Boxer Based at Isleworth Gym Believes He Has Superpower
Balraj Khara sees his hearing impairment as an advantage
Balraj Khara in action
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August 10, 2026
Balraj Khara’s ascent through British boxing is striking not only for the power and precision he brings to the ring, but for the way he has reframed a lifelong challenge as a defining strength. Now aged thirty, the super-middleweight fighter is emerging as one of the most compelling figures in the sport, insisting that the hearing impairment he was born with is not a disadvantage but a “superpower” that sharpens his focus and fuels his resilience.
Khara was born in Chichester and raised in Feltham, where he first discovered boxing and began building the discipline that would carry him into the professional ranks. After years of amateur experience and dedication to combat sports, he made his professional debut at York Hall on 27 March 2022, defeating Frane Radnic. Since then, he has compiled a record of nine wins, two defeats and two draws, training out of Ivybridge Boxing Club in Isleworth under coach John Holland and manager Abdul.
His story resonates far beyond his fight record. As a third-generation British Sikh athlete, Khara is part of a growing wave of South Asian representation in elite sport, challenging outdated assumptions about who belongs in boxing’s upper tiers. He also mentors young fighters and supports Rise and Thrive, a charity campaigning against child exploitation, reflecting his belief that sport should be a force for community strength and social change.
Balraj Khara celebrate a win
Khara speaks openly about how partial hearing loss has shaped his approach to boxing. Rather than viewing it as an obstacle, he argues that it has sharpened the qualities fighters rely on most: concentration, composure, awareness and mental toughness. “Most people look at hearing loss and see a disadvantage. I see it differently,” he says. “It has helped me develop an incredible level of focus. In boxing, distractions can cost you everything. I’ve learned how to shut out the noise and focus entirely on the task in front of me. That’s why I call it my superpower.”
His ambition is not to be defined by his hearing impairment, nor to be framed as a boxer who succeeded despite it. He wants to be recognised as an elite athlete whose achievements stand on their own, with his hearing loss forming just one part of a larger story about determination, mindset and excellence.
With more professional bouts scheduled in the coming months, Khara’s journey continues to gather momentum. For fans, there will be plenty of opportunities to watch a fighter whose resilience, skill and perspective make him one of the most distinctive voices in British boxing today.
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