One of Ireland’s most exciting rising Muay Thai talents, James Kelly of 309 Phuang Malai, steps into the ring against Oisín Byrne, of Warriors Gym Dublin in what promises to be a fascinating clash between two fighters with very different paths through the sport.

At just 20 years of age, Kelly has already built an impressive résumé in a remarkably short space of time.

Kelly made his first professional appearance in Ireland in January , 2024, beginning what would become a breakout year for the young fighter. After testing himself against solid competition at home, Kelly made the move that many ambitious Muay Thai fighters dream of — travelling to Chiang Mai, Thailand to pursue his career on the international scene.

Fighting out of Hong Thong Muay Thai, Kelly quickly established himself as an active and dangerous competitor on the northern Thailand circuit. Venues such as Kalare Night Bazaar became familiar territory as he racked up fights against experienced local opposition.

The results were impressive.

Throughout 2024, Kelly stayed extremely active, competing 11 times over the course of the year. His record across that run stood at 9 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, with an impressive 7 stoppage victories, highlighting his ability to finish fights against seasoned Thai opposition.

One of the standout moments of his year came when he secured a decision victory at Lumpinee Stadium against the experienced Thai fighter Rungrat, a win that underlined his ability to compete — and win — on one of Muay Thai’s most prestigious stages.

Kelly has also appeared on RWS, further building his international experience.

What makes Kelly’s rise even more impressive is just how quickly it has happened. His first amateur fight came as recently as September 2023, where he immediately began making an impact, capturing the Irish Iska Open title under K1 rules.

Inside the ring, Kelly’s style is clinical and aggressive. He fights with composure beyond his years, applying steady pressure while maintaining technical sharpness. His boxing is particularly strong, complemented by solid kicking and a dangerous knee game. He is a fighter who is comfortable pushing the pace and is never afraid to engage.

Despite his young age, Kelly already carries the experience of fighting frequently in Thailand — something that continues to shape his development as he faces new challenges on the Irish scene.

Across the ring : Oisín Byrne – Warriors Gym Dublin

Standing across the ring from Kelly will be Oisín Byrne of Warriors Gym Dublin, a fighter who has already tested himself against some of the best competition available on the Irish Muay Thai scene.

Despite being relatively early in his career, Byrne has not taken an easy route through the sport. Since beginning his fighting journey around 2022, he has consistently faced high-level opposition and built valuable experience against some of Ireland’s top names.

Among his notable results is a victory over current WBC Celtic  champion Tiarnan Brennan, a win that demonstrated Byrne’s ability to compete with elite fighters in the country. He has also shared the ring with WMO champion and multiple ISKA Champion Dano O’Toole, further showing his willingness to challenge himself against top competition.

Another standout moment in Byrne’s career came in June 2024, when he defeated Liam McDonnell — a stablemate of both WBC Champion Niall McGreevy and WBC champion Garreth Smiley — in what many considered an A-class war and a strong contender for fight of the year.

Following that performance, Byrne travelled to Thailand to gain further experience, compiling a 3–1 record while competing regularly against Thai opposition. The experience clearly added another layer to his development as a fighter.

Stylistically, Byrne brings a very fluid and technical Muay Thai game to the ring. He is known for his excellent distance management, sharp kicking, clever feints, and well-timed attacks. His timing and composure allow him to control the rhythm of fights, while his arsenal includes dangerous head kicks, clean boxing combinations, strong knees, and well-executed sweeps.

While Byrne may not yet have the same level of international experience as Kelly, that does not necessarily make him the underdog. In many ways, Byrne appears to be hitting his stride as a Muay Thai practitioner, and his style makes him a particularly difficult opponent for anyone in the division.

He enters this bout coming off a short layoff since August 2025 but has been training consistently, but with both fighters carrying strong momentum, this matchup has all the ingredients for a memorable contest.

On paper, it is arguably the most exciting fight that can currently be made in Ireland at this weight, and a clash that promises fireworks for the fans.