From the Associated Press :
Kingston, Jamaica – Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead in a church courtyard Saturday with chop wounds to his head, police said.
Police are treating Berbick™s death as a homicide, Inspector Victor Henry said. Berbick™s body was discovered about 6:30 a.m. in his hometown parish of Portland, constable Beverly Howell said. No other details were immediately available.
Berbick, who was believed to be 52 and was beset by legal woes 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 fours years later in a decision over Pinklon Thomas. His reign was short, however, as a 20-year-old Tyson knocked Berbick out in the second round of their bout on Nov. 22, 1986, to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
In spanning the Ali and Tyson eras, 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.
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.
œLegally, I™m a spirit, he once said. œI have no age.