# Dwight Muhammad Qawi

Dwight Muhammad Qawi (/kɑːˈwiː/ 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 classes, having held the WBC and Ring magazine light heavyweight titles from 1981 to 1983, and the WBA cruiserweight title from 1985 to 1986. Qawi was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.

## 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.
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. 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.

## Professional career

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 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. 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. Currently, he works as a boxing trainer in New Jersey.

## Life after boxing

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.

## Professional boxing record

| 53 fights | 41 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 25 | 2 |
| By decision | 16 | 9 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| 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. | |
| 52 | Win | 41–10–1 | Tyrone Demby | TKO | 2 | Jun 27, 1997 | Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 40–10–1 | Earl Clark | UD | 6 | May 8, 1997 | Boys and Girls Club, Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 39–10–1 | Nate Miller | UD | 10 | Oct 13, 1992 | The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 39–9–1 | Dave Fiddler | TKO | 2 (8), 2:59 | Jul 18, 1992 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 48 | Loss | 38–9–1 | Arthur Williams | UD | 10 | May 8, 1992 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 38–8–1 | Ric Lainhart | TKO | 1 (10), 3:00 | Apr 7, 1992 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 37–8–1 | Ricky Parkey | RTD | 8 (10), 3:00 | Nov 7, 1991 | Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C., U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title |
| 45 | Win | 36–8–1 | Eddie Taylor | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | Jul 23, 1991 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 35–8–1 | James Salerno | UD | 10 | Jun 11, 1991 | Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 34–8–1 | Tommy Richardson | KO | 1 | Apr 20, 1991 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 33–8–1 | Bert Gravley | TKO | 3 | Mar 2, 1991 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 32–8–1 | Mike Hunter | UD | 12 | Mar 16, 1990 | Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title |
| 40 | Loss | 32–7–1 | Robert Daniels | SD | 12 | Nov 27 1989 | Pavillon Baltard, Nogent-le-Phaye, France | For vacant WBA cruiserweight title |
| 39 | Win | 32–6–1 | Everett Martin | UD | 10 | May 22, 1989 | Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 31–6–1 | Andre McCall | UD | 12 | Apr 18, 1989 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title |
| 37 | Win | 30–6–1 | Tyrone Booze | MD | 10 | Feb 15, 1989 | Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 29–6–1 | Olian Alexander | TKO | 3 (10), 0:53 | Nov 23, 1988 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 28–6–1 | George Foreman | TKO | 7 (10), 1:51 | Mar 19, 1988 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 34 | Loss | 28–5–1 | Evander Holyfield | KO | 4 (15), 2:30 | Dec 5, 1987 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | For WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles |
| 33 | Win | 28–4–1 | Lee Roy Murphy | TKO | 6 (10), 1:30 | Aug 15, 1987 | Parking du Nouveau Port, Saint-Tropez, France | |
| 32 | Loss | 27–4–1 | Ossie Ocasio | MD | 10 | May 15, 1987 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 27–3–1 | Narcisco Maldonado | TKO | 4 (10), 1:42 | Feb 6, 1987 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 30 | Loss | 26–3–1 | Evander Holyfield | SD | 15 | Jul 12, 1986 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Lost WBA cruiserweight title |
| 29 | Win | 26–2–1 | Leon Spinks | TKO | 6 (15), 2:56 | Mar 22, 1986 | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBA cruiserweight title |
| 28 | Win | 25–2–1 | Rick Enis | KO | 1 (10), 1:54 | Jan 8, 1986 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 24–2–1 | Piet Crous | KO | 11 (15), 1:47 | Jul 27, 1985 | Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa | Won WBA cruiserweight title |
| 26 | Win | 23–2–1 | Michael Greer | UD | 10 | Feb 27, 1985 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 22–2–1 | Stanley Ross | UD | 10 | Dec 12, 1984 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 21–2–1 | Pat Cuillo | UD | 10 | Mar 21, 1984 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 20–2–1 | Johnny Davis | SD | 10 | Sep 17, 1983 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 19–2–1 | Michael Spinks | UD | 15 | Mar 18, 1983 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles; For WBA light heavyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 19–1–1 | Eddie Davis | TKO | 11 (15), 0:28 | Nov 20, 1982 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 20 | Win | 18–1–1 | Matthew Saad Muhammad | TKO | 6 (15), 1:23 | Aug 7, 1982 | Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 | Jerry Martin | TKO | 6 (15), 2:30 | Mar 21, 1982 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 18 | Win | 16–1–1 | Matthew Saad Muhammad | TKO | 10 (15), 2:54 | Dec 19, 1981 | Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won WBC and The Ring light heavyweight titles |
| 17 | Win | 15–1–1 | James Scott | UD | 10 | Sep 5, 1981 | Rahway State Prison, Woodbridge, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 14–1–1 | Mike Rossman | KO | 7 (10), 1:59 | May 31, 1981 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 13–1–1 | Al Bolden | UD | 10 | Mar 5, 1981 | Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Johnny Davis | MD | 10 | Jan 8, 1981 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Tony Mesoraca | TKO | 6 (10) | Nov 6, 1980 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Rick Jester | TKO | 3 (10) | Aug 14, 1980 | International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Charles Smith | TKO | 4 (10) | Jun 5, 1980 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Leonard Langley | TKO | 2 (8), 2:47 | May 8, 1980 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Cornell Chavis | TKO | 1, 1:12 | Mar 29, 1980 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Theunis Kok | KO | 10 (10) | Feb 4, 1980 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
| 7 | Win | 5–1–1 | Johnny Wilburn | UD | 8 | Nov 14, 1979 | Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 4–1–1 | Donald Biff Cline | TKO | 1, 1:48 | Sep 26, 1979 | Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 3–1–1 | Louis Butler | PTS | 8 | Jul 3, 1979 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 2–1–1 | Louis Butler | UD | 6 | May 25, 1979 | Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 3 | Loss | 1–1–1 | Johnny Davis | SD | 6 | Nov 2, 1978 | Audubon Ballroom, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 1–0–1 | Lou Benson Jr. | PTS | 6 | Jun 3, 1978 | Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Leonard Langley | PTS | 6 | Apr 19, 1978 | D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |