Boxing Spotlight: Hall of Famer Dwight Muhammad Qawi
By Anthony George
While I would never be bold enough to rank boxers; I can never pretend to be that smart, I like to voice, with pride, who some of my favorite boxers are.
Dwight Muhammad Qawi, born Dwight Braxton, is in my top ten. Dwight changed his name when he found faith in the Muslim religion.
Life ways not always faith driven for Qawi. Growing up on the streets of Camden, New Jersey, the future Hall of Famer lived a life entrenched in crime in his youth. His reward was prison. Incarcerated at Rahway Prison, Dwight took a liking to boxing, and was dam good at it.
Released in 1978, Dwight Braxton turned pro as a light heavyweight, a division that was a hotbed of talent and great wars, at that time. His professional career, like his life, was tumultuous at first. Fighting to a draw in his professional debut, against Leonard Langley, and dropping a split decision to the very capable Johnny Davis in his third fight, was not how Dwight wanted to begin his pugilistic career.
However, nothing about how Qawi turned professional was conventional.
Boxers often say that they learn from their blemishes. Qawi’s record is tangible evidence that this moniker is not just pure babble.
The Camden Buzzsaw, one of the best nicknames ever, went on to win 14 straight professional boxing fights after losing to Johnny Davis. During that streak, Qawi defeated Leonard Langley and Johnny Davis in rematches, demolished former light heavyweight champion Mike Rossman, and returned to Rahway prison to defeat fellow inmate James Scott.
During this streak of victories, Qawi established himself as a fighter with a crowd-pleasing style who never took a step backwards.
Qawi’s efforts earned him a title shot against the WBC Light-Heavyweight Champion, Matthew Saad Muhammed, in December of 1981. The bout was aired on ABC television. From the start, Qawi established dominance, much to the surprise of ABC announcer Howard Cosell.
Matthew Saad Muhammad was a champion who etched out a reputation of being able to sustain tremendous punishment, only to come back to unleash his own. If there ever was a real-life Rocky Balboa in boxing, Matthew Saad Muhmmad was it. Qawi did not get the memo. Qawi never gave Saad a chance to show his recuperative powers and the bout was called to a halt by referee Arthur Mercante in the 10th round. Qawi was a world champion in a loaded division.
Qawi was a fighting champion. Defending his title three times in 1982, including a rematch against Matthew Saad Muhmmad, this time stopping Saad in six rounds.
In 1983 the showdown was set for a light-heavyweight unification match against WBA Champion, and fellow Hall of Famer, Michael Spinks.
The significance of this unification fight might have been forgotten over the years. However, with only two major sanctioning bodies at the time, the WBC & the WBA, there were very few undisputed champions in boxing (The IBF division was not yet given credibility).
The good ‘ol days huh?
Michael Spinks’ career was the atheists of Qawi’s. Michael was a decorated amateur and Olympic Champion. He also enjoyed a height advantage of over seven inches, as well as a five-inch reach advantage. The tale of the tape was imposing, but nothing ever I intimidated Qawi.
While the fight did not come close to the action that was promised, it is a fascinating scientific boxing match where both fighters tried to utilize their bread and butter for 15 tough grounds. Spinks ability to use his jab, keep Qawi off balance, as well as clinch when Qawi did get inside, were the deciding factors of the fight.
Qawi dropped a unanimous decision and lost his title. A rematch with Spinks was in the works, however, the passing of Dwight’s father forced the distraught Qawi to ask to reschedule the fight. An angry Spinks camp would not comply and vowed to never fight Qawi again.
With nothing left for him at light-heavyweight, Qawi decided to move up to the cruiserweight division, as he felt more comfortable with the extra poundage this relatively new division allowed. Qawi won the WBA version of the cruiserweight title against Piet Crous in 1985.
Now a champion in two divisions. Qawi once again found himself on the ABC network fighting another proud Olympian. Qawi’s 1986 showdown with Evander Holyfield might be the best boxing match I ever watched live.
It was 15 rounds of non-stop action where I felt Qawi did enough to retain his title. My father did as well, who I watched the fight with. Holyfield, however, had the sexier appeal, market value and home crowd. Qawi lost a split decision and his career was never quite the same.
Qawi eventually moved all the way up to heavyweight. At five feet seven inches, Qawi always went into his heavyweight fights with a decisive size disadvantage but was never short on heart.
Despite never having anything handed to him, being vertically challenged, as well as no amateur pedigree to build upon, Dwight Muhammad Qawi etched out a Hall of Fame boxing career. An argument can be made that Qawi is the unlikeliest World Champion/Hall of Famer boxing has ever produced.
At his best, Qawi should be required viewing for what affective aggression should look like. Qawi enjoyed an unusual reach, 71 inches, for a man who was so short. This allowed him to work his way inside off the jab, as well as land lethal left hooks when it appeared he was out of range.
Dwight Muhammad Qawi was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, at Canastota, New York, in 2004, along with Carlos Palomino, Azumah Nelson and Daniel Zaragoza. It was an honor well-earned that Qawi said was “closure”, a “physical presentation” that told him “that it is over.”
Reading between the lines, it appeared that Dwight was still thinking about lacing ‘em up prior to his Hall of Fame weekend.
Dwight Muhammad Qawi returned to Canastota, New York in 2014, his first trip back since getting inducted. I had the pleasure of meeting Qawi that year. When I offered him my glove to sign, Qawi asked me which one of his fights did I enjoy the most. As giddy as could be, I let him know I thought he beat Holyfield - never did I see a man appear more gracious. I also told him I really loved his title defense against Eddie Davis. Dwight was shocked and replied, “you remember that fight?” Dwight then started to reminisce and said, “I had a tough time getting to that cat.” I told him that he eventually did and that is why he was great.
This is still my happiest moment at the boxing Hall of Fame, no other boxer has initiated such a conversation with me in Canastota.
What made this encounter even more special was that a few days later I overheard a gentleman say what a tough autograph Qawi was to get, and how he was chasing him all weekend with no luck.
Boxing fans who frequent the Hall of Fame on a regular basis can really appreciate this story.
A story we can all appreciate is the life of Dwight Muhammad Qawi. If ever a boxer deserved a book, or a movie, it is him. Thank you for all the memories who have provided us.
Twitter @Zute29
Zutes Boxing Talk on BlogTalk Radio & The Grueling Truth.net
SecondsOut Weekly Newsletter
Permission Statement
If you accept, we will process your data to fulfil this purpose.
Related to this story
