Former two-division world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Dwight Muhammad Qawi has died at the age of 72, following a five-year battle with dementia.
Qawi’s sister, Wanda King, confirmed the news on Friday, saying the former boxer passed away after bravely battling the illness. “He was a great father, a great Pop-Pop to his grandchildren,” she told BoxingScene. “He had a heart of gold, and he fought his dementia illness just like he was fighting in the ring.”
Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi was raised in Camden, New Jersey. He learned to box while serving a prison sentence for armed robbery at Rahway State Prison and turned professional after his release in 1978.
Despite standing just 5ft 7in, Qawi made a name for himself in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. He captured the WBC light heavyweight title in December 1981 with a 10th-round stoppage victory over Matthew Saad Muhammad, and successfully defended the title in a rematch the following August, winning in six rounds.
Nicknamed “The Camden Buzzsaw” for his relentless fighting style, Qawi legally changed his name after converting to Islam in 1982. In March 1983, he lost a unification bout to WBA champion Michael Spinks and subsequently moved up to the cruiserweight division. In July 1985, he defeated Piet Crous to become world champion once again.
One of the defining moments of his career came in July 1986, when he lost his cruiserweight title to Evander Holyfield by split decision in a gruelling 15-round contest, widely regarded as one of the greatest cruiserweight fights of all time. Holyfield also won the rematch in December 1987. Qawi then moved up to heavyweight, where he faced George Foreman in March 1988, suffering a defeat.
Qawi retired in 1998 at the age of 46, ending his professional career with a record of 41 wins, 11 losses, and one draw, including 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.
Following his retirement from the ring, Qawi remained active in his community, training young boxers and working as a youth advocate and drug and alcohol counsellor in New Jersey.
“He went out like a champ,” his sister said. “Right to the end.”