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28/10/2006
According to the Associated Press, former heavyweight title holder Trevor Berbick was found dead in Jamaica, an apparent victim of murder. Berbick's body was discovered with chop wounds to his head, police said. Berbick played a key role in heavyweight history, as he provided a link between the Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson eras. In 1981, when Ali could no longer get licensed in the United States, he traveled to the Bahamas where Berbick won by decision, sending the great Ali into his final retirement. Five years later, Berbick grabbed the WBC heavyweight title with a win over Pinklon Thomas and went straight into a bout with then-20 year old Mike Tyson. In a knockout that will be shown forever, Tyson took Berbick's title with a punch that had Berbick falling down three times while reeling around the ring. Berbick hung around the sport until 2000, as his life slid into chaos and he was convicted of rape and deported from Canada. -Scott Shaffer
