Boxing News
Raymond Ford pays tribute to Camden legend Dwight Qawi
International Boxing Hall of FameRaymond Ford, the 130lbs contender from Camden, New Jersey, has paid tribute to the “Camden Buzzsaw” Dwight Qawi, who passed away last month.
Qawi was a light-heavyweight great, who also had memorable bouts at cruiserweight and heavyweight in his remarkable 41-11-5 (25 KOs) career, which spanned from 1978 to 1998.
Among those he fought were George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Michael Spinks, Matthew Saad Muhammad, James Scott, Leon Spinks, and Mike Rossman.
Ford is 18-1-1 (8 KOs), and lost his featherweight title to Nick Ball before moving up in weight.
“That’s a big loss for the sport, definitely,” Ford said of Qawi’s passing.
“He was a great. Definitely someone that that put Camden on the map. Much respect to him and he had a legendary career. He paved the way for guys like me.”
Ford has won his last three since the loss to Ball, outpointing Nova, Orlando Gonzalez and Thomas Mattice in 10-rounders.
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
