Drama in Bahama: Muhammad Ali v Trevor Berbick - in pictures

Following his emphatic defeat to Larry Homes in October 1980 Muhammad Ali, who refused to accept the result despite being knocked out in the 11th, pushed for a fight with Trevor Berbick in order to prove himself Photograph: Public Domain

The fight was announced at a press conference in New York on 19 September 1981. It is to be early December and the venue is to be the Queen Elizabeth Sport Centre, Nassau, Bahamas. Concerns about Ali's health meant several commissions wanted none of the responsibility inherent in allowing him to fight and the Ali could not get licensed to fight in the US due to neurological concerns that could no longer be ignored. Two physicians, including his former doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, had stated that Ali was suffering brain damage from having absorbed too many blows. His speech had slowed and was occasionally slurred. Even Ali himself was worried and submitted to a series of tests at New York University. The doctors involved came to the conclusion that "There's absolutely no evidence that Muhammad has sustained any injury to any vital organ ... if the slurring were due to permanent damage, it would be there all the time." Photograph: Dave Pickoff/AP

Ali takes a break during a training session around two weeks before the fight Photograph: Gene Blythe/AP

Ali shows he still has his hand speed at a press conference on the day before the fight. The weigh-in also took place on that day with Ali tipping the scales at 236 1/4 lbs and Berbick 218 Photograph: AP

Even though he's a few pounds heavier, the face staring out of the head-guard is still unmistakably that of Muhammad Ali. "Everybody knows me," Ali says. "Not just in the West, but in China, in Russia, in Morocco, in Libya. They know me all over the world. I set up a goal for myself, to demonstrate to other people what can be done. I do it for them. People tell me not to fight, but they are at the foot of the wall of knowledge and I am at the top. My horizon is greater than theirs. Why do people go to the moon? Why did Martin Luther King say he had a dream? People need challenges." Photograph: Phil Sandlin/AP

Trevor Berbick is in a good mood as he tucks into lunch on the day of the fight. He told reporters that "The show will go on," when asked whether the fight will go ahead. In fact Berbick's trainer Lee Black only confirmed at 5:40pm, barely five hours before the fight was due to start, that his fighter had finally agreed to fight. Problems had arisen over Berbick's purse as though he had been given $100,000 of it, he announced he would not step into the ring until he had been paid the remaining $250,000. It is more likely that Berbick's actions were guided not by greed but by the fact that for weeks there were rumours that the promoter - Sports Internationale (Bahamas) Ltd - and its show were on the verge of collapse Photograph: Richard Drew/AP

So the fight can eventually take place but the promoters had forgotten to supply equipment - there was no official timepiece, so a hasty search was made and someone came up with a stopwatch. Then it was discovered there was no real bell to end the rounds, but after a look around a cowbell was found and used. Ali started the fight dancing round and flicking out his jab, as he promised, but Berbick came back at Ali throwing large shots aimed at Ali's head Photograph: AP

Like this left, which Ali does well to avoid Photograph: AP

As soon as the third round, age seems to have caught up with the former champions as he seems to tire Photograph: AP

Though Ali's stamina may have gone, his bravery hadn't and he wasn't afraid to go toe to toe with Berbick and trade blows with the younger, stronger fighter Photograph: AP

In fact Ali seemed to win the fifth and sixth rounds with his combinations and aggressive punches though the power of old was gone Photograph: Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Ali could see the openings but more often than not his body wasn't able to react quickly enough to enough to capitalize on them Photograph: Focus On Sport/Getty Images

By the seventh round Ali was tired, though he found some energy to dance around the ring in the eighth which drew cheers from the crowd Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

With Ali tiring, Berbick was able to control the fight and take the ascendancy. His speed and power allowed him to inflict a series of damaging punches - he was able to batter Ali in the corner ... Photograph: AP

...and land a big right to Ali's head in the ninth and fire in relentless body shots whilst Ali is on the ropes in the final round Photograph: Focus On Sport/Getty Images

Berbick wasn't able to knock Ali down and the final bell went. The judges scores came in, both Clyde Gray and Jay Edson scored it 99-94 whereas Alanza Butler made it 97-94. It was a unanimous victory for Berbick Photograph: AP

Ali at a press conference the day after the fight. He told the reporters he would like to become an "Islamic evangelist." Photograph: Richard Drew/AP

Ali retired for good after the fight, finishing his career with an overall record of 56-5 and earning a lasting reputation as one of the 20th century’s most influential sportsmen and icons Photograph: Jane Bown for the Observer