Dwight Muhammad Qawi (born Dwight Braxton; January 5, 1953) is an American former professional boxer….who won world titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. He went 1-1-1 in his first three pro fights….but then reeled off 14 straight victories to move into the world rankings at light heavyweight. The last of those wins came on September 5, 1981….when Braxton returned to Rahway State Prison to fight Scott….with the winner promised a shot at Matthew Saad Muhammad’s WBC world championship belt. Braxton won a unanimous 10-round decision. On December 19 of the same year, Braxton faced Saad Muhammad in Atlantic City. The ex-convict was the underdog against Saad….one of the most popular fighters of his generation….and a fellow Hall of Famer….but Braxton defeated him on a 10th-round technical knockout….and became a world champion for the first time. It was shortly after this that he announced his conversion to Islam and changed his name. He defended the title three times in the next 15 months….knocking out Jerry Martin….Saad Muhammad a second time….and Eddie Davis. On March 18, 1983, he lost a close but unanimous decision to WBA champion Michael Spinks in a unification bout. Qawi felt that making the division’s 175-pound weight limit had drained him physically….and resolved to seek another world title in the newly created cruiserweight division. Freed of the need to fight to keep his weight down….Qawi reeled off another series of wins and claimed the WBA cruiserweight title on July 7, 1985, knocking out Piet Crous in Crous’ native South Africa. He won two more fights, including a victory over former world heavyweight titlist Leon Spinks….before accepting a challenge from Olympian Evander Holyfield on July 12, 1986. The fight, in Holyfield’s hometown of Atlanta….went the full 15 rounds with Holyfield winning a split decision. After the loss to Holyfield….Qawi fought off and on for the next 12 years….but never regained a world title. He had a rematch with Holyfield in 1987 for the WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles….but was stopped in the fourth round.
