The boxing world mourns the loss of Dwight Muhammad Qawi, a pugilist who transcended the limits of the sport and became a symbol of perseverance and success. Qawi, who forged his path in boxing from the shadows of prison, passed away at the age of 72 after a five-year battle against dementia.
Born as Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi grew up in Camden, New Jersey. His story is a testament to transformation, as he began boxing in Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery. After his release in 1978, at the age of 25, he turned professional.
In December 1981, Qawi, who legally changed his name in 1982 after converting to Islam, achieved a significant victory by stopping Matthew Saad Muhammad in the tenth round, winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight belt. Qawi demonstrated his dominance over Saad again eight months later, winning in six rounds.Dwight Muhammad Qawi, campeón de peso semipesado y crucero en la década de 1980, fue incluido en el Salón Internacional de la Fama del Boxeo en 2004.After a defeat to Michael Spinks, Qawi, known as “The Camden Buzzsaw,” moved up a weight class and won the World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight title by defeating Piet Crous in July 1985. His reign continued until July 1986, when he lost the title to Evander Holyfield, who later became a heavyweight champion, in a fight that lasted 15 rounds.
Qawi also competed in the heavyweight category, where he was stopped by George Foreman in the seventh round.
Qawi retired in 1998 at the age of 46, with a record of 41-11-1 and 25 knockouts. His legacy was recognized in 2004, when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
After his retirement, Qawi remained involved in boxing as a trainer and also dedicated himself to the defense of young people and counseling on drug and alcohol issues.
