Ali's last opponent Berbick found dead

Trevor Berbick will be best remembered as Muhammad Ali’s last opponent, Mike Tyson’s first world title victim and Larry Holmes’ unlikely challenger in a Florida parking lot.

But while Berbick fought against the greats of three different eras, ultimately his own career was destined to belong among the ‘Lost Generation’ of wayward and often tragic heavyweights.

Berbick’s colourful and increasingly combustible life came to an end this weekend when he was discovered reportedly killed with a weapon such as a hatchet in the village of Norwich, Jamaica at the recorded age of 52.

Since his last fight six years ago, Berbick had found himself in frequent trouble with the authorities, serving jail time for sexual assault and twice being deported from the United States.

Berbick won the WBC heavyweight title when he defeated another ’Lost Generation’ fighter, Pinklon Thomas, whose career was hampered by drug problems, in March 1986.

Eight months later Berbick unwittingly provided one of the most indelible images of world heavyweight title history, as he careered drunkenly around the ring after being hit by a Tyson left hook.

Devoid of his senses, Berbick twice staggered back to his feet before falling back into the arms of referee Mills Lane. “To allow someone to keep getting hit in that condition would be criminal,” said Lane.

Berbick had sought to brawl with Tyson, who became the youngest champion in boxing at the age of 20. Berbick conceded: “I was trying to prove to myself I could take his best shots. He punches pretty hard.”

Berbick ended Ali’s career in 1981, winning a 10-round decision over the ageing and ailing former champion in an ill-conceived contest in Nassau optimistically dubbed the ’Drama in the Bahamas’.

Berbick, the then Commonwealth champion, was regarded as a tough and durable fighter but all the attention was on Ali. “I came out all right for an old man,” Ali shrugged afterwards.

Berbick had turned professional in 1976 having had little amateur experience and failed to win a medal from the Montreal Olympics, where he represented Jamaica.

Remaining in Canada, Berbick fared better in the paid ranks, with 10 stoppage wins from his first 11 contests soon marking him out as a hard-hitting prospect.

Despite suffering his first loss, a crushing one-round defeat to Bernado Mercado, in 1979, Berbick hit back with a spectacular ninth-round stoppage of former WBA champion John Tate the following year.

It was Tate’s first fight since losing his title to Mike Weaver, and one he expected to win comfortably.

Instead Berbick relentlessly pursued his opponent until Tate could take no more.

Now a highly-rated contender, Berbick earned his first world title chance against Holmes in 1981, but lost a unanimous 15-round decision, failing to win a single round on one judge’s card.

Frustratingly inconsistent, Berbick would work his way back to claim the title, but despite holding the Canadian heavyweight crown as recently as 1999, he never fully got over his defeat to Tyson.

Outside the ring his problems mounted. In 1991, Berbick was involved in a street brawl with Holmes, whom he had mocked as the latter was leaving the venue of his earlier stoppage victory over Tim Anderson.

That same year, Berbick agreed to take part in a wrestler versus boxer contest against Nobuhiko Takada in Japan, but became frustrated and abandoned the contest midway through the first round.

Berbick was forced to retire from boxing in 2000 after having his licence revoked due a blood clot on his brain. Sadly for Berbick his problems were only just beginning.