Dwight Muhammad Qawi: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:26, 2 December 2025

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Dwight Muhammad Qawi (Template:IPAc-en Script error: No such module "Respell".; born Dwight Braxton; January 5, 1953 – July 25, 2025) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1998. He was a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC and Ring magazine light heavyweight titles from 1981 to 1983, and the WBA cruiserweight title from 1985 to 1986.^[1] Qawi was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.^[2]^[1]

Early life

Qawi, born Dwight Braxton, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but grew up in Camden, New Jersey, where he got involved with crime at a young age.^[1] He was eventually convicted of armed robbery and spent around five years in prison.^[3]

It was in Rahway State Prison that Braxton found his place in life. The prison had an extensive boxing program and one of its inmates, James Scott, was a light heavyweight title contender who fought several times inside the prison itself.^[1] Braxton took up the sport, and when he was released from prison in 1978, immediately became a professional boxer.^[1] Qawi's style was most often likened to Joe Frazier,^[4] an infighting style with heavy use of feints and head movement,^[1] with relentless pressure and a crab shell defense,^[5] and with good reason as he had trained in Frazier's Philadelphia gym as a professional.^[1]^[4] He converted to Islam in the early 1980s and had his name changed from Dwight Braxton to Dwight Muhammad Qawi.^[1]

Professional career

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". He went 1–1–1 in his first three pro fights, but then reeled off 14 straight victories to move into the world rankings at light heavyweight.^[1] The last of those wins came on September 5, 1981, when Braxton returned to Rahway to fight Scott, with the winner promised a shot at Matthew Saad Muhammad's WBC world championship belt. Braxton won a unanimous 10-round decision.

On December 19 of the same year, Braxton faced Saad Muhammad in Atlantic City. Braxton was the underdog against Saad, one of the most popular fighters of his generation and a fellow future Hall of Famer, but Braxton defeated him on a 10th-round technical knockout and became a world champion for the first time.^[6] It was shortly after this that he announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name.

He defended the title three times in the next 15 months, knocking out Jerry Martin, Saad Muhammad a second time and Eddie Davis. On March 18, 1983, he lost a close but unanimous decision to WBA champion Michael Spinks in a unification bout.

Qawi felt that making the division's 175-pound weight limit had drained him physically, and resolved to seek another world title in the newly created cruiserweight division. Freed of the need to fight to keep his weight down, Qawi reeled off another series of wins and claimed the WBA cruiserweight title on July 7, 1985, knocking out Piet Crous in Crous' native South Africa.

He won two more fights, including a victory over former world heavyweight titlist Leon Spinks, before accepting a challenge from Olympian Evander Holyfield on July 12, 1986. The fight, in Holyfield's hometown of Atlanta, went the full 15 rounds, with Holyfield winning a split decision.

After the loss to Holyfield, Qawi fought off and on for the next 12 years, but never regained a world title. He rematched with Holyfield in 1987 for the WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles, but was stopped in the fourth round.

After a short stint in the heavyweight ranks, where in 1988 he lost to George Foreman by knockout in seven rounds, being forced to quit from exhaustion, he tried to regain the cruiserweight title. On November 27, 1989, he dropped a split decision to Robert Daniels for Holyfield's vacated WBA title.

Qawi retired in 1999 at the age of 46, with a career record of 41 wins, 11 losses and one draw, with 25 wins by way of knockout. He worked as a boxing trainer in New Jersey.

Later life and death

In 1998, Dwight began working at the Lighthouse, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Mays Landing, New Jersey. He worked with both adults and adolescents and was a patient advocate.^[7]

On July 25, 2025, Qawi died at the age of 72 at a nursing home in Baltimore, Maryland.^[8] He had dementia for the last five years of his life.^[9]

Professional boxing record

Template:BoxingRecordSummary

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
53	Loss	41–11–1	Tony LaRosa	UD	8	Nov 25, 1998	Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
52	Win	41–10–1	Tyrone Demby	TKO	2	Jun 27, 1997	Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
51	Win	40–10–1	Earl Clark	UD	6	May 8, 1997	Boys and Girls Club, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
50	Loss	39–10–1	Nate Miller	UD	10	Oct 13, 1992	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
49	Win	39–9–1	Dave Fiddler	TKO	2 (8), 2:59Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Jul 18, 1992	The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
48	Loss	38–9–1	Arthur Williams	UD	10	May 8, 1992	Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
47	Win	38–8–1	Ric Lainhart	TKO	1 (10), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Apr 7, 1992	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
46	Win	37–8–1	Ricky Parkey	RTD	8 (10), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Nov 7, 1991	Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C., U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
45	Win	36–8–1	Eddie Taylor	RTD	4 (10), 3:00Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Jul 23, 1991	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
44	Win	35–8–1	James Salerno	UD	10	Jun 11, 1991	Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
43	Win	34–8–1	Tommy Richardson	KO	1	Apr 20, 1991	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
42	Win	33–8–1	Bert Gravley	TKO	3	March 2, 1991	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
41	Loss	32–8–1	Mike Hunter	UD	12	Mar 16, 1990	Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Lost WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
40	Loss	32–7–1	Robert Daniels	SD	12	Nov 27, 1989	Pavillon Baltard, Nogent-le-Phaye, FranceScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	For vacant WBA cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
39	Win	32–6–1	Everett Martin	UD	10	May 22, 1989	Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
38	Win	31–6–1	Andre McCall	UD	12	Apr 18, 1989	Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
37	Win	30–6–1	Tyrone Booze	MD	10	Feb 15, 1989	Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
36	Win	29–6–1	Olian Alexander	TKO	3 (10), 0:53Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Nov 23, 1988	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
35	Loss	28–6–1	George Foreman	TKO	7 (10), 1:51Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Mar 19, 1988	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
34	Loss	28–5–1	Evander Holyfield	KO	4 (15), 2:30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Dec 5, 1987	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	For WBA and IBF cruiserweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
33	Win	28–4–1	Lee Roy Murphy	TKO	6 (10), 1:30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Aug 15, 1987	Parking du Nouveau Port, Saint-Tropez, FranceScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
32	Loss	27–4–1	Ossie Ocasio	MD	10	May 15, 1987	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
31	Win	27–3–1	Narcisco Maldonado	TKO	4 (10), 1:42Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Feb 6, 1987	Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
30	Loss	26–3–1	Evander Holyfield	SD	15	Jul 12, 1986	Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Lost WBA cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
29	Win	26–2–1	Leon Spinks	TKO	6 (15), 2:56Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Mar 22, 1986	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Retained WBA cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
28	Win	25–2–1	Rick Enis	KO	1 (10), 1:54Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Jan 8, 1986	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
27	Win	24–2–1	Piet Crous	KO	11 (15), 1:47Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Jul 27, 1985	Superbowl, Sun City, South AfricaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Won WBA cruiserweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
26	Win	23–2–1	Michael Greer	UD	10	Feb 27, 1985	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
25	Win	22–2–1	Stanley Ross	UD	10	Dec 12, 1984	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
24	Win	21–2–1	Pat Cuillo	UD	10	Mar 21, 1984	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
23	Win	20–2–1	Johnny Davis	SD	10	Sep 17, 1983	Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
22	Loss	19–2–1	Michael Spinks	UD	15	Mar 18, 1983	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Lost WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles; For WBA light heavyweight titleScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
21	Win	19–1–1	Eddie Davis	TKO	11 (15), 0:28Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Nov 20, 1982	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Retained WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
20	Win	18–1–1	Matthew Saad Muhammad	TKO	6 (15), 1:23Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Aug 7, 1982	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Retained WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
19	Win	17–1–1	Jerry Martin	TKO	6 (15), 2:30Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Mar 21, 1982	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Retained WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
18	Win	16–1–1	Matthew Saad Muhammad	TKO	10 (15), 2:54Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Dec 19, 1981	Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Won WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titlesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
17	Win	15–1–1	James Scott	UD	10	Sep 5, 1981	Rahway State Prison, Woodbridge, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
16	Win	14–1–1	Mike Rossman	KO	7 (10), 1:59Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	May 31, 1981	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
15	Win	13–1–1	Al Bolden	UD	10	Mar 5, 1981	Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
14	Win	12–1–1	Johnny Davis	MD	10	Jan 8, 1981	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
13	Win	11–1–1	Tony Mesoraca	TKO	6 (10)	Nov 6, 1980	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
12	Win	10–1–1	Rick Jester	TKO	3 (10)	Aug 14, 1980	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
11	Win	9–1–1	Charles Smith	TKO	4 (10)	Jun 5, 1980	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
10	Win	8–1–1	Leonard Langley	TKO	2 (8), 2:47Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	May 8, 1980	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
9	Win	7–1–1	Cornell Chavis	TKO	1, 1:12Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Mar 29, 1980	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
8	Win	6–1–1	Theunis Kok	KO	10 (10)	Feb 4, 1980	Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South AfricaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
7	Win	5–1–1	Johnny Wilburn	UD	8	Nov 14, 1979	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
6	Win	4–1–1	Donald Biff Cline	TKO	1, 1:48Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	Sep 26, 1979	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
5	Win	3–1–1	Louis Butler	PTS	8	Jul 3, 1979	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4	Win	2–1–1	Louis Butler	UD	6	May 25, 1979	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
3	Loss	1–1–1	Johnny Davis	SD	6	Nov 2, 1978	Audubon Ballroom, New York City, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2	Win	1–0–1	Lou Benson Jr.	PTS	6	Jun 3, 1978	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1	Template:DrawDraw	0–0–1	Leonard Langley	PTS	6	Apr 19, 1978	D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

References

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↑ Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at 72
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External links

Template:Boxrec

Sporting positions Template:S-text
Vacant Title last held by Michael Greer	WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight champion April 18, 1989 – March 16, 1990 Template:S-ttl/check	Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by Template:Delink question hyphen-minus Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter
Vacant Title last held by Mike Hunter	WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight champion November 7, 1991 – May 1993 Vacated Template:S-ttl/check	Vacant Title next held by Marc Randazzo Template:S-text
Preceded by Template:Delink question hyphen-minus Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/check	WBC light heavyweight champion December 19, 1981 – March 18, 1983 Template:S-ttl/check	Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by Template:Delink question hyphen-minus Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter
	The Ring light heavyweight champion December 19, 1981 – March 18, 1983 Template:S-ttl/check
Preceded by Template:Delink question hyphen-minus Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/filter Template:S-bef/check	WBA cruiserweight champion July 27, 1985 – July 12, 1986 Template:S-ttl/check	Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by Template:Delink question hyphen-minus Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter Template:S-aft/filter

[cbs-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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[8] Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at 72

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|American boxer}}
+{{Short description|American boxer (1953–2025)}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025|cs1-dates=ly}}
 {{Infobox boxer
 | name = Dwight Muhammad Qawi
+| image = Dwight_Muhammad_Qawi_in_KO_Magazine_September_1986_issue.jpg|caption= Qawi {{circa|1986}}
 | birth_name = Dwight Braxton
-| nickname = [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]] Buzzsaw
+| nickname = Camden Buzzsaw
 | weight = {{plainlist|
 *[[Light heavyweight]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 13: @@
 | height = 5 ft 6.5 in (169 cm)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/325 | title=BoxRec: Dwight Muhammad Qawi }}</ref>
 | reach = 71 in
-| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|1|5}}
+| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|1|5}}
-| birth_place = [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], U.S.
+| birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
+| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|25|1953|1|5}}
+| death_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
 | style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
 | total = 53
@@ Line 21: / Line 25: @@
 }}
-'''Dwight Muhammad Qawi''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ɑː|ˈ|w|iː}} {{respell|kah|WEE}}; born '''Dwight Braxton'''; January 5, 1953) is an American former [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1978 to 1998. He was a world champion in two [[weight class (boxing)|weight classes]], having held the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and ''[[The Ring (magazine)|Ring]]'' magazine [[light heavyweight]] titles from 1981 to 1983, and the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] title from 1985 to 1986. Qawi was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kates|first=William|title=Boxing champ Palomino enters Boxing Hall of Fame|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=2004-06-13|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2004-06-13-boxing-hall_x.htm|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref>
+'''Dwight Muhammad Qawi''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ɑː|ˈ|w|iː}} {{respell|kah|WEE}}; born '''Dwight Braxton'''; January 5, 1953 – July 25, 2025) was an American [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1978 to 1998. He was a world champion in two [[weight class (boxing)|weight classes]], having held the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and ''[[The Ring (magazine)|Ring]]'' magazine [[light heavyweight]] titles from 1981 to 1983, and the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] title from 1985 to 1986.<ref name="cbs">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/boxing/news/two-division-champion-boxing-hall-of-famer-dwight-muhammad-qawi-dies-at-72/|title=Two Division Champion  Boxing Hall of Famer Dwight Muhammad Qawi Dies at 72|website=CBS Sports|access-date=2025-09-14}}</ref> Qawi was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kates|first=William|title=Boxing champ Palomino enters Boxing Hall of Fame|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=June 13, 2004|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2004-06-13-boxing-hall_x.htm|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref><ref name="cbs"/>
 ==Early life==
-Qawi, then known as Dwight Braxton, was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]], but grew up in [[Camden, New Jersey]], where he got involved with crime at a young age. He was eventually convicted of armed robbery and spent around five years in prison.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Putnam|first=Pat|title=From The Big House To The Big Time|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=1981-12-28|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125116|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604071231/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125116|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2011|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref>
+Qawi, born Dwight Braxton, was born in [[Baltimore]], Maryland, but grew up in [[Camden, New Jersey]], where he got involved with crime at a young age.<ref name="cbs"/> He was eventually convicted of armed robbery and spent around five years in prison.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Putnam|first=Pat|title=From The Big House To The Big Time|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 28, 1981|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125116|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604071231/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125116|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-06-04|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref>
-It was in [[East Jersey State Prison|Rahway State Prison]] that Braxton found his place in life. The prison had an extensive boxing program and one of its inmates, [[James Scott (boxer)|James Scott]], was a light heavyweight title contender who fought several times inside the prison itself. Braxton took up the sport, and when he was released from prison in 1978, immediately became a professional boxer. Qawi's style was most often likened to [[Joe Frazier]] and with good reason as he had trained in Frazier's Philadelphia gym as a professional. He converted to [[Islam]] in the early 80s and had his name changed from Dwight Braxton to Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
+It was in [[East Jersey State Prison|Rahway State Prison]] that Braxton found his place in life. The prison had an extensive boxing program and one of its inmates, [[James Scott (boxer)|James Scott]], was a light heavyweight title contender who fought several times inside the prison itself.<ref name="cbs"/> Braxton took up the sport, and when he was released from prison in 1978, immediately became a professional boxer.<ref name="cbs"/> Qawi's style was most often likened to [[Joe Frazier]],<ref name="ring">{{cite web|url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/dwight-muhammad-qwai-obit|title=Dwight Muhammad Qawi|website=[[Ring Magazine]]|access-date=2025-09-14}}</ref> an infighting style with heavy use of feints and head movement,<ref name="cbs"/> with relentless pressure and a [[Crab Defense (boxing style)|crab shell]] defense,<ref name="site">{{cite web|url=https://www.thefight-site.com/home/the-camden-buzzsaw-dwight-muhammad-qawi|title=The Camden Buzzsaw Dwight Muhammad Qawi|website=TheFightSite|access-date=2025-09-14}}</ref> and with good reason as he had trained in Frazier's Philadelphia gym as a professional.<ref name="cbs"/><ref name="ring"/> He converted to [[Islam]] in the early 1980s and had his name changed from Dwight Braxton to Dwight Muhammad Qawi.<ref name="cbs"/>
 ==Professional career==
 {{main|Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi|Dwight Muhammad Qawi vs. Evander Holyfield|Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi II|George Foreman vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi}}
-He went 1-1-1 in his first three pro fights, but then reeled off 14 straight victories to move into the world rankings at light heavyweight. The last of those wins came on September 5, 1981, when Braxton returned to Rahway to fight Scott, with the winner promised a shot at [[Matthew Saad Muhammad]]'s [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world championship belt. Braxton won a unanimous 10-round decision.
+He went 1–1–1 in his first three pro fights, but then reeled off 14 straight victories to move into the world rankings at light heavyweight.<ref name="cbs"/> The last of those wins came on September 5, 1981, when Braxton returned to Rahway to fight Scott, with the winner promised a shot at [[Matthew Saad Muhammad]]'s [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world championship belt. Braxton won a unanimous 10-round decision.
-On December 19 of the same year, Braxton faced Saad Muhammad in Atlantic City. Braxton was the underdog against Saad, one of the most popular fighters of his generation and a fellow future Hall of Famer, but Braxton defeated him on a 10th-round technical [[knockout]] and became a world champion for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Muhammad loses title to Braxton|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=1981-12-21|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bkQNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lm0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6939,4275836&dwight+braxton&hl=en|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref> It was shortly after this that he announced his conversion to [[Islam]] and changed his name.
+On December 19 of the same year, Braxton faced Saad Muhammad in [[Atlantic City]]. Braxton was the underdog against Saad, one of the most popular fighters of his generation and a fellow future Hall of Famer, but Braxton defeated him on a 10th-round technical [[knockout]] and became a world champion for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Muhammad loses title to Braxton|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=December 21, 1981|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bkQNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lm0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6939,4275836&dwight+braxton&hl=en|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref> It was shortly after this that he announced his conversion to [[Islam]] and changed his name.
 He defended the title three times in the next 15 months, knocking out Jerry Martin, Saad Muhammad a second time and Eddie Davis. On March 18, 1983, [[Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi|he lost a close but unanimous decision]] to [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] champion [[Michael Spinks]] in a unification bout.
@@ Line 38: / Line 42: @@
 Qawi felt that making the division's 175-pound weight limit had drained him physically, and resolved to seek another world title in the newly created cruiserweight division. Freed of the need to fight to keep his weight down, Qawi reeled off another series of wins and claimed the WBA cruiserweight title on July 7, 1985, knocking out [[Piet Crous]] in Crous' native [[South Africa]].
-He won two more fights, including a victory over former world heavyweight titlist [[Leon Spinks]], before accepting a challenge from Olympian [[Evander Holyfield]] on July 12, 1986. The fight, in Holyfield's hometown of [[Atlanta]], went the full 15 rounds with Holyfield winning a split decision.
+He won two more fights, including a victory over former world heavyweight titlist [[Leon Spinks]], before accepting a challenge from Olympian [[Evander Holyfield]] on July 12, 1986. The fight, in Holyfield's hometown of [[Atlanta]], went the full 15 rounds, with Holyfield winning a split decision.
 After the loss to Holyfield, Qawi fought off and on for the next 12 years, but never regained a world title. He rematched with Holyfield in 1987 for the WBA and [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] cruiserweight titles, but was stopped in the fourth round.
@@ Line 44: / Line 48: @@
 After a short stint in the heavyweight ranks, where in 1988 he lost to [[George Foreman]] by knockout in seven rounds, being forced to quit from exhaustion, he tried to regain the cruiserweight title. On November 27, 1989, he dropped a split decision to [[Robert Daniels (boxer)|Robert Daniels]] for Holyfield's vacated WBA title.
-Qawi retired in 1999 at the age of 46, with a career record of 41 wins, 11 losses and one draw, with 25 wins by way of knockout. Currently, he works as a boxing trainer in [[New Jersey]].
+Qawi retired in 1999 at the age of 46, with a career record of 41 wins, 11 losses and one draw, with 25 wins by way of knockout. He worked as a boxing trainer in [[New Jersey]].
-== Life after boxing ==
+== Later life and death ==
-In 1998, Dwight began working at the Lighthouse, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Mays Landing, New Jersey. He works with both adults and adolescents and is a patient advocate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvrbs.com/PEOPLE/camdensports/Boxing-DwightQawi.htm|title=Camden NJ – Dwight Braxton aka Dwight Muhammed Qawi – The Camden Buzzsaw|access-date=2010-07-19|archive-date=2011-09-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110929145031/http://www.dvrbs.com/PEOPLE/camdensports/Boxing-DwightQawi.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+In 1998, Dwight began working at the Lighthouse, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Mays Landing, [[New Jersey]]. He worked with both adults and adolescents and was a patient advocate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvrbs.com/PEOPLE/camdensports/Boxing-DwightQawi.htm|title=Camden NJ – Dwight Braxton aka Dwight Muhammed Qawi – The Camden Buzzsaw|access-date=2010-07-19|archive-date=2011-09-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110929145031/http://www.dvrbs.com/PEOPLE/camdensports/Boxing-DwightQawi.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+On July 25, 2025, Qawi died at the age of 72 at a nursing home in Baltimore, Maryland.<ref>[https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/dwight-muhammad-qawi-dies-at-72 Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at 72]</ref> He had dementia for the last five years of his life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dwight Muhammad Qawi, 72, Dies; Boxing Champ Got His Start in Prison|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/obituaries/dwight-muhammad-qawi-dead.html|last=Longman|first=Jeré|publisher=The New York Times|date=July 29, 2025|access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref>
 ==Professional boxing record==
@@ Line 166: / Line 172: @@
 |10
 |Jun 11, 1991
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium]], [[Miami, Florida]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium]], Miami, Florida, U.S.}}
 |
 |-
@@ Line 185: / Line 191: @@
 |TKO
 |3
-|Mar 2, 1991
+|March 2, 1991
 |style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
 |
@@ Line 205: / Line 211: @@
 |SD
 |12
-|Nov 27 1989
+|Nov 27, 1989
 |style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Pavillon Baltard, [[Nogent-le-Phaye]], France}}
 |style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For vacant WBA cruiserweight title}}
@@ Line 306: / Line 312: @@
 |15
 |[[Dwight Muhammad Qawi vs. Evander Holyfield|Jul 12, 1986]]
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Omni Coliseum]], [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Omni Coliseum]], [[Atlanta]], Georgia, U.S.}}
 |style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost WBA cruiserweight title}}
 |-
@@ Line 456: / Line 462: @@
 |10
 |Mar 5, 1981
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Pennsylvania Hall (Philadelphia)|Pennsylvania Hall]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Pennsylvania Hall (Philadelphia)|Pennsylvania Hall]], [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
 |
 |-
@@ Line 486: / Line 492: @@
 |3 (10)
 |Aug 14, 1980
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[International Amphitheatre]], [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[International Amphitheatre]], Chicago, Illinois, U.S.}}
 |
 |-
@@ Line 576: / Line 582: @@
 |6
 |Nov 2, 1978
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Audubon Ballroom]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Audubon Ballroom]], New York City, U.S.}}
 |
 |-
@@ Line 586: / Line 592: @@
 |6
 |Jun 3, 1978
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Baltimore Civic Center|Civic Center]], [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Baltimore Civic Center|Civic Center]], [[Baltimore]], Maryland, U.S.}}
 |
 |-
@@ Line 596: / Line 602: @@
 |6
 |Apr 19, 1978
-|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[D.C. Armory]], [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.}}
+|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[D.C. Armory]], Washington, D.C., U.S.}}
 |
 |}
 ==See also==
-*[[List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions]]
+* [[List of world light-heavyweight boxing champions]]
-*[[List of world cruiserweight boxing champions]]
+* [[List of world cruiserweight boxing champions]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 608: / Line 614: @@
 ==External links==
-*{{Boxrec|id=325}}
+* {{Boxrec|id=325}}
 {{s-start}}
@@ Line 637: / Line 643: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Qawi, Dwight Muhammad}}
 [[Category:1953 births]]
-[[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:2025 deaths]]
 [[Category:American male boxers]]
 [[Category:African-American boxers]]
@@ Line 655: / Line 661: @@
 [[Category:Muslims from Maryland]]
 [[Category:Muslims from New Jersey]]
+[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
+[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

Dwight Muhammad Qawi: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:26, 2 December 2025

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Dwight Muhammad Qawi: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:26, 2 December 2025

Early life

Professional career

Later life and death

Professional boxing record

See also

References

External links

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