“A Belt Is What I've Wanted My Whole Life” Josh Byrne Fired Up For His First Title Fight

Press Release: March 1, 2025 By Dragon Fire Boxing - On March 14, Dragon Fire Boxing Promotions hits the Metro City nightclub for the first time this year for Thunderdome 49.

 

Credit: Mike O'Hara

In the main event, Undefeated prospect Jude Grant takes on his first international opponent when he fights Shi Hong Jun of China.  

 

Before the headliner, Jude’s training partner Josh Byrne has his first shot at a state championship against Habib Kheirkhah.

 

When asked what it felt like to get the call for the title shot, Byrne stated that he was excited to complete one of his boxing goals so quickly.

“When I got the call about fighting for the state title I was stoked” Byrne said. “It's what I've wanted all the way since amateurs, I've never actually won a belt.

“I've always got a medal or a trophy, but a belt is what I've wanted my whole life and I'm going to make it happen.”

In his last fight Byrne fought Bima Prokosar, in what was an action-packed encounter.

Although he came out victorious with a lopsided decision, the Aussie feels that there were still lessons to take away from his performance, mainly regarding the communication with his corner.

“I feel that I need to listen to the corner a bit more” Byrne revealed.

“[My coaches] can see a lot more about what's going on than what I can, they were telling me to go more to the body and at the time it didn't really come across.

“When I sat back and went through the fight with them, they said ‘you need to open your ears a bit more and listen to us because we can see a lot more than what you can.’

“I feel that I will definitely improve on that in this fight and hopefully I'll come away with a knockout.”

In what is said to be the biggest fight of his young career so far, Byrne will fight Habib Kheirkhah. An aggressive fighter who has had experience fighting the best that Big Rigs gym has to offer, having fought Jordan LaRuccia, Jude Grant and Joel Lewis.

 

With the experience from his teammates, Byrne has said that he has been given pointers regarding how to approach the match up.

“From everything that I’ve been told, he's a very forward guy” Byrne told. “I expect him to bring the action to me and I know I will match that.”

The advice given to Byrne is amongst the best in WA, as it has recently been announced that Jude Grant could be fighting in the WBC Grand Prix, a tournament designed to find the next big star in boxing.

Although the teenager has limited experience in the sport with a 2-0 record, he looks up to his training partners and uses their early success as inspiration to go as far as he can.

“I would love to fight in something like the Grand Prix.” Byrne said “I've been speaking to Tony [Tolj] about it, but I just don’t have quite enough experience yet.

“Something like that will definitely happen once I get a few more fights under my belt.”

With the right training partners and coaches around him, Josh Byrne is an exciting local prospect and perhaps will be involved in a high stakes tournament of his own within the next two to three years.

Material Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing/ Photo Courtesy of: Mike O'Hara - Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

‘The ‘I’m Going To Rip Your Head Off’ Attitude Kind Of Describes Me A lot’ Meet Josh Byrne, Perth’s 18-year-old Boxing Talent

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: June 30, 2024 By Dragon Fire Boxing - In recent years, Perth has proven to be a major player when it comes to growing high quality fighting talent whether that be in MMA or boxing.

 

A young man who is seen to have huge potential to go all the way is Perth’s Josh Byrne.   We had the opportunity to speak to the Perth native about his journey so far.

 

Q: When did your boxing journey start.

 

JB: I was ten when I started and it was just for fitness at first, but as I got older, and had a few wins I thought I could maybe turn it into a career.

 

Q: What do you like about boxing?

 

JB: It’s a bit like an addiction, once you start and you win a fight, you get that good feeling and then when you win you just want to carry that feeling on. I love the sport, I love everything about it, once I get into it, I find it so easy to carry on and maintain my fitness.

 

Q: Where do you currently train?

 

JB: Right now, I train at Big Rigs in Malaga, the guys are really nice and my trainer Rig is a great guy.  I feel like I can talk to him about anything, they are a great bunch of guys to train with.

 

Q: For every great boxer of today, there is a background influence from one of the greats of the past.  Which boxer inspired you? 

JB: I think Mike Tyson is definitely [an inspiration], not so much his style, but just his attitude towards [boxing].   The “I’m going to rip your head off” attitude kind of describes me a lot, if someone hits me, I try and get them back for it.

 

In his professional debut, Byrne cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision victory, when he outclassed Mitch Arnold to win every round on the judges’ scorecards.

 

The win also won him the Alan Pond cup, a trophy named after a legendary West Australian fighter who was a multiple time kickboxing champion before his death in 2021.  We asked Josh about this victory.

 

Q: How did it feel to beat Mitch Arnold in your professional debut?

 

JB: It was awesome, I couldn’t have planned the fight any other way.   The result was awesome, and I can’t thank my manager/promoter Tony [Tolj] and my coach Big Rig (Dayle Phillips) enough. Tony for setting it up for me and Rig for putting the hours in and helping me train and getting me fit.  It was a phenomenal feeling being able to walk away with the trophy.

 

Q: With a debut victory under your belt, what is next in the short term?

 

JB: Fighting on the next [Dragon Fire] card is a goal in the near future, that’s already on the way for me.  For next year, maybe I’ll have another couple of fights and see where that takes me, I might possibly fight for a state title or something like that next year, we’ll see how it goes.

 

While having a vicious and dedicated approach to the sport of boxing, Perth looks set to have a real prospect for great things in the future.

 

With more experience under his belt on the local scene, Byrne will hopefully burst onto the international scene over the next few years a fly the West Australian flag.

 

Byrne is next expected to face Bima Prakosa at Thunderdome 47 on August 23.

 

 Material Courtesy and Photo Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing  Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.