John Wayne Parr – Exclusive Interview At 13 Coins and His Fight With Yod

With John Wayne Parr’s fight with Yodsaenklai Fairtex nearing closer, he’s taken some time out from his grueling training at 13 Coins to sit down with Muay Thai Training Camps and chat with us about his fight with Preacher, training at 13 Coins and what’s next on the horizon after he charges through Yod.

Mike- Hi John Wayne Parr. So lets started. Your fight with preacher. What are your thought’s on it? did you fight your usually fight? Are you looking for a rematch?
JWP- Last fight I wasn’t my usual self, I had the big fight coming up with Yodsanklai and wanted to win without getting injured playing the counter game. I thought my defence was tight using my teep and left kick everytime Bruce came into attack. There was a bit of a mess at the judges table, on the cards I won but somehow someone over turned the decision. A rematch would be great, Preacher and myself always put on a exciting fight, next time I wont leave it to the judges though.

Mike- I see your training at 13 Coins at the moment. Can you give us a run down on your experience there?
JWP- I am loving it here, I have been to half a dozen gyms in Thailand but never been looked after like I have here, Mr Coke (Somchai) the owner of 13 coins is an amazing man who really loves Muay Thai and buys up the best fighters. The Thai pad holders here take the time to slow things down and show you right technique, and the main man Saenchai is one of a kind, he has time for everyone and already feel like a new fighter after 23 years in the sport.

Mike- how’s the training? Are you finding any significant improvements?
JWP- Training in Thailand is always hard, the heat is the main killer, but you can’t help but love it here. At 13 coins I am learning footwork all over again, staying light on my feet and angles.

Mike- whats it like to train with Saenchai and Pornsenah?
JWP- It’s great, moving around with the boys and grappling is fun. I am lucky I can speak Thai so I get to be one of the boys and have a joke around. I am excited to watch them both fight for Lumpinee titles Oct 5th, will be a great show.

Mike- You’ve had a war of a fight with Orono before. How is it seeing him again?
JWP- We have fought twice before. No hard feelings, I say G’day or sawadee to him everytime I see him. I sort of train with Saenchai’s pad holder and Orono trains other boys so don’t do any work together.

Mike- Do you consider Thailand one of the best places to come train Muay Thai?
JWP- I will go with Yes for this one, or if your in Australia come train at my gym Boonchu (got to plug the business when I can ha ha).

Mike- What is it you love the most about coming to Thailand to train?
JWP- Just training with quality fighters, I am getting tossed around like a rag doll again in grappling and left/teeped kicked to death. Its nice to be the student again and being told to do things the right way.

Mike- Your fighting Yodseanklai again on Oct the 17th. How do you see the fight going?
JWP- Will be a very tough fight, always is. This time though I have really put my heart and soul into training, I feel fitter then I have in a long time and my attacks feel strong. I am going to be a different fighter then the first two time we fought so hopefully throw a curve ball in there somewhere and upset Yod’s rhythm. I don’t have much longer in sport as a fighter, I really need this win to cement my legacy.

Mike- What happens after Yod? What are you future plans in Muay Thai in 2011?

JWP- I have no plans at this stage, going to have a little time off after the last few months of smashing my body. Hopefully there will be a fight December or early next year. I am 34yo now and know my time is running out, I keep saying one more year fighting so we will see how we go.

Mike- Thanks for the interview JWP. Any last words?
JWP- Just want to say Thank you to my wife Angie for letting me come to Thailand to train 3 weeks, she is the best wife a fighter could have. Thanks to Qest, Boonchu Thai restaurant and Vas for all you help. Big high five to my friends and supporters, It’s a huge fight but I hope I can get your support for this one.

Born in Australia, training in martial arts since the age of 9. My first trip to Thailand was back in 2007. Since then i have made numerous visits back to the "land of smiles" to feed my addiction of Muay Thai. During the month of November in 2010 i had to decide between working a 9 to 5 job back home for the rest of my life, or sell all my worldly possessions and move to Thailand to live and train for the next few years. Thankfully i chose the latter. I now spend my time training Muay Thai, meeting new and interesting circles of people, sipping coconuts under palm trees on the beach and measuring the cost of everything on how much Pad Thai i could buy with that money.

Mike (Admin)

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