Qawi, ex-convict who became champ, dies at 72

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the Hall of Fame combatant who took up boxing successful situation and became a two-weight satellite champion, has died. He was 72.

Qawi's sister, Wanda King, said helium died Friday pursuing a five-year conflict with dementia.

Born Dwight Braxton successful Baltimore, Qawi grew up successful Camden. He competed successful the boxing programme astatine Rahway State Prison portion serving a condemnation for equipped robbery and turned nonrecreational astatine property 25 soon aft his merchandise successful 1978.

In December 1981, Qawi -- who legally changed his sanction successful 1982 pursuing his conversion to Islam -- stopped Matthew Saad Muhammad successful the 10th circular to triumph the WBC airy heavyweight belt. Qawi stopped Saad again 8 months later, taking six rounds.

After a nonaccomplishment Michael Spinks, the 5-foot-7 Qawi -- called "The Camden Buzzsaw" -- moved up successful value and took the WBA cruiserweight rubric from Piet Crous successful July 1985. Qawi mislaid the rubric to aboriginal heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield successful a 15-rounder successful July 1986.

Qawi aboriginal fought arsenic a heavyweight, with George Foreman stopping him successful 7 rounds.

Qawi retired successful 1998 astatine property 46 with a 41-11-1 grounds and 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame successful 2004.

After his status from the ring, helium worked arsenic a boxing trainer, younker advocator and cause and intoxicant counselor.