Dwight Muhammad Qawi

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, born as Dwight Braxton on January 5, 1953, is a retired American professional boxer who fought from 1978 to 1998. He was a world champion in two different 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. He retired with a record of 41 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw, including 25 knockouts. He was known for his relentless fighting style and toughness, earning him the nickname "Camden Buzzsaw," in honor of his hometown of Camden, New Jersey.

Qawi's professional career spanned over 20 years, starting in April 1978 with his debut against Leonard Langley, which ended in a draw. He went on to win his first world title on December 19, 1981, against Matthew Saad Muhammad for the WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles via 10th round TKO to become the light-heavyweight champion of the world. Qawi then successfully defended the title three times in the next 15 months, knocking out Jerry Martin, Saad Muhammad a second time, and Eddie Davis.

Qawi felt that making the division's 175-pound weight limit had drained him physically, and he resolved to seek another world title in the newly created cruiserweight division. He claimed the WBA cruiserweight title on July 7, 1985, after 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 eventually retired in 1999, at the age of 46, with an impressive career record of 41 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw, with 25 wins by way of knockout. His last professional fight was a non-title bout against Tony LaRosa on November 25, 1998. Qawi lost the fight via 8 round unanimous decision.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi's professional boxing career was characterized by some very good performances. He put on some exceptional exhibitions in his 53 fights. His most incredible fights and notable victories include wins over legendary fighters Matthew Saad Muhammad, Jerry Martin, Rick Enis, Leon Spinks, Eddie Taylor, Tommy Richardson, and Ric Lainhart. His victories over Saad Muhammad were wars, with Qawi winning both matches by TKO. His performance in the first match earned him a shot at his first world title.

Qawi's career summary includes winning three world titles at two weight classes. Over his lengthy career, he experienced 11 losses in his professional boxing career, with four of them in title bouts and seven losses in non-title bouts. Qawi suffered his first loss against Johnny Davis via a 6-round split-decision on November 2, 1978. The two losses that came through knockout were against Michael Spinks and George Foreman.

Qawi was known for his relentless fighting style, which earned him the nickname "Camden Buzzsaw." He was a fierce competitor who was never out of a fight, no matter how far behind he was. He was a master at cutting off the ring to keep his opponents in front of him, where he could work his body punches and set up his power shots. His style of fighting made him one of the most exciting fighters in boxing, and he remains an inspiration to many young fighters today.

In addition to his accomplishments in the ring, Qawi was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, which solidifies his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the sport. After retiring from boxing, Qawi worked as a boxing trainer in New Jersey. He also worked at the Lighthouse, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Mays Landing, New Jersey. There, he worked with both adults and adolescents as a patient advocate.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi's boxing career remains a shining example of what hard work, determination, and perseverance can achieve. His achievements both inside and outside of the ring will continue to inspire future generations of boxers and sports enthusiasts alike.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi Fight Record