Josh Byrne’s Shot at Glory: ‘A Belt Is What I’ve Wanted My Whole Life!’

Photos Mike O'Hara - Dragon Fire Boxing 

On March 14, Dragon Fire Boxing Promotions returns to Metro City nightclub for the highly anticipated Thunderdome 49—a night packed with action, headlined by rising star Jude Grant as he faces China’s Shi Hong Jun in his first international test.

Before Grant steps into the ring, his training partner, Josh Byrne, will have a career-defining moment of his own, competing for his first-ever state championship against the tough Habib Kheirkhah.

A Lifelong Dream in the Making

For Byrne, this opportunity is more than just another fight—it’s the fulfillment of a dream.

“When I got the call about fighting for the state title, I was stoked,” Byrne shared. “It’s something I’ve wanted since my amateur days. I’ve won medals, trophies—but never a belt. That’s what I’ve been chasing my whole life, and now I’m going to make it happen.”

Lessons Learned from His Last Fight

Byrne enters this fight fresh off a dominant decision victory over Bima Prokosar, a bout filled with non-stop action. Despite the win, he admits there were key takeaways—particularly when it came to listening to his corner.

“I need to trust my team more,” Byrne admitted. “During my last fight, my coaches were telling me to go to the body, but in the heat of the moment, it didn’t fully register. After watching the fight back, they told me, ‘You need to open your ears—we see things you can’t.’ That stuck with me. This time, I’ll be more locked in, and hopefully, I get that knockout.”

Facing a Battle-Tested Opponent

Standing in Byrne’s way is Habib Kheirkhah, an aggressive, forward-pressure fighter who has already shared the ring with top-tier competition, including Jordan LaRuccia, Jude Grant, and Joel Lewis.

Byrne has been tapping into his team’s experience to prepare for Kheirkhah’s relentless style.

“From everything I’ve been told, he’s going to come straight at me,” Byrne said. “I expect him to bring the action, and I know I’ll match that.”

Eyes on the Future: Could Byrne Be the Next WBC Grand Prix Star?

Byrne is surrounded by some of the best talent in Western Australia, including Jude Grant, who is rumored to be joining the prestigious WBC Grand Prix, a tournament designed to unearth boxing’s next superstar.

While Byrne is still early in his career with a 2-0 record, he draws inspiration from his stablemates and is determined to climb the ranks.

“I’d love to fight in something like the Grand Prix,” Byrne revealed. “I’ve talked to Tony Tolj about it, but I need more experience first. It’s definitely in my future once I get more fights under my belt.”

With the right training team and hunger for success, Josh Byrne is shaping up to be a fighter to watch—and a title win on March 14 could be the first major step toward his own high-stakes tournament in the near future.