He was 52.

Police have revealed his injuries suggest he was attacked by someone wielding a machete or hatchet.

Berbick returned to Jamaica having served a prison sentence in America.

While it has not been confirmed Berbick was murdered, the injuries reported by police suggest the 52-year-old was the victim of an attack.

He was found early this morning and taken to Port Antonio hospital, where he was dead on arrival.

Berbick was more famous for his two high-profile opponents in Ali and Tyson than for his own ability.

Having lost to Larry Holmes in 1981, the former Jamaica Olympian faced Ali later the same year and ground out a points victory over the jaded former champion.

That triumph, however hollow, earned the Jamaican-born heavyweight a small degree of credibility, though he only went on to win the Commonwealth title.

However in 1986, five years after ending Ali’s career, he faced Pinklon Thomas and won the WBC heavyweight crown.

His first defence was against an exciting young prospect in Tyson, who floored him twice – the second spectacularly – en route to a two-round blow-out as referee Mills Lane waved off the contest.

As Tyson, 20, arrived on the scene, Berbick departed.

However, he kept on fighting until as recently as 2000 in a fruitless attempt to repeat former glories.

After that final contest in 2000 against Shane Sutcliffe – a 12-round points victory – his licence was revoked after scans revealed a blood clot.

Berbick’s life spiralled into an all-too familiar story of trouble with the police.

Following brushes with the law in the US and Canada and a spell in prison for sexual assault he was deported to Jamaica.

Berbick, whose career record stood at 50 (33)-11-1, is survived by six children.