Johnston defeated Melbourne boxer Daniel Smith, who came into the fight with a record of two wins and a loss, on points decision after the pair couldn’t be split during the six rounds.

The 23-year-old light middleweight labelled the fight at Melbourne’s Pavilion as the toughest of his short career.

“To tell you the truth, it was an absolute battle out in the ring, with both of us going to war on one another,” Johnston said.

“He caught me with a few big hits in the third and fourth rounds, but I held it together and composed myself.

“Thankfully I responded strong enough in the last two rounds to clinch the victory.”

After the final bell, Johnston was unsure which way the judges’ decision would go.

“I was confident I had done enough to claim the win, but also could see Daniel winning,” Johnston said.

“Daniel was in front of his home crowd and his trainer had organised the whole event, so I didn’t know if that was going to have an effect on the outcome.”

With only three weeks to prepare for the bout, Johnston said he could have been more physically prepared.

“I went into the fight in great shape, but Daniel proved that I need to keep improving my fitness levels if I’m going to stay successful,” he said.

“It is something that I will work hard with Gonzo [his trainer] on before my next fight.”

Johnston’s next battle is already schedule for September 13, which he is thoroughly looking forward to.

“It will be awesome fighting in front of my home supporters, because they are so supportive,” he said.

“After three wins, I’m starting to catch the attention of others, which is great.”

At just eight years of age, Johnston was a prize fighter, who travelled to compete in Outback shows with his father.

Johnston now credits trainer Gonzo Hooper for making his dreams a reality, turning him from an amateur boxer in Mount Isa.

“Before Gonzo, I was just having fun with boxing and competing against other amateurs in Mount Isa,” he said.

“But now I have a chance to make what I love my job, which I’m extremely grateful for.

“It’s been a great journey so far, and I’m loving every single part of it.”

Johnston previously defeated Thailand’s Pramool Boonpok with his first knockout, before dishing out the same result against Indonesia’s Aswin Cabuy in June.

“Gonzo and I set out to win my first 10 fights by knockout, but realistically we knew we would eventually come up against someone that could compete with me,” Johnston said.

“You have got to set high goals to ensure that you achieve the best you can.”