Ehsan Shakeri has over 100 fights to his name but his achievements in the ring pale in comparison to the fight he has endured outside the squared circle.
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The Iranian-born refugee left his family behind to chase his dream, coming to Australian on a boat and spending time in a detention centre upon arrival.
Soon he after he lost his father, the man he calls his "best friend", to lung cancer.
Four years later he is going to fight for a kickboxing world championship at Capital Fight Show 11 at the Hellenic Club on Saturday night.
In his own words Shakeri "came from nowhere, came from nothing" - his story is a remarkable one.
Shakeri is the current Martial Arts Sports Association Australian champion and will look to wrap the MASA world championship around his waist in the city he now calls home.
But standing in his way is one of kickboxing's most destructive middleweights, "Stone Cold" Steve Moxon.
A bout with one of Australia's most decorated middleweights is the latest instalment in a resume that boasts over 100 fights - Shakeri has stepped inside the ring so many times he's lost count.
He's won more than he's lost - Shakeri thinks he's had "maybe 15 losses" over "about 120 fights".
Shakeri grew up dreaming of becoming one of the world's greatest fighters since the day he followed a friend into a gym, and he struggles to find the words to describe how he feels about the prospect of a world title win.
"I've been dreaming of being one of the top fighters," Shakeri said.
"I've been dreaming about fighting, so that made me move from my country. I'm here. The hardest fight was passing the ocean with the little boat.
"I was on that because of my dream, and now I am here."
Every morning and afternoon in the detention centre Shakeri was honing his craft for this moment, a moment he is "hungry" for.
If he can tick Moxon off the list, Shakeri is eyeing a bout with a legend of the sport in John Wayne Parr - because Shakeri says to be the best, you've got to beat the best.
It's not the only title on the line - Filipe Ferreira (5-2) will fight for the NSW super middleweight championship, while Ben Dencio (3-0) is eyeing NSW super featherweight gold.
Completing the Stockade Gym's promising stable of Canberra boxers on show is Beau Hartas and Abe Archibald, who are making their professional debuts.
CAPITAL FIGHT SHOW 11
Saturday: Capital Fight Show 11 - Main Event: Ehsan Shakeri v Steve Moxon for the MASA Professional Middleweight World Championship. Tickets available from Ticketbooth. First bout at 7pm.
