Dwight Muhammad Qawi

Dwight Muhammad Qawi (born Dwight Braxton, January 5, 1953 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.) is a former world boxing champion in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. 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 Fraziers Philadelphia gym as a professional.

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, NJ. He works with both adults and adolescents and is a patient advocate.^[4]

Professional boxing record

41 Wins (25 KOs), 11 Losses, 1 Draw
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	41-11-1	Tony LaRosa	UD	8	25 Nov 1998	Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41-10-1	Tyrone Demby	TKO	2 (?)	27 Jun 1997	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	40-10-1	Earl Clark	UD	6	8 May 1997	Boys and Girls Club, Paterson, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	39-10-1	Nate Miller	UD	10	13 Oct 1992	Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39-9-1	Dave Fiddler	TKO	2 (8)	18 Jul 1992	Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	38-9-1	Arthur Williams	UD	10	8 May 1992	Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38-8-1	Ric Lainhart	TKO	1 (10)	7 Apr 1992	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	37-8-1	Ricky Parkey	TKO	8 (10)	7 Nov 1991	District of Columbia, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	36-8-1	Eddie Taylor	TKO	4 (10)	23 Jul 1991	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35-8-1	James Salerno	UD	10	11 Jun 1991	Miami Beach, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34-8-1	Tommy Richardson	KO	1 (?)	20 Apr 1991	Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33-8-1	Bert Gravley	TKO	3 (?)	2 Mar 1991	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32-8-1	Mike Hunter	UD	12	16 Mar 1990	Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, United States	Lost WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |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.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32-6-1	Everett Martin	UD	10	22 May 1989	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31-6-1	Andre McCall	UD	12	18 Apr 1989	Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States	Won vacant WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30-6-1	Tyrone Booze	PTS	10	15 Feb 1989	Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-6-1	Olian Alexander	TKO	3 (10)	23 Nov 1988	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	28-6-1	George Foreman	TKO	7 (10)	19 Mar 1988	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	28-5-1	Evander Holyfield	KO	4 (15)	5 Dec 1987	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	For WBA/IBF cruiserweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28-4-1	Lee Roy Murphy	TKO	6 (10)	15 Aug 1987	Saint-Tropez, Var, France
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	27-4-1	Ossie Ocasio	MD	10	15 May 1987	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27-3-1	Narcisco Maldonado	TKO	4 (10)	6 Feb 1987	Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	26-3-1	Evander Holyfield	SD	15	12 Jul 1986	Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, United States	Lost WBA cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26-2-1	Leon Spinks	TKO	6 (15)	22 Mar 1986	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States	Retained WBA cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25-2-1	Rick Enis	KO	1 (10)	8 Jan 1986	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24-2-1	Piet Crous	TKO	11 (15)	27 Jul 1985	Superbowl, Sun City, North-West, South Africa	Won WBA Cruiserweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-2-1	Michael Greer	UD	10	27 Feb 1985	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-2-1	Stanley Ross	UD	10	12 Dec 1984	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21-2-1	Pat Cuillo	UD	10	21 Mar 1984	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20-2-1	Johnny Davis	SD	10	17 Sep 1983	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	19-2-1	Michael Spinks	UD	15	18 Mar 1983	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Lost WBC light-heavyweight title. For WBA light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19-1-1	Eddie Davis	TKO	11 (15)	20 Nov 1982	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-1-1	Matthew Saad Muhammad	TKO	6 (15)	7 Aug 1982	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Retained WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-1-1	Jerry Martin	TKO	6 (15)	21 Mar 1982	Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-1-1	Matthew Saad Muhammad	TKO	10 (15)	19 Dec 1981	Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Won WBC light-heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-1-1	James Scott	UD	10	5 Sep 1981	Rahway State Prison, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14-1-1	Mike Rossman	KO	7 (10)	31 May 1981	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13-1-1	Al Bolden	PTS	10	5 Mar 1981	Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12-1-1	Johnny Davis	PTS	10	8 Jan 1981	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-1-1	Tony Mesoraca	TKO	6 (10)	6 Nov 1980	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-1-1	Rick Jester	TKO	3 (10)	14 Aug 1980	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9-1-1	Charles Smith	TKO	4 (?)	5 Jun 1980	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-1-1	Leonard Langley	TKO	2 (8)	8 May 1980	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-1-1	Cornell Chavis	TKO	1 (?)	29 Mar 1980	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6-1-1	Theunis Kok	KO	1 (10)	4 Feb 1980	Kings Park Stadium, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5-1-1	Johnny Wilburn	UD	8	14 Nov 1979	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-1-1	Donald Biff Cline	TKO	1 (?)	26 Sep 1979	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3-1-1	Louis Butler	PTS	8	3 Jul 1979	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-1-1	Louis Butler	PTS	6	25 May 1979	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	1-1-1	Johnny Davis	SD	6	2 Nov 1978	Audubon Ballroom, New York, New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-0-1	Lou Benson Jr.	PTS	6	3 Jun 1978	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Draw	0-0-1	Leonard Langley	PTS	6	19 Apr 1978	D.C. Armory, District of Columbia, United States	Professional debut.

See also

Book: Dwight Muhammad Qawi

• The Brawl for it All

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Dwight Muhammad Qawi from BoxRec