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Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi II was a professional boxing match contested on December 5, 1987 for the WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles.

Background

On August 15, 1987, Evander Holyfield would make the third successful defense of his WBA cruiserweight title and first of the IBF version by defeating Ossie Ocasio via 11th-round knockout, while on the undercard Dwight Muhammad Qawi would knockout former cruiserweight champion Lee Roy Murphy to earn the IBF's number one ranking, setting up a rematch from the previous year between the two. In their previous meeting, Qawi and Holyfield would go the distance with Holyfield earning a close split decision victory and becoming the new WBA cruiserweight champion. Qawi would then get an opportunity at rematch, facing Ossie Ocasio in an IBF "eliminator" bout with the winner facing the winner of the Holyfield–Parkey unification fight (which Holyfield would win via TKO in the third round), but he would lose a controversial majority decision and Ocasio would get a shot at Holyfield instead. However, due to the controversial nature of the loss, the IBF gave Qawi another chance at a title shot and he was matched up with Lee Roy Murphy with the winner earning the next shot at Holyfield, provided he defeat Ocasio after the Qawi–Murphy bout. After Qawi and Holyfield earned TKO victories, the rematch was set.

It would be one of the last 15-round title bouts to be sanctioned. The WBA did not sanction the fight, hence if Qawi won, the WBA title was to be declared vacant.

The fight

In contrast to their previous fight, Holyfield would defeat Qawi in the fourth round by technical knockout. With almost a minute left in the round, Holyfield dropped Qawi on the seat of his trunks, though Qawi quickly got back up and continued the fight. Qawi attempted to fight back, but after missing a right hook, Holyfield countered with a right hand of his own that caught Qawi flush and sent him down again. Qawi was unable to answer the 10-count, giving Holyfield the victory by knockout at 2:30 of the round.

Aftermath

At a post match news conference afterward, Qawi's adviser Rock Newman announced that he was retiring, saying "Dwight said that his legs were not there tonight, that Holyfield is a very, very good champion, and that he was even stronger than Dwight thought he would be."

Fight card

Confirmed bouts:

^Note 1 For WBA and IBF Cruiserweight titles.

Broadcasting

Country	Broadcaster
United States	Showtime

References

1. "The World Boxing Association official ratings through December 3, 1987". The Spokesman-Review. Caracas, Venezuela: World Boxing Association. Associated Press. 6 November 1987. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
2. "Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi (2nd meeting)". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
3. Holyfield Wins Title, Beating Qawi by Decision, LA Times article, 1986-07-13 Retrieved on 2020-02-02
4. Former World Boxing Association champion Ossie Ocasio set himself..., UPI article, 1987-05-15 Retrieved on 2020-02-02
5. For Lee Roy Murphy, All that Glitters Rest in 1 Rugged Fight, Chicago Tribune article, 1987-08-13 Retrieved on 2020-02-02
6. , Boxing News 24 article, 1987-08-13 Retrieved on 2020-02-02
7. ^ Phil Berger (6 December 1987). "Holyfield Knocks Out Qawi in 4th". New York Times. ATLANTIC CITY. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
8. "BoxRec - event".

• 1987 in boxing
• 1987 in sports in New Jersey
• December 1987 sports events in the United States
• Boxing matches at Boardwalk Hall
• Boxing matches involving Evander Holyfield
• Boxing on Showtime
• Cruiserweight championship matches