From prison to boxing Hall of Fame: Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at 72 | WATCH

Camden: Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the celebrated Hall of Fame boxer whose remarkable career began in prison and culminated in two world titles, has passed away at the age of 72. His sister, Wanda King, confirmed that he died on Friday, July 25, 2025, after a five-year battle with dementia.

Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore and raised in Camden, New Jersey, Qawi discovered boxing while incarcerated for armed robbery at Rahway State Prison. Upon his release in 1978, at the age of 25, he promptly turned professional.

In December 1981, Qawi, who legally changed his name from Braxton in 1982 after converting to Islam, achieved his first major triumph by stopping Matthew Saad Muhammad in the 10th round to claim the WBC light heavyweight belt. He convincingly defeated Saad Muhammad again eight months later in a six-round bout.

Following a loss to Michael Spinks, the formidable 5-foot-7 Qawi, affectionately known as “The Camden Buzzsaw,” ascended to the cruiserweight division. In July 1985, he captured the WBA cruiserweight title by defeating Piet Crous. His reign, however, ended a year later in July 1986, after a gruelling 15-round contest against future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Qawi later competed as a heavyweight, notably facing George Foreman, who stopped him in seven rounds.

Qawi concluded his professional boxing career in 1998 at the age of 46, boasting a record of 41 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw, with 25 knockouts. His extraordinary journey and achievements were recognised with his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.

Beyond the ring, Qawi dedicated his post-fighting years to positively impacting others, working as a boxing trainer, youth advocate, and drug and alcohol counsellor.

With inputs from AP