Muhammad Ali vs. Trevor Berbick - The Last Hurrah - Drama in Bahama

Muhammad Ali (Actor), Trevor Berbick (Actor) Rated:

Format: DVD

12 ratings

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February 12, 2002

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Editorial Reviews

Only 10-months after his 11-round defeat to Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali stepped into the ring against Jamaican-born Trevor Berbick for what would be his last bout. Billed as "Drama in Bahama," this December 1981 10-round brawl proved too much for Ali. Suff

Product details

MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ s_medNotRated NR (Not Rated)
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.53 inches; 4 Ounces
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Multiple Formats, Color
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 5 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 12, 2002
Actors ‏ : ‎ Muhammad Ali, Trevor Berbick
Studio ‏ : ‎ Rhino
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00005YUP4
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #243,109 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #6,439 in Sports (Movies & TV)
- #46,682 in Drama DVDs

Customer Reviews:
12 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		38%
4 star		47%
3 star		15%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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gfmsoccer

Most didnt see this fight. Fighting conclusion to career.

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2016

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It was sad the way Ali went out, but I give him credit for trying one last time. This fight was much better than
the Holmes fight where Ali had lost all energy from weight loss pills. Here he put up a good fight, and retired
with dignity.

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Christopher j. Washington

Great vhs

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020

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WALTER C MORRIS JR

anything about Ali has my interest, from then and ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2014

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anything about Ali has my interest, from then and even more so now, that the parkasin disease, is in rare form ????

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Best Of All

It Should Not Have Ended This Way

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2006

It was a fight that had to happen outside the United States because Muhammad Ali could not get licensed due to neurological concerns that could no longer be ignored, which, according to Jack Newfield, was the case prior to the Larry Holmes debacle that took place about 14 months prior to this match.

In that bout, Holmes pleaded several times for the referee to stop the match as he sometimes pulled his punches just enough not to inflict additional damage on a battered, weary & defenseless Ali. Newfield later reported that a neurological exam taken by Ali before that match revealed damage that should have prevented him from ever entering the ring.

But with the beating at the hands of Holmes dismissed as a medication problem for a thyroid condition and Newfield's revelations coming years later, it was on to the Bahamas for a bout that drew very little interest from fans or the media. It wasn't as if Ali had any hope of regaining the magic of years past, it was a case of wishing for the best possible outcome under such sad circumstances.

Berbick - who went on to briefly hold one of the heavyweight titles - had lost a well-fought decision to Holmes and could throw heavy punches, which he showed in the Ali fight, hurting the former champion with tremendous body shots.

Ali was marginally sharper in this bout, though his diminished reflexes could no longer be casually dismissed as being from a reaction to medication. The fight may have been scored "even" until the closing three rounds, when Berbick began to measure & tag a tiring Ali. I feel it can be successfully argued that Berbick carried Ali and only wanted to do enough to win and not embarrass "The Greatest."

After the fight, Berbick said he didn't want to hurt Ali and had nothing but kind words for him.

Boxing is littered with such endings to brilliant careers. The sport - due to its nature - is very unforgiving, with brutal beatings perhaps negated by the compassion of an opponent. In too many ways, this match is not only a tribute to Ali's professional pride, but importantly to Berbick's understanding that he had so much to lose when stepping into the ring with an overmatched legend.

3 people found this helpful

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kone

Ali's Sad Finale to Boxing

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2005

After suffering a horrible beating at the hands of Champion Larry Holmes in 1980, Muhammad Ali refuses to believe that the magical blend of extraordinary skill, ring savvy, and sheer force of personality are gone. Ali blames his loss to Holmes not on his aging battle scarred nervous system, but on the fact that his doctor prescribed for him a thyroid medication (for his sluggishness) that rendered him unable to sweat and left him physically weak. While the medication may have contributed to Ali's defeat, clearly, the primary reason was his magnificent reflexes and boxing skills were eroded to the extent that he was but a shell of his former brilliance. It had been developing for years. Ali had not knocked anybody out for nearly 5 years. Fighters that he could have once beaten with his eyes closed now were giving him real challenges. Earnie Shavers had rung his bell and nearly defeated him. The rank amateuristic Leon Spinks had taken his title and given him a beating (although Ali regained his title in another close match with Spinks 6 months later). Clearly, the once untouchable Ali was now mortal, and fighters he would have easily disposed of in his prime were giving him real battles. And now he'd bean beaten up by Larry Holmes, a savage beating where fight fans, watching through tears, had witnessed the end of the Ali legend.

Even so, Ali's tremendous ego would not let him admit that he was through, and so, in an effort to perhaps redeem himself and to find out if in fact his skills were gone, Ali signed to fight one last time with Trevor Berbick in 1981 (21 years after his professional carerr had started!). The fight took place in the Bahamas. Berbick was just 27 and in his fighting prime. Ali took this fight seriously and trained hard, but despite his preparation, he simply had lost too much and it clearly shows.

The fight is surprisingly even. Berbick should have dominated the aged Ali, but it is a testament to Ali's former greatness that he was able to make this a contest. To be blunt, Ali looks terrible. While his body "looks" good, his grace and fluidity are gone. He looks clumsy as he throws combinations (Ali clumsy? - blasphemy!). His once lighting jab is now average at best and packs no hurt. He even appears to lose his balance occasionally and comes close to tottering over. In short, the most graceful heavyweight fighter that ever lived now looks like a stumbling old man. And yet, Ali's fierce fighting spirit will not relent. Ali is in the final fight of his life and he wants to go out giving his best effort. He aggressively fights Berbick and is not afraid to wade in and trade blows with the younger, stronger fighter. Berbick lands some terrific head blows, shots that Ali would have once deflected or pulled his head away from easily, and Ali lands some good shots of his own, even stunning Berbick several times. But Ali's courageous effort is not enough. His reflexes are slow, too slow for a fighter, and his punching power and snap gone. Ali sees opennings but he is not quick enough to capitalize on them, and before he can tell his right hand to fire, the openning is gone. For a fight fan who recalls the younger Ali this fight is painful to watch.

And so, the great Ali's career as a fighter is over; even Ali admits as much, calling his career has ended after the fight. And while we may feel a sense of sadness for another great fighter's passing, Ali certainly went out holding his head high, giving it his best shot, and having no excuses to fall back on. Ali was the greatest heavyweight champion to ever don boxing attire and there will never be another like him. Still, his former fighting career lives on in fight films, and his new career as world evangelist goes on to this day.

Ali enriched the human condition with this irrepressible personality, his God-given athletic talent, and his quick wit. humor, and charm. His last fight is sad to watch, but it is a fitting last chapter to the Ali boxing story. Ali the boxer was done, Ali the man contines on.

kone

37 people found this helpful

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A sad and final chapter to a colorful boxing career.

Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2002

Muhammad Ali was a shell of his former self when he stepped into the ring for his final fight against Trevor Berbick. You can see that even in 1981, he had that frozen, Parkinson's look on his face. Like the last reviewer said, you were afraid to watch the fight. But at the same time, you couldn't turn away, either.
But the fight really wasn't that bad. And after eight rounds, the fight was pretty darn close. But in rounds nine and ten. Berbick pounded on Ali, who was looking pretty old and tired and beat up.
It was sad because you could see that Ali knew what to do. But that he didn't hav the speed or the reflexes to pull the trigger at the right time. He would have creamed Berbick ten years earlier. And he would have gotten the decision even five years earlier.
But on this night, we saw an Ali who had been conquered by Father Time. Buy this video if you want to own the last chapter of a storied career. The video comes with a second video of a long, cumbersome, and boring one hour press conference.

13 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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ボクシングのレビュー

最強すぎるボクシングDVD

Reviewed in Japan on June 30, 2012

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これほど素晴らしい内容・価格のDVDは、他にはありません。
伝説の男の正真正銘のラストファイトを入場からフルラウンド収録、試合後の両選手・プロモーター(?)の記者会見までも
たっぷり入っています。
私は英語が全くわかりませんが、アリが何故この試合を行ったのか、しっかり語っているようです。
画質も最高です。大画面TVでもしっかり見れます。
こうした商品がもっと流通してほしいものです。
リージョン1、英語のみということを割り引いても星5つ以下にはなりません。

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