Dwight Muhammad Qawi, boxer who went from prison to champion, dies at 72

Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the Hall of Fame fighter who took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion, has died.

He was 72.

Qawi’s sister, Wanda King, said he died Friday following a five-year battle with dementia.

Michael Spinks raises his hand in victory as loser Dwight Braxton holds on to him in Atlantic City, N.J., March 18, 1983. AP

Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi grew up in Camden. He competed in the boxing program at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery, and turned professional at age 25 soon after his release in 1978.

In December 1981, Qawi — who legally changed his name in 1982 following his conversion to Islam — stopped Matthew Saad Muhammad in the 10th round to win the WBC light heavyweight belt. Qawi stopped Saad again eight months later, taking six rounds.

After a loss Michael Spinks, the 5-foot-7 Qawi — called “The Camden Buzzsaw” — moved up in weight and took the WBA cruiserweight title from Piet Crous in July 1985.

Qawi lost the title to future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in a 15-rounder in July 1986.

Qawi later fought as a heavyweight, with George Foreman stopping him in seven rounds.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi giving an acceptance speech into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. AP

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.