Dwight Muhammad Qawi, “The Camden Buzzsaw” who claimed titles in two divisions and produced some of the finest wars of the 1980s, died this past weekend at the age of 72 after a long struggle with dementia.
After turning his life around while serving a prison sentence for armed robbery, Qawi tore through the light heavyweight division to earn a crack at WBC champion Matthew Saad Muhammad. A grueling battle saw Qawi floor Muhammad in the final round and pour on the punishment until Muhammad’s trainer
stepped through the ropes to force a stoppage.
He would make three successful defenses, including a rout of Muhammad in their rematch, before narrowly falling to Michael Spinks and electing to move up to cruiserweight. Despite standing under 5’7”, he quickly picked up the WBA title and defended it twice, setting up a showdown with budding superstar Evander Holyfield.
The two would ultimately put on one of the greatest title fights of their era, with the ten-years-younger Holyfield battling his way to a split decision victory after 15 rounds.
This would mark the end of Qawi’s time among the elite. A subsequent rematch with Holyfield saw him stopped in four, while George Foreman hammered him into submission shortly thereafter.
Qawi wasn’t just a treat to watch, he was a marvelous success story and, by all accounts, a great man outside the ring. Rest easy, champ.
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