Chicago’s International Amphitheatre was the stage in August 1980 as Pennsylvania’s Dwight Braxton – who would later become known to boxing fans worldwide as Dwight Muhammad Qawi – overpowered Detroit’s Rick Jester with a third-round stoppage in their scheduled ten-round light heavyweight contest.

Braxton, just 5ft 6½in yet built like a tank, came into the bout with a growing reputation and the look of a man destined for bigger nights. At 27, he was already drawing comparisons in appearance to the great Joe Frazier, though few dared to place him in the same bracket. His aggressive style, however, showed hints of that relentless pressure that made “Smokin’ Joe” a legend.

From the opening bell Braxton charged across the ring, making his intentions clear. Jester tried to hold his ground, but the Philadelphian’s forward march forced the Detroit man into uncomfortable exchanges. Every time Jester attempted to land, Braxton either slipped inside or absorbed the shots on his gloves, before replying with thudding counters. The shorter fighter was dictating matters on the inside, where Jester’s longer reach counted for little.

By midway through the second round Jester was already showing signs of distress. Blood began trickling from his mouth, his breathing grew heavy, and his guard started to betray him. Braxton seized the opportunity, snapping Jester’s head back with left hooks and unsettling him with uppercuts. A furious assault in the closing seconds of the round left Jester swaying on unsteady legs, only for the bell to grant him temporary relief.

The respite lasted barely moments. As the third round commenced, Braxton tore out of his corner once again, refusing to give Jester any room to regroup. Trapped against the ropes and cornered repeatedly, the Detroit fighter absorbed punishing combinations. A sharp right uppercut jolted his head skyward, followed by a series of hooks that left him visibly stricken. The referee, recognising the danger, stepped in at two minutes and twenty-eight seconds to halt proceedings, awarding Braxton a technical knockout victory.

The triumph took Braxton’s record to 9 wins, 1 defeat and 1 draw, further solidifying his place as one of the most avoided men in the light heavyweight division at the time. Under the guidance of promoter Ernie Terrell, Braxton’s rise was gathering pace, and this performance in Chicago proved why many fellow contenders were reluctant to share a ring with him.

For Jester, then 23, it was a brave but punishing lesson against a fighter whose relentless engine and iron resolve would soon carry him towards world championship glory. For the fans in Chicago, it was a short but unforgettable exhibition of controlled ferocity – a statement that Dwight Braxton was a name to be remembered in the boxing world.