Legendary world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi dead at 72

Dwight Muhammad Qawi dead at 72

Former two-weight boxing world champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi has sadly died at the age of 72.

The former light-heavyweight champion had been battling dementia for the last five years and sadly passed away last Friday, July 25, 2025.

His sister, Wanda King, confirmed his death in an emotional statement to Boxing Scene, stating: "He was a great father, a great Pop-Pop to his grandchildren. He had a heart of gold, and he fought his dementia illness just like he was fighting in the ring. He went out like a champ. Right to the end."

Tributes for the late Qawi poured in from around the world after news of his passing became public.

The WBC also paid tribute to Qawi, saying: "The WBC joins the boxing community of the world in prayer for [the] eternal rest of Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

"He found his love for boxing while serving a sentence in prison and went on to become WBC light heavyweight champion.

"A great father and grandfather who was also a role model in society. Rest in peace, Champ."

Ring Magazine wrote: "The Ring is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of boxing legend Dwight Muhammad Qawi."

BBN Editor Tim Rickson once rated Dwight Qawi as the third best cruiserweight champion of all-time, behind Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield.

He wrote: Dwight Braxton, known as the “Camden Buzzsaw”, was a two-weight world champion having conquered the WBC and Ring light-heavyweight titles during 1981-83, then the WBA cruiserweight strap from 1985-86.

The Baltimore-born boxer grew up in New Jersey, where he got mixed up in crime at an early age and was served a five-year prison sentence for armed robbery. It was in the local Rahway State Prison where he learned to box and immediately turned professional on his release.

But he almost permanently derailed his promising career after getting into trouble with the law not long after his release, this time for assault and battery. But Judge Peter Coruzzi gave him another chance to turn his life around by sentencing him to five years of probation instead of further incarceration.

Braxton changed his name to Dwight Muhammad Qawi after converting to Islam and he was often likened to ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier due to his style that was developed in the same Philadelphian gym he trained in.

Starting boxing so late meant that he only won one from his first three pro fights, but he soon found his feet to win his next 18 contests.

It was in his 18th fight when he won the WBC and Ring light-heavy titles, which he conceded to Michael Spinks in his fourth defence in 1983.

Just two years later, he became a two-weight champ by winning the WBA cruiserweight crown in South Africa in July 1985. He defended the belt to his former conqueror’s brother, Leon Spinks, but then conceded it in his next fight to Evander Holyfeld via split decision.

He attempted to regain his championship in a rematch in 1987, but was conclusively KO’d in the fourth round by “The Real Deal”.

He continued to fight for another 11 years, yet failed to become world champion ever again, but, despite this, he left his mark on the weight class forever.

Qawi retired from boxing in 1999 aged 46 and was inducted into the International Hall of Fame five years later.

Prior to his dementia diagnosis, he spent his time training aspiring boxers and counselling people dealing with alcohol and drug addiction.

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Top 15 Cruiserweights

1 Oleksandr Usyk 22-0, 13KO

2 Evander Holyfield 44-10, 29KO

3 Dwight Muhammad Qawi 41-11-1, 25KO

4 David Haye 28-4, 26KO

5 Carlos DeLeon 52-8-1, 32KO

6 Johnny Nelson 45-12, 29KO

7 Marco Huck 43-5-1, 28KO

8 Juan Carlos Gomez 55-4, 39KO

9 Mairis Briedis 28-3, 20KO

10 Ancelot Wamba 46-2, 23KO

11 Vasiliy Jirov 42-3-1, 32KO

12 Jean Marc Mormeck 37-6, 23KO

13 O’Neil Bell 27-4-1, 25KO

14 James Toney 77-10-3, 47KO

15 Guillermo Jones 41-3-2, 31KO