Ex-world champ Berbick found dead

Trevor Berbick, left, fighting Muhammad Ali in Ali's last fight in 1981, was found dead in a church courtyard in Jamaica on Saturday.

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.

Police have arrested a man and were interrogating him at the Port Antonio police station in Portland, authorities said.

Berbick's body was discovered about 6:30 a.m. in his hometown parish of Portland. The former fighter, believed to be 52, was pronounced dead by a doctor in the church courtyard.

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.

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.

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.

Berbick's reign was short, however, as a 20-year-old Tyson knocked Berbick out in the second round on Nov. 22, 1986, to become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time.

Berbick fought from 1976 to 2000, finishing with a 50-11-1 record, including 33 knockouts.

- Associated Press

A brave man from the greatest of sports.....

A brave man from the greatest of sports.....

Hi,

have to agree there Siam.

Very sad to see the decline in Mr Berbick's life after retiring from boxing, far too common in this sport due to certain promoters stealing most of the purse involved.

The smart one's now will go and join De La hoya's promotional team, and hopefully reap the rewards.

Rgds

I spoke with him a few times when I lived in Halifax, NS, Canada.

I'm not surprised he ended up like this, he was "accidentprone" and not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Hugely boring to watch also.

RIP.

Oh, I though he was found dead in Thailand, hence the relevance. Perhaps someone could modify the subject title to make it clear it is not Thailand related.

Oh, I though he was found dead in Thailand, hence the relevance. Perhaps someone could modify the subject title to make it clear it is not Thailand related.

Sport knows no borders.......

Hence China can stage an Olympics, even though still excuting over 7500 people a year....

Oh, I though he was found dead in Thailand, hence the relevance. Perhaps someone could modify the subject title to make it clear it is not Thailand related.

Sport knows no borders.......

Hence China can stage an Olympics, even though still excuting over 7500 people a year....

Let's not forget the immortal words of the illustrious Ed Meese:

"The police wouldn't arrest them if they weren't guilty"