Dwight Muhammad Qawi
| Dwight Muhammad Qawi | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Camden Buzzsaw |
| Rated at |
Light heavyweight Cruiserweight Heavyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
Dwight Braxton January 5, 1953 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 53 |
| Wins | 41 |
| Wins by KO | 25 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Draws | 1 |
Dwight Muhammad Qawi (born Dwight Braxton; January 5, 1953) is an American former professional boxer who won world titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.[1]
Background
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.[2]
It was at Rahway 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 80's 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. The ex-convict was the underdog against Saad, one of the most popular fighters of his generation and a fellow Hall of Famer, but Braxton defeated him on a 10th-round technical knockout and became a world champion for the first time.[3] 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.
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.[4]
Professional boxing record
| 41 Wins (25 KOs), 11 Losses, 1 Draw[5] | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 41-11-1 |  Tony LaRosa |
UD | 8 | 25 Nov 1998 | Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois |
|
| Win | 41-10-1 | Tyrone Demby |
TKO | 2 (?) | 27 Jun 1997 | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 40-10-1 | Earl Clark |
UD | 6 | 8 May 1997 | Boys and Girls Club, Paterson, New Jersey |
|
| Loss | 39-10-1 | Nate Miller |
UD | 10 | 13 Oct 1992 | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia |
|
| Win | 39-9-1 |  Dave Fiddler |
TKO | 2 (8) | 18 Jul 1992 | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas |
|
| Loss | 38-9-1 | Arthur Williams |
UD | 10 | 8 May 1992 | Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas |
|
| Win | 38-8-1 | Ric Lainhart |
TKO | 1 (10) | 7 Apr 1992 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 37-8-1 | Ricky Parkey |
TKO | 8 (10) | 7 Nov 1991 | District of Columbia |
|
| Win | 36-8-1 | Eddie Taylor |
TKO | 4 (10) | 23 Jul 1991 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 35-8-1 | James Salerno |
UD | 10 | 11 Jun 1991 | Miami Beach, Florida |
|
| Win | 34-8-1 | Tommy Richardson |
KO | 1 (?) | 20 Apr 1991 | Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 33-8-1 | Bert Gravley |
TKO | 3 (?) | 2 Mar 1991 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Loss | 32-8-1 | Mike Hunter |
UD | 12 | 16 Mar 1990 | Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey |
Lost WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title. |
| Loss | 32-7-1 | Robert Daniels |
SD | 12 | 27 Nov 1989 |  Pavilion Baltard, Nogent-le-Phaye, Eure-et-Loir, France |
For vacant WBA cruiserweight title. |
| Win | 32-6-1 | Everett Martin |
UD | 10 | 22 May 1989 | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 31-6-1 | Andre McCall |
UD | 12 | 18 Apr 1989 | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title. |
| Win | 30-6-1 | Tyrone Booze |
PTS | 10 | 15 Feb 1989 | Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia |
|
| Win | 29-6-1 | Olian Alexander |
TKO | 3 (10) | 23 Nov 1988 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia |
|
| Loss | 28-6-1 | George Foreman |
TKO | 7 (10) | 19 Mar 1988 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
| Loss | 28-5-1 | Evander Holyfield |
KO | 4 (15) | 5 Dec 1987 | Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
For WBA/IBF cruiserweight titles. |
| Win | 28-4-1 | Lee Roy Murphy |
TKO | 6 (10) | 15 Aug 1987 | Saint-Tropez, Var, France |
|
| Loss | 27-4-1 |  Ossie Ocasio |
MD | 10 | 15 May 1987 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas |
|
| Win | 27-3-1 | Narcisco Maldonado |
TKO | 4 (10) | 6 Feb 1987 | Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Loss | 26-3-1 | Evander Holyfield |
SD | 15 | 12 Jul 1986 | Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlanta |
Lost WBA cruiserweight title. |
| Win | 26-2-1 | Leon Spinks |
TKO | 6 (15) | 22 Mar 1986 | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada |
Retained WBA cruiserweight title. |
| Win | 25-2-1 | Rick Enis |
KO | 1 (10) | 8 Jan 1986 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 24-2-1 | .svg.png){kind=small} Piet Crous |
TKO | 11 (15) | 27 Jul 1985 |  Superbowl, Sun City, Bophuthatswana |
Won WBA Cruiserweight title. |
| Win | 23-2-1 | Michael Greer |
UD | 10 | 27 Feb 1985 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 22-2-1 | Stanley Ross |
UD | 10 | 12 Dec 1984 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 21-2-1 | Pat Cuillo |
UD | 10 | 21 Mar 1984 | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 20-2-1 | Johnny Davis |
SD | 10 | 17 Sep 1983 | Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Loss | 19-2-1 | Michael Spinks |
UD | 15 | 18 Mar 1983 | Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
Lost WBC light-heavyweight title. For WBA light-heavyweight title. |
| Win | 19-1-1 | Eddie Davis |
TKO | 11 (15) | 20 Nov 1982 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
Retained WBC light-heavyweight title. |
| Win | 18-1-1 | Matthew Saad Muhammad |
TKO | 6 (15) | 7 Aug 1982 | Spectrum, Philadelphia |
Retained WBC light-heavyweight title. |
| Win | 17-1-1 | Jerry Martin |
TKO | 6 (15) | 21 Mar 1982 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas |
Retained WBC light-heavyweight title. |
| Win | 16-1-1 | Matthew Saad Muhammad |
TKO | 10 (15) | 19 Dec 1981 | Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
Won WBC light-heavyweight title. |
| Win | 15-1-1 | James Scott |
UD | 10 | 5 Sep 1981 | Rahway State Prison, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 14-1-1 | Mike Rossman |
KO | 7 (10) | 31 May 1981 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 13-1-1 | Al Bolden |
PTS | 10 | 5 Mar 1981 | Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia |
|
| Win | 12-1-1 | Johnny Davis |
PTS | 10 | 8 Jan 1981 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 11-1-1 | Tony Mesoraca |
TKO | 6 (10) | 6 Nov 1980 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 10-1-1 | Rick Jester |
TKO | 3 (10) | 14 Aug 1980 | International Amphitheatre, Chicago |
|
| Win | 9-1-1 | Charles Smith |
TKO | 4 (?) | 5 Jun 1980 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 8-1-1 | Leonard Langley |
TKO | 2 (8) | 8 May 1980 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 7-1-1 | Cornell Chavis |
TKO | 1 (?) | 29 Mar 1980 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 6-1-1 | Theunis Kok |
KO | 1 (10) | 4 Feb 1980 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban, Natal, South Africa |
|
| Win | 5-1-1 | Johnny Wilburn |
UD | 8 | 14 Nov 1979 | Civic Center, Baltimore |
|
| Win | 4-1-1 | Donald Biff Cline |
TKO | 1 (?) | 26 Sep 1979 | Civic Center, Baltimore |
|
| Win | 3-1-1 | Louis Butler |
PTS | 8 | 3 Jul 1979 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
|
| Win | 2-1-1 | Louis Butler |
PTS | 6 | 25 May 1979 | Civic Center, Baltimore |
|
| Loss | 1-1-1 | Johnny Davis |
SD | 6 | 2 Nov 1978 | Audubon Ballroom, New York |
|
| Win | 1-0-1 | Lou Benson Jr. |
PTS | 6 | 3 Jun 1978 | Civic Center, Baltimore |
|
| Draw | 0-0-1 | Leonard Langley |
PTS | 6 | 19 Apr 1978 | D.C. Armory, District of Columbia |
Professional debut. |
See also
References
- ↑ Kates, William (2004-06-13). "Boxing champ Palomino enters Boxing Hall of Fame". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
- ↑ Putnam, Pat (1981-12-28). "From The Big House To The Big Time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
- ↑ "Muhammad loses title to Braxton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. 1981-12-21. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
- ↑ "Camden NJ – Dwight Braxton aka Dwight Muhammed Qawi – The Camden Buzzsaw".
- ↑ "BoxRec – Dwight Muhammad Qawi".
External links
| Preceded by Matthew Saad Muhammad |
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion The Ring Light Heavyweight Champion 19 December 1981 – 18 March 1983 |
Succeeded by Michael Spinks |
| Preceded by Piet Crous |
WBA Cruiserweight Champion July 27, 1985 – 1986 |
Succeeded by Evander Holyfield |