Australia’s Top Gun – John Wayne Parr
Being an unstoppable force since taking up the sport as a teenager, John Wayne Parr has become Australia’s Muay Thai super-star. A Muay Thai role model for people all over the world, Parr started turning heads during his time training and fighting in the late 90′s in Thailand. Living in a Muay Thai camp for four years, training in Pattaya and Bangkok 2x a day 7 times a week, competing in 40 odd fights and winning two world titles. He fought for Thailands #1 promoter Songchai fighting often on Thai TV, was the first Australian to fight at the famous Lumpinee Stadium, Songchai Stadium, Kings Birthdays and all over rural Thailand.
During his career in Thailand, he imitated a gunfighter by drawing an imaginary gun from his gun-holster at the end of Wai khru before the bout. It was this movement that caught the Thai public fancy. In this way he captured his popularity in Thailand, and was the first Westerner to make it on the cover of Thailand’s number one selling Muay Thai Magazine Muay Siam, winning the IMF world title off Orono on the Kings Birthday, winning the S-1 World Title in an 8 man tournament and being voted the Best Farang Fighter of the year in 1997. In 1999 Parr moved back to Australia to open his own gym “Boonchu Gym “, and left Muay Thai to participate in boxing matches.
On 12 April 2008 Parr fought on the reality show, The Contender Asia. Battling his way to the finals through some of the best in the world he was left to face pound for pound the best Muay Thai fighter on the planet, Yodsaenklai Fairtex in Singapore for The Contender Asia title and USD $150,000. Parr recovered from two knockdowns during the fight, but lost by unanimous decision.
During his 106 fights consisting of 76 wins, JWP has fought top tier competition his whole life. He has stood across the ring with the likes of Orono Por.Muang Ubon, Mike Zambidis, Duane Ludwig, Buakaw Por, Pramuk,Sakmongkol Sithchuchok, Albert Kraus, Bruce Macfie, Yodsanklai Fairtex, Soren Monkongtong, Dzhabar Askerov, Cosmo Alexandre, Kozo Takeda and Sean Wright. The list just doesn’t end.
At 34 years of age JWP shows no sign of slowing down. This year alone he has won another world title off Dmitry Valent, becoming a 6 Times World Champion, he has fought 5x WMC champ Eugene Ekkelboom to a Draw and just recently beat Lamsongkram Chuwattana. He will soon be facing a familiar face in Bruce Macfie.
Fight Record
Total 106
Wins 76
By knockout 36
Losses 29
By knockout 2
Draws 1
Titles
* 2010 WKN Thai boxing World Super welterweight(72.6kg) champion
* 2008 International Kickboxer Magazine World champion
* 2008 WMC Contender Asia Runner up
* 2007 WMC Middleweight World champion
* 2005 WKBA World Welterweight champion (Defense: 1)
* 2004 S-1 World Middleweight tournament champion
* 2002 K-1 Oceania MAX finalist
* 2001 Australian Boxing Middleweight champion
* 2001 Kings Cup champion
* 2000 IMF Kings Cup World Middleweight champion
* 2000 ISKA World Middleweight champion
* 1999 Winner Kings Cup
* 1999 WMC Australian Jr. Middleweight champion
* 1994 WKA South Pacific Super Lightweight champion
* 1992 WKA Australian Super Lightweight champion[5]
Awards
* 2004 Fighter of the Year by IronLife Magazine
* 2004 Fighter of the year by International Kickboxer Magazine
* 1997 Best Farang Fighter in Thailand.
