KINGSTON, Jamaica - A nephew of former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was sentenced Friday to life in prison for his murder.
Harold Berbick, 21, will be eligible for parole in 20 years. His accomplice, Kenton Gordon, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter.
Police said the two beat Trevor Berbick to death in October 2006 and left the 54-year-old's body in a church courtyard.
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.
In 1981, Berbick beat an aging Muhammad 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.
Eight months later in Las Vegas, Berbick lost the title to a 20-year-old Mike Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
