Matthew Saad Muhammad vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi

[rayr0683]

Um Quawi is an absolute beast,IMO he beat Holyfield in their first fight. I don't have problem seeing him beat any cruiserweight or lightheavyweight unless they are really good counter punchers who could stay away from him. He reminded me of a more powerful Glen Johnson.

A Novice Holyfield took on Qwai, while never having been past 6 rounds, and only 11 pro bouts, and he was total class....it was kinda early in Evander's career to take on a fighter of qwai's experience, but Evander diod it, went the distance, and BEAT Him....even with all of the LOEW Blows Qwai threw, and was warned about!!!

[marbleheadmaui]

I was living in suburban Philly at the time and Miracle Matthew was seen as a municipal treasure. EVERYONE could hit Saad. Of course for about five years that only led to incredible comebacks. By the time he ran into Qawi Saad had had wars with The Indian twice, Marvin twice , Billy Douglas and Richie Kates. He wasn't shot or anything close but he may have been just a little worn. Still in his pirme but maybe past his absolute peak.

Qawi literally was a Buzzsaw. He hit Saad a lot early, like everyone did, but when Saad tried to mount one of his comebacks Qawi would just hit the accelerator and step on his throat. Qawi deserves full credit for those wins and he finished Saad as a top fighter.

[rayr0683]

Hello,
I too was from Philly, and used to watch Saad spar with Steve Traitz, and other fighters, Curtis Parker, Bennie Briscoe, LeRoy Diggs...and so on. Saad was a very humble and nice person outside the Ring....and to the Public. A couple of Fighters that I didn't care for, fromn the area in those time, were Qwai, Frank Animal Fletcher...and even Eddie Gregory.....But saad, you just had to like him!!! best, Ray

I was living in suburban Philly at the time and Miracle Matthew was seen as a municipal treasure. EVERYONE could hit Saad. Of course for about five years that only led to incredible comebacks. By the time he ran into Qawi Saad had had wars with The Indian twice, Marvin twice , Billy Douglas and Richie Kates. He wasn't shot or anything close but he may have been just a little worn. Still in his pirme but maybe past his absolute peak.

Qawi literally was a Buzzsaw. He hit Saad a lot early, like everyone did, but when Saad tried to mount one of his comebacks Qawi would just hit the accelerator and step on his throat. Qawi deserves full credit for those wins and he finished Saad as a top fighter.

[marbleheadmaui]

Hello,
I too was from Philly, and used to watch Saad spar with Steve Traitz, and other fighters, Curtis Parker, Bennie Briscoe, LeRoy Diggs...and so on. Saad was a very humble and nice person outside the Ring....and to the Public. A couple of Fighters that I didn't care for, fromn the area in those time, were Qwai, Frank Animal Fletcher...and even Eddie Gregory.....But saad, you just had to like him!!! best, Ray

I was living in suburban Philly at the time and Miracle Matthew was seen as a municipal treasure. EVERYONE could hit Saad. Of course for about five years that only led to incredible comebacks. By the time he ran into Qawi Saad had had wars with The Indian twice, Marvin twice , Billy Douglas and Richie Kates. He wasn't shot or anything close but he may have been just a little worn. Still in his pirme but maybe past his absolute peak.

Qawi literally was a Buzzsaw. He hit Saad a lot early, like everyone did, but when Saad tried to mount one of his comebacks Qawi would just hit the accelerator and step on his throat. Qawi deserves full credit for those wins and he finished Saad as a top fighter.

Steve Traitz? Now there is a name I haven't thought about for 30 years! Some high school friends of mine trained with him. Wasn't the Blue Horizon fun in those days? Philly had some truly tough guys.

[rayr0683]

Hello,
And yes, your Right!!! Great Days!!! I myself, trained with a guy named gary Roemhild, at Willie Reddish Gym, in Frankford...Griscom and Sellers Streets.......Curtis Parker was Willi's Number One Man at the Time....Curtis was 12-0 when I started at Reddish....and he was considered to be a Possible Contender to Hagler....but never happened. I was also friends with Billy Padden, at Reddish Gym...he is now a Pro Boxing Trainer in Florida!! But Stevie Traitz was an amazing Fighter....I figured he would have gone much farther as a Pro!!! I too remember Big Joe Thomas...The Heavyweight that mr. Traitz trained...and he went on to become the National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, in Shrevesport,LA....in 1981. Huge Heavyweight...he fought at same time, and beat Tyrell Biggs....Lost to James Broad....and Marvis Frazier too was from same time as Joe Thomas...I like Joe Thomas alot...He too I thought would have gone far!!! Best, Ray

Hello,
I too was from Philly, and used to watch Saad spar with Steve Traitz, and other fighters, Curtis Parker, Bennie Briscoe, LeRoy Diggs...and so on. Saad was a very humble and nice person outside the Ring....and to the Public. A couple of Fighters that I didn't care for, fromn the area in those time, were Qwai, Frank Animal Fletcher...and even Eddie Gregory.....But saad, you just had to like him!!! best, Ray

I was living in suburban Philly at the time and Miracle Matthew was seen as a municipal treasure. EVERYONE could hit Saad. Of course for about five years that only led to incredible comebacks. By the time he ran into Qawi Saad had had wars with The Indian twice, Marvin twice , Billy Douglas and Richie Kates. He wasn't shot or anything close but he may have been just a little worn. Still in his pirme but maybe past his absolute peak.

Qawi literally was a Buzzsaw. He hit Saad a lot early, like everyone did, but when Saad tried to mount one of his comebacks Qawi would just hit the accelerator and step on his throat. Qawi deserves full credit for those wins and he finished Saad as a top fighter.

Steve Traitz? Now there is a name I haven't thought about for 30 years! Some high school friends of mine trained with him. Wasn't the Blue Horizon fun in those days? Philly had some truly tough guys.

[marbleheadmaui]

Hello,
And yes, your Right!!! Great Days!!! I myself, trained with a guy named gary Roemhild, at Willie Reddish Gym, in Frankford...Griscom and Sellers Streets.......Curtis Parker was Willi's Number One Man at the Time....Curtis was 12-0 when I started at Reddish....and he was considered to be a Possible Contender to Hagler....but never happened. I was also friends with Billy Padden, at Reddish Gym...he is now a Pro Boxing Trainer in Florida!! But Stevie Traitz was an amazing Fighter....I figured he would have gone much farther as a Pro!!! I too remember Big Joe Thomas...The Heavyweight that mr. Traitz trained...and he went on to become the National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, in Shrevesport,LA....in 1981. Huge Heavyweight...he fought at same time, and beat Tyrell Biggs....Lost to James Broad....and Marvis Frazier too was from same time as Joe Thomas...I like Joe Thomas alot...He too I thought would have gone far!!! Best, Ray

Hello,
I too was from Philly, and used to watch Saad spar with Steve Traitz, and other fighters, Curtis Parker, Bennie Briscoe, LeRoy Diggs...and so on. Saad was a very humble and nice person outside the Ring....and to the Public. A couple of Fighters that I didn't care for, fromn the area in those time, were Qwai, Frank Animal Fletcher...and even Eddie Gregory.....But saad, you just had to like him!!! best, Ray

I was living in suburban Philly at the time and Miracle Matthew was seen as a municipal treasure. EVERYONE could hit Saad. Of course for about five years that only led to incredible comebacks. By the time he ran into Qawi Saad had had wars with The Indian twice, Marvin twice , Billy Douglas and Richie Kates. He wasn't shot or anything close but he may have been just a little worn. Still in his pirme but maybe past his absolute peak.

Qawi literally was a Buzzsaw. He hit Saad a lot early, like everyone did, but when Saad tried to mount one of his comebacks Qawi would just hit the accelerator and step on his throat. Qawi deserves full credit for those wins and he finished Saad as a top fighter.

Steve Traitz? Now there is a name I haven't thought about for 30 years! Some high school friends of mine trained with him. Wasn't the Blue Horizon fun in those days? Philly had some truly tough guys.

Joe Thomas lived in Phoenixville where I went to HS. The town was pretty bummed when he got KO'd on the undercard of a Ray Mercer fight in AC. Another local boy was a friend of my little brother's Jimmy Deoria. Lightweight I think. His Dad trained guys at Front Street in Philly. Pretty good little fighter. But he stepped up to fight Angel Manfredy and Charles Murray and that was that.

[rayr0683]

Hey marble.....Yes, I remember Jimmy Deorio.....But most important to me is Joe Thomas....I was at the James Broad Fight in Wildwood,NJ...when Broad knocked Joe down...but Joe wasn't hurt...however Mr. Traitz threw in the towel, I guess for safety sake...Joe wasn't too happy about it. I never saw anyone ever hurt Big Joe...Let alone Knock him down!! James Broad was a very good fighter too though, and big also.

I know that Mr. Traitz had guys coming into the Gym to spar with Big Joe, some good Pro's..and my buddy Billy Padden too, for speed work. Who was it that Joe Thomas fought, on the Undercard of Ray Mercer?? I never saw or heard about it by then. Do you know of any other Pro Fights that Joe Thomas had If so, do you know who, and the results?? How did he do on Mercer Undercard?? I cant find ant info on Joe Thomas online, or Boxing Rec. I remember that Pinklon Thomas was coming into Gym to work with Joe Thomas as a Prp...but Mr. Traitz had problems getting Fighters to come in and Spar with Joe. But Id love to hear anything you know about Joe's short Pro Career....Thank You, Ray

Hello,
And yes, your Right!!! Great Days!!! I myself, trained with a guy named gary Roemhild, at Willie Reddish Gym, in Frankford...Griscom and Sellers Streets.......Curtis Parker was Willi's Number One Man at the Time....Curtis was 12-0 when I started at Reddish....and he was considered to be a Possible Contender to Hagler....but never happened. I was also friends with Billy Padden, at Reddish Gym...he is now a Pro Boxing Trainer in Florida!! But Stevie Traitz was an amazing Fighter....I figured he would have gone much farther as a Pro!!! I too remember Big Joe Thomas...The Heavyweight that mr. Traitz trained...and he went on to become the National Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, in Shrevesport,LA....in 1981. Huge Heavyweight...he fought at same time, and beat Tyrell Biggs....Lost to James Broad....and Marvis Frazier too was from same time as Joe Thomas...I like Joe Thomas alot...He too I thought would have gone far!!! Best, Ray

Hello,
I too was from Philly, and used to watch Saad spar with Steve Traitz, and other fighters, Curtis Parker, Bennie Briscoe, LeRoy Diggs...and so on. Saad was a very humble and nice person outside the Ring....and to the Public. A couple of Fighters that I didn't care for, fromn the area in those time, were Qwai, Frank Animal Fletcher...and even Eddie Gregory.....But saad, you just had to like him!!! best, Ray

I was living in suburban Philly at the time and Miracle Matthew was seen as a municipal treasure. EVERYONE could hit Saad. Of course for about five years that only led to incredible comebacks. By the time he ran into Qawi Saad had had wars with The Indian twice, Marvin twice , Billy Douglas and Richie Kates. He wasn't shot or anything close but he may have been just a little worn. Still in his pirme but maybe past his absolute peak.

Qawi literally was a Buzzsaw. He hit Saad a lot early, like everyone did, but when Saad tried to mount one of his comebacks Qawi would just hit the accelerator and step on his throat. Qawi deserves full credit for those wins and he finished Saad as a top fighter.

Steve Traitz? Now there is a name I haven't thought about for 30 years! Some high school friends of mine trained with him. Wasn't the Blue Horizon fun in those days? Philly had some truly tough guys.

Joe Thomas lived in Phoenixville where I went to HS. The town was pretty bummed when he got KO'd on the undercard of a Ray Mercer fight in AC. Another local boy was a friend of my little brother's Jimmy Deoria. Lightweight I think. His Dad trained guys at Front Street in Philly. Pretty good little fighter. But he stepped up to fight Angel Manfredy and Charles Murray and that was that.

[Master]

Um Quawi is an absolute beast,IMO he beat Holyfield in their first fight. I don't have problem seeing him beat any cruiserweight or lightheavyweight unless they are really good counter punchers who could stay away from him. He reminded me of a more powerful Glen Johnson.

A Novice Holyfield took on Qwai, while never having been past 6 rounds, and only 11 pro bouts, and he was total class....it was kinda early in Evander's career to take on a fighter of qwai's experience, but Evander diod it, went the distance, and BEAT Him....even with all of the LOEW Blows Qwai threw, and was warned about!!!

That was a brutal fight for Holyfield who had to go to hospital for dehydration.

[Mr140]

Evander Holyfeild was green as shit and i for one thought he won the fight and we all know what happened in the rematch. Thats when the CW had depth and thats the only time division ever did.

[ICB]

I've seen these fights since this thread, and even though i loved Matthew Saad Muhammad as a fighter. He got destroyed especially in the 2nd fight, yes the tough fights had caught up with him. But i just think Dwight Muhammad Qawi's style was all wrong for him.

Matthew Saad Muhammad often threw straight punches, which allowed Dwight Muhammad Qawi to get under his punches. And beat the living hell out of Matthew Saad Muhammad, the 2nd fight was actually quite sad to see.

[marbleheadmaui]

I've seen these fights since this thread, and even though i loved Matthew Saad Muhammad as a fighter. He got destroyed especially in the 2nd fight, yes the tough fights had caught up with him. But i just think Dwight Muhammad Qawi's style was all wrong for him.

Matthew Saad Muhammad often threw straight punches, which allowed Dwight Muhammad Qawi to get under his punches. And beat the living hell out of Matthew Saad Muhammad, the 2nd fight was actually quite sad to see.

Yup. Qawi finished Saad as a fighter in the first fight. From then on Saad lost more than he won.

That first fight, like a lot of times, was a passing of the torch. The champ was still formidable, but not quite what he once was, and the challenger was oh so hungry.