Hall of Fame fighter, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, who took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion has died at the age of 72 years.
Qawi’s sister, Wanda King, said he died on July 25, 2025, following a five-year battle with dementia.
Qawi, born Dwight Braxton, grew up in Camden after being born in Baltimore.
He discovered boxing while serving his jail term at Rahway State Prison for armed robbery and turned to a pro at 25 after his 1978 release.
In December 1981, Qawi defeated Matthew Saad Muhammad by 10th-round stoppage to claim the WBC light heavyweight title.
He then beat Saad again eight months later, this time in six rounds, after having changed his name following his conversion to Islam in 1982.
Qawi went on to compete as a heavyweight, but his bout against George Foreman ended in a seventh-round stoppage loss.
Qawi retired in 1998 at age 46 with a 41-11-1 record and 25 knockouts.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.
After his retirement from the ring, he worked as a boxing trainer, youth advocate and drug and alcohol counselor.
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