Boxer Trevor Berbick found dead

Cornedbeef · 10-28-2006, 05:45 PM

http://sports.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/H...howbyline=True

Former Canadian heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday morning in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, with chop wounds to his head, police said.

CBC Sports

Canadian heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick hoists his title belt after defeating Shane Sutcliffe with a 12th-round TKO on Feb. 5, 1999 in Montreal.
(Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
Const. Beverly Howell said Berbick's body was discovered around 6:30 a.m. in a church courtyard in Portland parish.

Police found chop wounds to his head and are investigating his death as a homicide, said Insp. Victor Henry.

The 52-year-old boxer represented Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics before settling in the Quebec city for a number of years.

He built up his reputation by beating the legendary Muhammad Ali in a 10-round unanimous decision in 1981. The bout was Ali's last in a career that spanned three decades.

Berbick went on to capture the WBC heavyweight title with a decisive win over American Pinklon Thomas. His title reign, however, was brief.

Berbick faced Mike Tyson eight months later in Las Vegas, where the Jamaican native was disposed of in two rounds.

Tyson took control of the fight from the start and levelled Berbick in the second with a vicious right hand, sending the champion to the ground. Berbick attempted to get up twice, but stumbled to the canvas both times.

The 20-year-old Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

Berbick finished with a professional record of 50-11-1, including 33 KOs, but ran into legal problems following the Tyson fight.

Sentenced for raping babysitter

Berbick was convicted in 1991 of misdemeanour assault for attacking his former business manager, who testified in court that the fighter held a gun to her head and accused her of stealing money from him.

Things only got worse the next year as Berbick, who was living in Florida, was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a family babysitter.

The former Canadian resident was also convicted of second-degree grand theft in 1992 for forging his ex-wife's signature to get a mortgage on a home.

Berbick served a combined 15 months for both convictions and was ordered deported back to Jamaica. However, Berbick fled to Montreal before his impending removal.

He then headed west to B.C. to attempt a boxing comeback with a warrant for his arrest back in Florida still in effect. Berbick eventually returned to Florida, where he was finally deported to Jamaica in 2002.

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misskitty · 11-06-2006, 04:55 AM

I saw the news on Berbick too Cornedbeef. I realize he didn't always do things by the book after he stopped fighting in the ring, however I don't know how one deserves to die by chop wounds to the head.

Sad news anyway.

10-28-2006, 05:45 PM	#1
Cornedbeef FORT Fogey Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 1,652	Boxer Trevor Berbick found dead http://sports.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/H...howbyline=True Former Canadian heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead Saturday morning in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, with chop wounds to his head, police said. CBC Sports Canadian heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick hoists his title belt after defeating Shane Sutcliffe with a 12th-round TKO on Feb. 5, 1999 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press) Const. Beverly Howell said Berbick's body was discovered around 6:30 a.m. in a church courtyard in Portland parish. Police found chop wounds to his head and are investigating his death as a homicide, said Insp. Victor Henry. The 52-year-old boxer represented Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics before settling in the Quebec city for a number of years. He built up his reputation by beating the legendary Muhammad Ali in a 10-round unanimous decision in 1981. The bout was Ali's last in a career that spanned three decades. Berbick went on to capture the WBC heavyweight title with a decisive win over American Pinklon Thomas. His title reign, however, was brief. Berbick faced Mike Tyson eight months later in Las Vegas, where the Jamaican native was disposed of in two rounds. Tyson took control of the fight from the start and levelled Berbick in the second with a vicious right hand, sending the champion to the ground. Berbick attempted to get up twice, but stumbled to the canvas both times. The 20-year-old Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Berbick finished with a professional record of 50-11-1, including 33 KOs, but ran into legal problems following the Tyson fight. Sentenced for raping babysitter Berbick was convicted in 1991 of misdemeanour assault for attacking his former business manager, who testified in court that the fighter held a gun to her head and accused her of stealing money from him. Things only got worse the next year as Berbick, who was living in Florida, was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a family babysitter. The former Canadian resident was also convicted of second-degree grand theft in 1992 for forging his ex-wife's signature to get a mortgage on a home. Berbick served a combined 15 months for both convictions and was ordered deported back to Jamaica. However, Berbick fled to Montreal before his impending removal. He then headed west to B.C. to attempt a boxing comeback with a warrant for his arrest back in Florida still in effect. Berbick eventually returned to Florida, where he was finally deported to Jamaica in 2002.

11-06-2006, 04:55 AM	#2
misskitty waiting for snow Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kittyville Posts: 7,442 Blog Entries: 3	I saw the news on Berbick too Cornedbeef. I realize he didn't always do things by the book after he stopped fighting in the ring, however I don't know how one deserves to die by chop wounds to the head. Sad news anyway. __________________ Live simply ~ Love generously~ Care deeply~ Speak kindly