THE SAD STORY OF TREVOR BERBIK | BOXING 🥊

 

Trevor Berbick stood at the exact hinge of boxing history, twice. And both times, it broke him.

In December 1981, he shared a ring with Muhammad Ali. It was the last fight of Ali's life, the final, sad chapter of the greatest career the sport had known, and it was Berbick who beat him, by unanimous decision. He had closed the book on a legend.

Five years later, he was on the wrong side of the next one. On November 22, 1986, Berbick defended his WBC heavyweight title against a ferocious 20-year-old named Mike Tyson. It lasted two rounds. Tyson battered him to the canvas, where Berbick famously staggered and fell three times trying to stand, and became the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Berbick was the stepping stone to the Tyson era.

From there his life unravelled. In 1992 he was convicted in Florida of raping his children's babysitter and sent to prison. After serving his time he violated parole, and in 1997 he was deported from the United States.

He went home to Jamaica, and that is where it ended. On October 28, 2006, Trevor Berbick was found dead in a church courtyard, his head split open by a steel pipe. He had been beaten to death over a land dispute, and the men convicted of killing him included his own nephew.

The man who beat Ali and lost to Tyson, murdered by family in a churchyard. 🥊

- Fight Stories

ENGLAND RECEIVE HOSTILE WELCOME AT MEXICO CITY HOTEL AHEAD OF WORLD CUP CLASH

England received a hostile welcome as they arrived at their Mexico City hotel ahead of Sunday night's World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico.

England had been hoping to keep their location undisclosed after Mexico supporters used loud speakers, horns and motorcycles to try to disturb the sleep of Ecuador's players before their last-32 tie, which the co-hosts won 2-0 on Wednesday night.

But when England's coach arrived at their hotel, hundreds of fans were already there, with many booing while others chanted "Mexico."

At least one supporter within the crowd could be seen holding up an England shirt.

England faced a hostile environment upon arrival to their team hotel. Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Security has been increased outside the hotel after events earlier in the week, which led to complaints from Ecuador's football federation.

There has also been an increase in security in the city after four people died during the celebrations that followed Mexico's win over Ecuador.

Thomas Tuchel's men take on the co-hosts in a mouth-watering clash at the Estadio Azteca, with kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Monday in the United Kingdom).

FIFA had considered moving kick-off forward due to a forecast for storms in the region but, after five-and-a-half hours of uncertainty on Friday evening, the decision was made to stick with the original schedule, the Press Association understands.

Both England and Mexico had voiced opposition to rescheduling the game less than 48 hours before kick-off.

A hostile reception is far from the only challenge England will face in Mexico City, with the Azteca at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres above sea level, meaning players must adapt to lower levels of oxygen in the air.

Mexico have only been beaten twice in 89 matches at the Azteca, winning 70 and drawing 17. They are unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the stadium.

- PA

LEN BIAS' MOTHER SAID HER SON'S DEATH HELPED SAVE LIVES ACROSS U.S.: "THE DAY LEN DIED WAS THE DAY THEY STOPPED USING COCAINE"

The NBA has seen its fair share of “what-if” stories. Players who many pegged to be on a path of greatness, only to be derailed by injuries. This includes the likes of Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, Brandon Roy, Grant Hill and Greg Oden.

However, arguably the most tragic of them all was Len Bias. A super-talented 6’8″ forward whom the Boston Celtics selected with the second pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, the Maryland standout was expected to lead the team into the future, especially when stars like Larry Bird and Kevin McHale stepped away from the game.

Unfortunately, Bias never even got to play a single second in the big league as he passed away on June 19, 1986, due to cardiac arrhythmia related to his use of powdered cocaine. While the tragedy denied Bias of the chance to realize his basketball dreams, his mother, Lonise, made sure that his death would not be in vain, crusading against drugs in the many years that followed.

A death that woke up a nation

Bias’ death sparked a movement across the United States, with authorities cracking down on recreational cocaine use, especially amongst younger people. According to Lonise, she had been told by many people from different parts of the country that Len’s demise served as a reminder for them to stop using drugs or risk injury or even death.

“Many, many people have come to me throughout the [last] 20 years and have told me that the day Len died was the day they stopped using cocaine,” she shared.

“I’ve had people stop me in the street and tell me that. They still do, telling me they’ve remained clean since that time and that it was the turning point in their lives.”

Len’s passing led to tangible change, as the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 or the “Len Bias Law,” was signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in October 1986. The law mandates severe punishment for those who distribute drugs that lead to a person’s death or serious injury.

“His death woke the nation up,” Lonise added. “We got on the ball, and we started a lot of programs, and a lot of things happened to prevent drug use with young people. I believe Len has truly done more in death than he ever could have done in life.”

Gave MJ fits

Len’s glory days came in the NCAA when he established himself as one of the league’s pre-eminent players. After a solid freshman season, his stock rose in his second year when he averaged 15.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Playing for Maryland also meant playing in the ACC, the same conference that the North Carolina Tar Heels play in. And as everyone knows, there was a guy by the name of Michael Jordan who starred there.

According to ESPN ace Scott Van Pelt, he relished watching those intense matchups between Len and Michael.

“I have a picture of him in my basement, it’s a black-and-white photo of him, like at least three feet off the ground straight up in the air with Jordan, with his hand in his face,” SVP shared.

“And there’s a grainy old YouTube video of a game where it was Jordan and Carolina, and Leonard and Maryland. When you watch it, the guy in the blue jersey, no one can stop, it’s obvious that’s Michael, and in the light jersey, no one can stop is Len.”

Len obviously had All-Star potential and perhaps so much more. Unfortunately, a bad decision prevented him from ever realizing what he could have been in the NBA.

- Jonas Panerio

4 DRIVERS, 1 CHAMPION | FORMULA 1 | 1986

 

THE EVOLUTION OF THE COCA-COLA BOTTLE ✨

Since Coca-Cola began bottling in 1899, its design has come a long way:

• The first bottles were plain and straight, resembling medicine bottles — easy for competitors to copy.

• In 1915, a design contest produced the now-iconic “contour” bottle, inspired by the shape of a cocoa bean. Its curves made it instantly recognisable — even in the dark or by touch alone.

• By 1916, the curvy bottle was adopted across the U.S. and, with only minor updates over time, its silhouette remains one of the most recognisable in the world today.

An everyday object turned into a design icon.

#CocaCola #DesignHistory #IconicBottle #History #Branding #EverydayHistory #Innovation #Coca #MaxSports #MaxSportsBlog

FIFA WORLD CUP PRIZE MONEY SINCE 1986

 

#FIFAWorldCup #FIFA

S KOREA TO FACE U.S., MEXICO IN AWAY FOOTBALL FRIENDLIES

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will face two of the three host countries of the next FIFA World Cup in away friendly matches this fall, the sport's national federation said Wednesday.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will play the U.S. team at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 (6 a.m. on Sept. 7, Korean Standard Time). Then South Korea will play Mexico on Sept. 9 at a venue to be determined later.

The United States and Mexico will be co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with Canada.

These will be the first set of away friendly matches for South Korea since they played Wales and Saudi Arabia in Wales and England in September 2023.

Members of the South Korean starting lineup pose for photos before taking on Jordan in their Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on March 25, 2025. Top row (L to R): Hwang In-beom, Park Yong-woo, Cho Yu-min, Kwon Kyung-won, Jo Hyeon-woo and Son Heung-min. Bottom row (L to R): Lee Dong-gyeong, Lee Tae-seok, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung and Seol Young-woo. (Yonhap)
 

South Korea last played the U.S. in February 2014, when the Americans prevailed 2-0. The U.S. are No. 16 in the current FIFA rankings, seven spots ahead of South Korea. But South Korea hold the all-time edge with five wins, three draws and three losses.

The previous meeting between South Korea and Mexico came in November 2015 in Austria, where Mexico had a 3-2 win. South Korea have had four wins, two draws and eight losses against Mexico, currently world No. 17.

South Korea are on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. In the ongoing third round of the Asian qualification, they are leading Group B with 16 points with two matches to go, three points ahead of Jordan and four better than Iraq. And with the top two teams booking their tickets to the World Cup, South Korea can grab one with at least a draw against Iraq in their next qualifying match on June 5.

The final qualifying match will be at home against Kuwait on June 10.

The KFA said Hong will announce his squad for those matches May 26.

South Korea have played in every World Cup since 1986, including as a co-host alongside Japan in 2002.

- Yoo Jee-ho

 

 

ARGENTINA LEGEND AND WORLD CUP WINNER MAKES HIS STANCE CLEAR IN THE MESSI-MARADONA DEBATE

Mario Kempes, the legendary striker and 1978 World Cup champion with Argentina, offered his candid opinion on the heated debate between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

© Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesDiego Maradona conducts warm up exercises with forward Lionel Messi ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and Nigeria.

Mario Alberto Kempes, one of the most iconic players in Argentina’s history, was instrumental in leading his country to its first-ever World Cup title in 1978. As a respected voice in Argentine soccer, Kempes’s opinions carry significant weight, especially when it comes to assessing the legacies of those who have donned the famous Albiceleste jersey, more specifically, the debate between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

In one of his most controversial statements, Kempes delivered a stinging comparison between the two Argentine legends. His comments, made during a 2021 interview with ESPN following Argentina’s Copa America triumph in Brazil, downplayed Messi’s achievements in favor of Maradona‘s legacy.

“If Messi wants to be better than Maradona, he won’t achieve it, even if he wins four World Cups in a row,” Kempes declared bluntly. “He’ll always fall short, just one step below Diego. That’s impossible to change”.

“No matter what Messi wins, he’ll never compare to what Diego accomplished,” he continued. “The Maradona loyalists will never allow Messi to surpass him. Messi will never be better than Maradona. Let’s face it, Messi’s time (to be better than Maradona) has come and gone”.

Diego Maradona gestures to Lionel Messi during to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between Argentina and Mexico. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

However, just months after Kempes’s controversial remarks, Messi silenced critics by leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. With many goals and standout performances throughout the tournament, Messi firmly etched his name into the history books, securing his status as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Messi vs. Maradona: The numbers behind the legends

Lionel Messi has played 191 matches for Argentina as of late 2024, scoring 112 goals to become the nation’s all-time leading scorer. His trophy cabinet is nothing short of extraordinary, boasting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, two Copa América titles (2021 and 2024), the 2022 Finalissima, the 2005 U20 World Cup, and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in Beijing.

In contrast, Diego Maradona played 91 matches for Argentina, scoring 34 goals. His silverware includes three titles with the national team: the 1979 U20 World Cup in Japan, the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and the 1993 Artemio Franchi Cup.

While both players have achieved historic milestones for Argentina, the debate rages on, fueled by contrasting eras and the incomparable magic each brought to the pitch. For fans, the Messi-Maradona debate is more than statistics—it’s a clash of legends who transcended the sport.

- Gianni Taina

BOXING RESULTS: JAKE PAUL DEFEATS MIKE TYSON BY DECISION

 Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in an eight-round heavyweight match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

All three judges scored the fight for Paul, 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.

The fight, sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, was contested at 2-minute rounds, and both fighters wore 14-ounce gloves instead of the regular 10-ounce gloves for heavyweight fights.

Tyson, 58, and Paul, 27, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, were scheduled to meet on July 20, but the fight was postponed after Tyson received medical attention during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May for an ulcer flare-up.

Tyson (50-7, 44 KOs) became the youngest heavyweight champion at age 20 in 1986, and a year later he had unified all three major belts to become undisputed champion. He made six defenses of the three belts until losing in a historic upset to James "Buster" Douglas by 10th-round KO in February 1990.

Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) started his boxing career in 2020 with six consecutive victories fighting mostly against former MMA fighters. Paul's only loss came against Tommy Fury in February 2023, but he has won five straight fights, including the decision over Tyson, since.

- Andreas Hale, ESPN

HISTORIC PICTURE | IMPORTANT LESSONS

 

EXCITEMENT AND ANXIETY AS FANS WATCH CANADA'S FIRST WORLD CUP SINCE MEXICO 1986

ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB

NBA PLAYOFFS 1986 | ROUND 1 | GAME 2 | BOSTON CELTICS VS. CHICAGO BULLS | MICHAEL JORDAN HISTORY

 

NBA AT 75: SPECTACLE TAKES CENTER STAGE | 1986 SLAM DUNK CONTEST