Dwight Muhammad Qawi, a light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion and 2004 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, last Friday at 72.

"The WBC joins the boxing community of the world in prayer for eternal rest of Dwight Muhammad Qawi," WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said on Twitter.

"He who found his love for boxing while serving a sentence in prison and went on to become the become WBC light heavyweight champion. A great father and grand father who was also a role model in society. Rest in peace Champ."

Editor's note: This feature originally appeared in the March 2019 issue of The Ring.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi won world titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight in the 1980s, facing many of the best fighters of his era along the way.

Qawi was born Dwight Braxton on January 5, 1953, in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Camden, New Jersey, as a youth. He soon found himself on the wrong side of the law.

"I got into some trouble; I went to reform school when I was 13, 14. I spent nine months there," Qawi told The Ring. "When I was 19, I made my mind up I was done with this, but by that time I had to do a little time. I did five years [for armed robbery] in prison."

Qawi was determined not to go back, which introduced him to the sport, and joined a local boxing gym upon his release. He turned professional without any amateur experience in April 1978 and began his career with a draw. In May 1981 he knocked out former 175-pound titlist Mike Rossman in seven rounds, then outpointed incarcerated contender James Scott in a title eliminator at Rahway State Prison, the same institution Qawi had been imprisoned.

"I think some people would probably be intimidated," he said. "I was fearless. [Scott] called himself 'Superman,' and I said, 'You're nothing but a man.'"

In December 1981, Qawi met long-reigning Ring and WBC light heavyweight champion Matthew Saad Muhammad in Atlantic City.

He started fast and took the fight to the teak-tough Saad Muhammad, stopping him in the 10th round. At 5-foot-7, Qawi became the shortest man in the division’s history to win a title.

After the victory, he officially changed his name to Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

"I wanted to be universally recognized as Muslim, and I felt the name would help me do it," he explained. "I like this name Muhammad, which means 'praise,' and Qawi means 'the strong one.'"

He made three title defenses, including a repeat win over Saad Muhammad, before losing a hard-fought 15-round unanimous decision to Michael Spinks in a unification match.

After bouncing back with four wins, Qawi was offered the opportunity to go to South Africa to face Piet Crous for the WBA cruiserweight title. "The Camden Buzzsaw" stopped the local in the 11th round, winning his second world title.

In July 1986, Qawi took his title to Atlanta and fought a rising star in unbeaten 1984 Olympic bronze medalist Evander Holyfield.

The two contested what is widely considered the greatest cruiserweight fight in history, battling each other to a standstill over 15 frenetic rounds. Ultimately, Holyfield eked out a razor-thin split decision.

The two met in a rematch 17 months later, and by this time, Holyfield had grown as a fighter. Qawi had started to fade and was stopped in four rounds. That was followed by a brief move to heavyweight where he was stopped by George Foreman in seven.

From the mid-to late-80s, Qawi repeatedly battled an alcohol problem. "Last time I drank was April 30th, 1990. Sober since May 1, 1990. I knew I was done, I was defeated," he said solemnly.

Qawi (41-11-1, 25 KOs) fought on for several more years, with mixed success, retiring for good in 1998 before being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.

"That honor can never be taken away," he said proudly. "Every time I think about it, it means more than winning the title."

Since 1992, Qawi has worked a day job as a substance abuse counselor in his native Baltimore. He graciously took time to speak to The Ring about the best he fought across ten key categories.

Evander Holyfield: In a mediocre sense, Michael Spinks and Evander Holyfield – I didn't really get hit with that many jabs. It didn't do anything to me. Holyfield, he was real busy with the jab.

Eddie Davis: There was a guy I fought in Philadelphia; he was a journeyman [Al Bolden]. You couldn't hit him. I made a cardinal sin in boxing; I had sex the night before. That probably had something to do with it too. Eddie Davis was so awkward – his movement.

It took me a long time to figure out. We had a thing in boxing called 'putting them on the leash'; while he was in front of me, he was making me miss, but then I put him on the leash and made him follow me. That's when I got to him and knocked him out. Up until then, he had a helluva defense.

Holyfield: Both Michael Spinks and Evander's hand speed were equally fast but was not exceptional for me. I'd pick Evander.

Holyfield: Piet Crous had good footwork; he moved pretty good, because he had me reaching a lot. He was taking three steps to my one. Holyfield and Michael Spinks did too. They moved a lot; they kept moving. Out of those three, Michael was so awkward I couldn't call that footwork. Crous was very consistent as a fighter, which gave him an advantage. Holyfield, he had perpetual motion; he kept moving, angles. I'd say Holyfield.

Holyfield: The best chin was Holyfield; he got a good chin. I hit him good in the first fight and the second fight. In the third round (of the rematch), I hit him with a right hand, he stopped and woke back up and got away. Between rounds, his team jumped all over him, 'You got to get him out of there.' I heard them. He took a heck of a shot.

Michael Spinks: Who would be smart getting in the ring with me? (laughs) Even though Spinks ran like a dog, he was smart for doing so. He was running so hard he tripped over his own feet.

Leon Spinks: He held his ground, was a big guy. Holyfield was strong, but he didn't do anything to me; he pushed me not around, but off him. I think we all know that 'Big' George Foreman was strong and still is, but Leon Spinks drew me into a brawl with him - he was very scrappy and tough.

Matthew Saad Muhammad: I think Holyfield was on some artificial enhancements that gave him an unfair advantage. So I'm not going to give him credit. Foreman didn't have the snap he used to have. He was thumping. He wasn't hurting me because he wasn't in his heyday. I was hurting him; he was hurt quite a few times when he fought me. He wasn't the best puncher, I just ran out of gas. Matthew Saad Muhammad was legitimately the best puncher. He could hurt you – and he hurt me. The whole arena turned upside-down when he hit me.

Saad Muhammad: Saad Muhammad was a very skillful fighter, it's just I shut him down. He was very polished. He did nine title defenses and fought a lot of good opponents. My trainer said, 'He wants to slug with you, trade punches.' But he showed some things in there. You always had to watch out for him. He would hit me with a left hook, uppercut – and had a nice right hand.

Saad Muhammad: They all presented a challenge. Michael (Spinks), he would always be a challenge for me. I shared a ring with Foreman, but not in his heyday. My best overall fighter whom I faced was Matthew Saad Muhammad. He reminded me of Sugar Ray Robinson.

He'd take whatever you did, turn it around and put it on you – and be better. He could make adjustments; that's why he came back on so many people. I shut him down, overwhelmed him. I could think of another, but can't get around the asterisk that's in the way.