevor Berbick
Berbick came flying out of the blocks at the Las Vegas casino as the muscular pugilist stalked and taunted the distinguished Holmes.
Although Holmes employed more venom in his shots it was Berbick who was winning the mental battle. Berbick was dropping his hands, pointing to his chin and provoking the champion shouting “C’mon, baby!”. The bell ended the opening round and an agitated and furious Holmes shoved a confident Berbick in the back.
Berbick continued to make the champion’s plight harder, landing a plethora of stiff jabs disturbing the fighter’s equilibrium. Berbick pegged Holmes back in the last thirty seconds of round six, throwing the kitchen sink at the durable champion.
The later rounds proved to be explosive with Berbick matching Holmes in every round. The challenger came out strong in the final round, bulling Holmes around the ring searching for the photo finish, but Holmes refused to be pushed around and countered the aggressive Jamaican.
Caesars Palace erupted in scenes of ecstasy with the crowd on their feet as the two heavyweights traded leather refusing to retreat. Against all expectations, Holmes vs Berbick had been an enthralling battle between two heavyweight behemoths. Holmes got the nod and a hand raise but the evening owed Berbick admiration.
Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick
Berbick was scratching beneath the surface after his herculean performance against Holmes. The man had etched his name into the heavyweight books and was prepared to jostle for ascendancy against the best in the division.
Two fights later, Berbick became the last man to ever professionally fight Muhammad Ali. Coined the Drama in the Bahamas, Ali gave a lacklustre performance transparently showing his age and how Father Time had stolen his youthful talent.
Berbick won over a ten-rounds by unanimous decision and tacked a victory over the greatest boxer to ever walk the planet.
Berbick’s Boxing Apex
Following the Ali bout, Berbick rode a wave of momentum, securing victory in his next ten of twelve fights, earning the boxer a shot at Pinklon Thomas’ heavyweight title strap.
The former Jamaican Olympian had earned himself a seat at boxing’s elite table. Berbick captured the WBC heavyweight title off Pinklon Thomas in March 1986 and caused a swing in the boxing circuit.
Tyson vs. Berbick
Berbick’s first and only title defence came against a 20-year-old Mike Tyson. “Iron Mike” was 27–0 (25 ended by knockout) and was quickly prying open the door to the upper echelons of the sport — some even comparing the Brooklyn-born brawler’s ascension to that of Muhammad Ali.
As the first round began, both men hurled into the centre of the ring trading some colossal shots. Berbick set about trying to dictate the pace, while a young Tyson ducked and weaved forcing Berbick against the ropes while testing the iron chin of the 6-foot-2 Jamaican.
The champion landed a few jabs and even an illegal blow to the back of the resilient Tyson’s head, but it seemed the challenger was not affected devoting his efforts to victory rather than the illicit shot.
The two fighters reemerged from their corners for the start of the second round, the battle-hardened Tyson stormed out oozing anger while Berbick approached the young boxer with an element of caution.
Berbick’s initial instincts were correct as Tyson came roaring out of his corner at a searing pace peppering the champion with a flurry of lethal shots. It didn’t take long until Berbick sensed his end as Tyson started to pile the pressure on.
Tyson launched an overhand right that rocked the former Olympian to his core narrowly missing the blockbuster finish. Berbick had not weathered the storm just yet as Tyson scored heavily with a right hand, missed a hook and then a finishing right-hand blow to send Berbick crumbling to the canvass.
Berbick pulled himself off the ground but quickly toppled back to the floor. The champion’s heart was telling him to get up but his body was instructing him to stay down. Mills Lane had seen enough and crowned Mike Tyson the youngest heavyweight champion in history
Berbick’s Criminal Ties
Trevor Berbick’s assorted past was no secret and many knew the man to have a knack for altercations with the law.
Berbick was convicted of rape in 1992, finding the former champion guilty of raping a 26-year-old babysitter that worked for the Berbick family. Berbick, who claimed the accusation as consensual, was sentenced to five years in prison but only carried out 15 months.
That wasn’t the Candian citizen’s only crime that year. In December, the boxer was at the other end of an alleged plot to commit mortgage fraud. In 1997, after he had resurrected his boxing career, he was found guilty of violating his parole and was deported from the U.S. back to Canada.
Berbick was imploding and after the discovery of a brain clot, the once-talented boxer was forced to retire. It did not take long for the former champion to run into the law again and the once-revered fighter was deported, returning to Jamacia.
Trevor Berbick’s Death
The death of Trevor Berbick was harrowing and nobody deserves to meet their end the way Berbick brutally met his. The man’s motley-style existence was shrouded in criminality and the nature of his death reflected the life he piloted his way through.
Whatever theory people believe the man was still murdered in cold blood by his nephew and accomplice. A land dispute is still the motive for the murder and it’s not hard to believe with the misdemeanours that follow the boxer. Berbick’s death is journeying into its 2nd decade and the execution of the former champion should not reflect the work he did in the ring for his nation and the sport of boxing.
If you enjoyed the harrowing demise of former champion Trevor Berbick, then check out the Mysterious Death Of Sonny Liston: A Boxing Conspiracy.
