American boxer Kavi has died at the age of 72 after five years of battling dementia.

American boxer Dwight Mohammed Qawi, a former light heavyweight and first heavyweight champion, has died at the age of 72 after five years of battling dementia. This was announced on July 27 by the American sports channel ESPN.

Kavi's sister, Wanda King, said he died on Friday after a five—year battle with dementia.

The athlete was born on January 5, 1953 in the American city of Baltimore. He competed in boxing competitions at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery, and became a professional boxer at the age of 25.

In 1981, he became the WBC light heavyweight World champion by knocking out American Matthew Saad Mohammed. Four years later, he won the WBA World heavyweight title. Throughout his career, Kavi has won 41 victories, 25 of which he won by knockout.

After retiring from the ring in 1998, he worked as a boxing coach, youth advocate, and drug and alcohol counselor. In 2004, the athlete was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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