KINGSTON, Jamaica (CP) - Former world and Canadian 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 throughout his career, lost his world heavyweight title to Mike Tyson and was the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali.
Berbick's body was discovered at 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 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, who fought for Jamaica at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, became a landed Canadian immigrant in 1979 shortly after beginning his pro boxing career while living in Halifax.
He quickly won the Canadian heavyweight title, then moved to south Florida in the early 1980s just as his career was taking off. Taylor Gordon, a former head coach of Canada's Olympic boxing team, trained with Berbick before he left for the U.S.
"At that time he trained very hard, he was a dedicated worker," Gordon said from Lower Sackville, N.S. "His lifestyle at that time was good. . . . We thought because the heavyweight class was always open to new faces and new ventures, we felt that he still had a chance of coming to the top and obviously he did."
In 1981, Berbick beat an aging Ali in the final fight of the boxing legend's career, then in 1986 won the WBC heavyweight title on a decision over Pinklon Thomas.
Gordon said when he worked with Berbick, he was impressed by his commitment.
"I don't think anybody ever really picked him at that time to be heavyweight champion of the world," Gordon said. "But we were all happy for him when he did win it."
Eight months later in Las Vegas, Berbick lost the title to a 20-year-old Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Berbick was knocked down twice in the second round of the bout. After trying to get up from the second knockdown he fell another two times. He later claimed he was drugged before the fight.
Berbick fought from 1976 to 2000, finishing with a 50-11-1 record, including 33 knockouts. He was a strong puncher who moved well and had the potential to be a lasting force in the heavyweight division before the emergence of Tyson.
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 legal problems began as his boxing career began to wane.
In 1991, he was convicted of misdemeanour assault for attacking his former business manager, who testified the boxer put a gun to her head and accused her of stealing US$40,000 from him.
The following year, he was convicted of raping a 16-year-old Florida babysitter and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was also convicted of second-degree grand theft for forging his ex-wife's signature to get a $95,000 mortgage on his Miramar, Fla., home.
He served 15 months on those convictions and on his release from prison was ordered deported to his native Jamaica.
But before he could be removed, Berbick fled the state and slipped into Canada, moving to Montreal - in an unsuccessful attempt to resurrect his boxing career - and later B.C.
At some point, Berbick left B.C. and returned to Florida, where a warrant had been issued for his arrest. He was deported by the U.S. to Jamaica in 2002.
"We have our challenges in life but Trevor seemed to handle his challenges very badly," said C. Lloyd Allen, former president of the Jamaica Boxing Board and a close friend. "Once he lost to Tyson he just went down a slippery slope."
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."
Lawrence Clay-Bey, the super heavyweight on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, remembered Berbick for his odd style in and out of the ring.
"He was a little strange, but no matter how weird someone might be, you don't wish anyone to die the way he did," Clay-Bey said at a fight in Saturday night in Uncasville, Conn. "He had an awkward style in the ring, but it was very effective. He was like John Ruiz. He had an awkward style, but he made it work."
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With files from CP sportswriter Gregory Strong in Toronto.
