Try a little perspective when it comes to Trevor Berbick
What will they say about me when I’m gone?
I saw one write-up that described Berbick as a “legend,” and that designation isn’t even close to being true.
After debuting in 1976, Berbick’s first loss came to Bernardo Mercado, a decent Colombian, in 1979.
He lost to Larry Holmes in 1981, so a bid for even semi-legendary status was derailed there.
Then, Berbick got a crack at the beyond-shot Muhammad Ali eight months later in the Bahamas. Go now, and watch that fight. You’ll see that Ali, far from being steamrolled by Berbick, wasn’t all that bad in losing a UD10.
Today, Ali would have been emboldened by his outing, and fought for another five years or so.
Berbick lost successive outings to Renaldo Snipes, no slouch, and ST Gordon, a bit more of a slouch, in 1982 and ‘83.
His WBC title win came over Pinklon Thomas in 1986, in a tightly contested bout. He kept the belt warm for young Mike Tyson, who destructed and destroyed big Berbick in Vegas in a two-round assault.
Subsequent losses came to Carl Williams, Buster Douglas, Jimmy Thunder, Hasim Rahman, Lyle McDowell (!) and Tony LaRosa (!!). Not a legendary record, I’m afraid.
Barry McGuigan says he thinks Berbick would have held on to the belt for a longer spell if he was fighting in his prime in the present day, and I must disagree. He was big, but awkward – in short, he was no pugilist specialist.
It’s a shame the man got the bad end of a machete, but this was no choirboy, so I won’t be shedding excess tears on the man. Nor will I be participating in a most common practice, and take part in building up his status posthumously.
That was harsh!!! How cold hearted can you be?!?!?!?!
Hi Anita you are my cousin.If you are at the funeral you might see my dad leroy.May my uncle rest in peace.
Hello everyone, i am one of Trevor Berbick’s nephews. I am writing this message to clear up all this confusion of my uncle’s “legendary” or not status. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, it is your accomplishments that give you a legendary status. We all agree here in the U.S.A that George Washington was a hero and a legend. But at the same time, he also was a proud slave owner. That does not take away from his countless accomplishments, his many military victories, and not to mention being this proud nation’s first president. I am a black man, and as you can probably guess, i hate the idea of slavery. But guess what, in my book, Goerge Washington is hero and a legend. He was the first president of this great country, he was a pioneer, he was a man with vision. He worked hard and achieved the impossible. He was the first man of his native country to accomplish these achievements. This is what legends are made of. I am in no way trying to compare my uncle to George Washington. There is no comparison. But like the great George Washington, Trevor Berbick was the first man from his native country to reach the heights that he did. He is the only man from Jamaica to win 5 heavyweight titles. He represented Jamaica in the Montreal Olympics. His name is in the boxing archives and record books as being one of the few WBC heavyweight champions. These are just a few of his many accomplishments. So, YES, In his country, he is a LEGEND. Next time you go to Jamaica, ask about Trevor Berbick. They will let you know how much they miss “THE CHAMP”. For all those abroad who will be reading this, If you ever come to the U.S.A, ask about Micheal Woods, we’ll probably say, “Never heard of him”.
Mr.Woods is entitled to his opinions.Please let me state some of mine as well as some truths. Trevors conviction was no less controversal than Mike Tysons. 1. This society is more than anxious to label minorities with convictions while it is far less conviction happy with white people and real monied people. The label of babysitter was convenient, she was a girl-friend who was jealous that his estranged wife was returning to the house.Will Mike Tyson be recognised as a legend for his boxing ? In my book he is a legend and hall of famer. Trevor for his boxing is a hero and is indeed legendary for the caribbean,british commonwealth,,Canada,Jamaica and the non-white world.He was the first of modern times to have won a World Heavyweight Title and he also left boxing as the Heavyweight Champion of Canada in 2000. So there is a context for his recognition which is rooted in his indelible achievements.Trevor like the rest of us who have defied the odds of the third world and coming to America and other developed countries and like Caesar ,we came ,we saw and we conquer.And as Marcus Garvey said, UP YOU MIGHTY RACE, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WILL. Thank you Mr Woods, the world is more than America, and you may help to shape opinions here but you can do better by educating yourself about the rest of the planet.
As an aspiring amateur boxer myself,it irritates me to see guys who never had the courage to even lace a glove up run down those who did.
Michael Woods-do you realise how much it takes to actually get in the ring,let alone win a world title? It’s harder than anything you will have ever done I guess.
Berbick might not have the perfect ring record,or be as great as Muhammad Ali and the like,but he has his own legacy and is a hero to the people of Jamaica.
His name is down in the boxing records,and that will never be changed.
One thing is for sure,Trevor Berbicks name means a hell of a lot more than Michael Woods’ name in the boxing world,and world in general.
I feel very depressed seeing the lack of sensitivity the journalists and several people here have knowing full well that members of the Berbick family are reading.
Anita Berbick has shown more class than many of the contributors here have done, despite the traumatic time.
As a boxer Trevor Berbick was good enough to beat John Tate, Muhammad Ali, Greg Page, David Bey, Mitch Blood Green, and Pinklon Thomas, good enough to be a WBC world heavyweight champion, USBA champion, Commonwealth champion, and two time Canadian champion. Nobody needs to debate how good, great, or legendary the man was, the vast majority of people who lace on the gloves can only dream of achieving what Trevor Berbick did.
i just can t beleive that you people dont have no feelings and respect for somebody who regardless of his mistakes did his part in boxing . let him rip and get a live y”all. look your self in the mirror and tell me if youre perfect in anyway . guess not ….. who give you the right to diminished the name of someone who did something that you never gonna do in your live .
I am Trevor Berbick’s Niece.I miss him and i didn’t even get a chance to see him in person.My uncle was a great man and i love him.
Regardless of everything Trevor will go down in history as former heavyweight champion of the world, not many will do that.
only god can judge,rip.trevor berbick