Remembering Dwight Muhammad Qawi – Respect and admiration

I was sad to read that Dwight Muhammad Qawi died last week.

The Camden Buzzsaw was, as my Facebook friend Frank Lotierzo said, “criminally underrated.”

He was a real badass who fought his way out of prison to achieve a world title (when they meant something), but you know what – 44 years ago, Qawi broke my heart.

Twice.

That’s right.

I was a Matthew Saad Muhammad guy. I lived and died with Saad.

Many times.

Known as Matthew Franklin in those days, he won ten of his first eleven fights before facing future champions, Matt Parlov and Marvin Camel.

Saad beat them both. He was a man on a mission and in a hurry. His reputation was growing. Dull and Saad did not go together.

In 1977, Saad Muhammad fought power-punching Marvin Johnson in his hometown of Philadelphia. The fight was furious from the opening bell. Johnson was catching Saad Muhammad with wicked hooks.

It didn’t look good. Somehow, Saad Muhammad absorbed Johnson’s blow and turned the tide. He stopped Johnson in round 12. He got off the canvas to beat Billy Douglas and stopped Richie Kates and Yaqui López in another war.

He met Johnson in a rematch for the WBC light heavyweight title in 1979. Johnson wobbled Saad Muhammad more than once, but like their first fight, he hung in, blasting Johnson out in round eight.

One more bloody war almost cost him his title in 1980. Another rematch, this one against Lopez, had him teetering on the verge until he found something to win by stoppage in round 14.

I can remember asking myself how long Saad Muhammad could continue to go to the edge and not fall off, but I already knew there was a contender who had me worried. I had watched him knock out former champion Mike Rossman, and travel to his old prison (Rahway) and beat James Scott.

He was gritty and powerful and mean, at least that’s what I thought. He’d smile when he got hit.

His name was Dwight Braxton, soon to be Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

“What a fighter Dwight Muhammad Qawi was,” said promoter Lou Dibella after hearing of his death. “One of boxing’s consummate tough guys.”

That he was.

To me back then, it was like Rocky versus Clubber Lang (first fight). Qawi, though short for a light heavyweight, was hungry and vicious, while Saad Muhammad was mellow and starting to show wear and tear.

I watched their fight, resigned to the outcome. Qawi beat Saad Muhammad like a drum over 10 rounds. It wasn’t pretty.

Their rematch was even more one-sided. Saad Muhammad was never the same.

Qawi defended his title three times before losing it to Michael Spinks. The fight was tense from the opening bell. He captured the cruiserweight title in 1985, losing it soon after to a guy named Evander Holyfield. Qawi fought the much bigger George Foreman in 1988. He lost but never went down. Qawi would fight for another 10 years.

My dislike of Qawi had grown into enormous respect.

He was the real deal.

Rest in peace, champ.