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John Wayne Parr Bio
John Wayne "The Gunslinger" Parr (born 25 May 1976), also known as JWP, is an Australian middleweight kickboxer and boxer, fighting out of Boonchu Gym in Gold Coast, Queensland. He is an 8 time World Champion and runner up in The Contender Asia. He is regarded by many as one of the 15 best foreign (not of Thai descent) Muay Thai fighters of all time.
Biography
Early life
Wayne Parr began training in Taekwondo at the age of 11. Wayne competed in the Queensland titles at QE2 stadium, Parr won a silver medal after winning 2 fights and losing final in 1988. In 1990 Parr started kickboxing, he trained for a few months before having to move to Sydney. 1991 Parr moved to Richmond, NSW. Wayne found a new kickboxing gym and had his first fight judged 14 losing on split decision. 1992 the Parr family moved again to Mornington in Victoria. 1993 At the age of sixteen, his family moved back to Queensland, and Parr began training with Blair Moore. Moore was one of Queenslands premier promoters of Muay Thai.
Early career in Australia
Parr started participating the professional bouts at the age of 16. Moore trained Parr for 13 fights, with Parr winning an Australian title (63 kg) at the age of 17. Blair help promote Wayne at Jupiters Casino for 3 fights before fighting for the South Pacific title over Scott Lovelock winning by 5th round KO when Parr was 19. During his first career in Australia, he won some regional titles of WKA. At the age of 19, Parr met Richard Vell who was one of the most famous Muay Thai restaurant in Australia - Boonchu Thai food. Richard and Wayne have a father and son relationship, after a few years together Richard sponsored Wayne to train in Thailand. In 1996 Parr moved to Thailand living in Pattaya 3 months training out of Sidyodtong gym, then moved to Nonthaburi, Bangkok to train with legendary fighter Sangtien Noi (Deadly Kisser). It was at camp Loomingkwan that Wayne was named "John Wayne Parr" after John Wayne of Western Show Por Monoch Borbud.
Career in Thailand
In 1995 Parr moved to Thailand and lived in a Muay Thai camp for four years, training in Pattaya and Bangkok, competing in 30 fights and winning two world titles. During his career in Thailand, he imitated a gunfighter with drawing a gun from his gun-folder at the end of Wai khru before the bout, and this movement had caught the Thai public fancy. In this way he got his popularity in Thailand, and he was voted the Best Farang Fighter of the year in 1997, fought at Lumpinee Stadium three times, and at his first Thai King's birthday. In 1999 Parr moved back to Australia to open his own gym "Boonchu Gym ", and he also started participating boxing matches.
2nd career in Australia
Parr debuted his boxing career on 29 January 1998 against Jim Shannon as a 4 rounder. He won by TKO at 2R in his first boxing bout. On 25 April 1998, he fought against Takayuki Kohiruimaki who wins the Japanese national tournament of K-1 in the future, and won by the unanimous decision. On 19 September, Parr fought Takashi Ito, another Japanese veteran kickboxer, in the joint event of AJKF & MAJKF, and lost by TKO because the doctor stopped during 2R as Parr's head was cut with Ito's left elbow strike.
On 24 April 1999, he fought against Kenichi Ogata, the Japanese national champion of shoot boxing, and he won by KO with left hook at 2R. On 23 May, he paticipated the first event of "X-plosion series" which is the famous Australian kickboxing event and fought against Daniel Dawson. Parr won by the unanimous decision at 5R.
On 13 October 2000, he participated K-1 Queensland 2000, the first K-1 event for him, and fought against Scott Bannan for his ISKA Muay Thai world championship at middleweight. Parr knocked out Bannan with right knee strikes to body at 2R and won the world title. On 5 December, he fought against Orono Por.Muang Ubon for the vacant title of International Muay Thai Federation (IMF) at middleweight in the event of Thai King's Birthday event. he won by the unanimous decision at 5R and won another world title of Muay Thai.
Boxing career
In 2001, Parr shifted his career to boxing again. After 7 consecutive victories of boxing bouts since 1998, he fought against Andriy Khamula for the vacant Australian boxing title at Middleweight on 8 July 2001. He won the championship by TKO at 10R and got his first boxing title. Next month, on 17 August, he challenged Nader Hamdan for his IBF Pan Pacific Junior middleweight title, but he lost by the unanimous decision at 12R. On 21 September, he challenged the vacant title of OBA at Super welterweight with Rasheed Baloch, and won the title by TKO at 5R. On 24 October, he fought against Ian McLeod to defend his Australian national title, but he lost by the unanimous decision at 12R. On 5 December, he participated King's Cup tournament in Thailand, and won the tournament
K-1
On 26 November 2002, Parr participated K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 tournament. He knocked out Shane Chapman with right cross in the semifinal, but he was beaten by Mike Zambidis by Majority decision at the tournament final. 2004 John Wayne had his first fight for K-1 in Japan against Duane Ludwig winning by points. John Wayne made the final 8 with his first fight against Buakaw, after 3 rounds the judges scored it a draw, after a extension round John Wayne lost on a split point. 2005 JWP was invited back for eliminations beating Shane Chopper Chapman by KO. Making the final 8 JWP then fought Albert Kraus first fight on lost on points. JWP also had super fights on K-1 against Arslan Magomedov losing after extension and Kinami winning on points.
S-1
In 2004 JWP won the S1 Tournament World Champion Title with 3 wins in one night. Together with this title, he won one million baht (equivalent to around USD $33,300), and a trophy from Thaksin Shinawatra.
WMC
JWP won the prestigious vacant title of WMC World Muay Thai Champion with a unanimous victory over Alexandre Cosmo.
The Contender Asia Finals
On 12 April 2008 Parr fought Yodsaenklai in Singapore for The Contender Asia title and USD $150,000. The fight was an emotional battle for Parr; just weeks before the contest, his father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His wife was also pregnant. Parr recovered from two knockdowns during the fight, but lost by unanimous decision.
