John Wayne Parr

Wayne Parr began training in taekwondo at the age of 11. Wayne competed in the Queensland titles at QE2 Stadium, where he won a silver medal after winning 2 fights and losing the final in 1988. In 1990 Parr started kickboxing, training for a few months before having to move to Sydney. In 1991 Parr moved to Richmond, New South Wales. Wayne found a new kickboxing gym and had his first fight aged 14, losing on a split decision. In 1992 the Parr family moved again to Mornington in Victoria. In 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 at the time.

Parr started participating in 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 helped promote Wayne at Jupiters Casino for 3 fights before he fought for the South Pacific title against Scott Lovelock, winning by 5th-round KO when Parr was 19.[1] During his first career in Australia, he won some regional titles including one from the WKA. At the age of 19, Parr met Richard Vell who was owner of an esteemed Muay Thai restaurant in Australia – Boonchu Thai food. Richard and Wayne developed a father and son relationship, and after a few years together Richard sponsored Wayne to train in Thailand. In 1996 Parr moved to Thailand, living in Pattaya and training for 3 months out of Sidyodtong gym, eventually moving to Nonthaburi, Bangkok to train with legendary Thai 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.

In 1996 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. He trained extensively with legendary Thai fighter "Deadly Kisser" Sangtiennoi Sor.Rungroj in this time. During his career in Thailand, he imitated a gunfighter by drawing a gun from his holster at the end of the wai khru before the bout, and this caught the Thai public's fancy. He gained popularity in Thailand, was voted 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 training facility "Boonchu Gym"[2] and he also started participating in traditional boxing bouts.

Parr debuted in boxing on 29 January 1998 against Tim Shannon in a four-round bout, winning by TKO in the second round. On 25 April 1998, he fought against Takayuki Kohiruimaki who would eventually win the K-1 tournament, 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 in round 2 due to doctor's stoppage as Parr's head was sliced open via a left elbow strike.[3]

On 24 April 1999, he fought against Kenichi Ogata, the Japanese national shoot boxing champion, winning by KO with left hook in the second round.[4] On 23 May 1999, he participated in the first "X-plosion series" event, which was a famous Australian kickboxing promotion, fighting against Daniel Dawson. Parr won by unanimous decision after 5 rounds.

On 13 October 2000, he participated in 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. The fight was unusual in that their rivalry had developed on an Australian kickboxing bulletin board. On 5 December, he fought against Orono Por.Muang Ubon for the vacant title of International Muay Thai Federation (IMF) middleweight title in the Thai King's birthday event. He won by unanimous decision after 5 rounds, winning another world title in Muay Thai.

In 2001, Parr shifted his focus to boxing again. After seven consecutive boxing victories 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 in round 10 and got his first boxing title. Next month, on 17 August, he challenged Nader Hamdan for his IBF Pan Pacific Junior middleweight title, but lost by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. On 21 September, he challenged for the vacant Oceanic Boxing Association (OBA) title at Super welterweight against Rasheed Baloch, and won the title by TKO in round 5. On 24 October, he fought against Ian McLeod to defend his Australian national title, but lost by unanimous decision. On 5 December, he participated in the King's Cup tournament in Thailand, and won the tournament.

On 29 November 2019 Parr defeated former world champion Anthony Mundine by split decision with scores of 96–93, 95–93 and 94–95. Following the bout Parr announced his retirement from combat sports, citing his need for a hip replacement.[5]

On 26 November 2002, Parr participated K-1 Oceania MAX 2002 tournament. He knocked out Shane Chapman with right cross in the semifinal, but was beaten by Mike Zambidis by Majority decision at the tournament final. In 2004 John Wayne had his first fight for the K-1 organisation in Japan against Duane Ludwig, winning on points. John Wayne made the final 8 with his first fight against Buakaw – after 3 close rounds the judges scored it a draw, forcing an extension round. After the extension round John Wayne lost via split points decision.

In 2005 JWP was invited back for K1 eliminations, beating Shane Chopper Chapman by KO. Making the final 8, JWP then fought Albert Kraus, losing on points. JWP also had super fights in the K-1 against Arslan Magomedov, losing after extension and against Kinami, winning on points.

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 US$33,300), and a trophy from Thaksin Shinawatra.

JWP won the prestigious vacant title of WMC World Muay Thai Champion with a unanimous victory over Alexandre Cosmo.

Much of Parr's fame rose from the Contender Asia reality show and on 12 April 2008 Parr fought Yodsaenklai in Singapore for The Contender Asia title and US$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. He eventually fought Yodsaenklai once more, winning the final bout of their trilogy with a hard-fought, but highly controversial decision.

On 24 June 2012 John Wayne Parr fought his retirement fight against K-1 veteran Jordan Tai, fighting full Thai rules in an MMA-style cage with fingerless gloves. At 2:11 of the 4th round he knocked out Jordan Tai with a vicious uppercut. He retired on a four fight winning streak (three of which were by KO) and he retired as the WKBF K-1 World Middleweight Champion. It was Parr's first time fighting inside a cage using 5oz MMA gloves and he has said he enjoyed it more than traditional Muay Thai and would come out of retirement if Buakaw Por. Pramuk agreed to face him in a caged Muay Thai fight.[6]

On 18 January 2013 Parr came out of retirement to sign a three-fight deal with Powerplay Promotions.[7] The first fight was to be against WKA World Middleweight (−72.5 kg/159.8 lb) Oriental title holder Fadi Merza, but Merza pulled out at the last minute and was replaced on the card with Mostafa Abdollahi.[8] Parr defeated Abdollahi by knock out at 1:30 in the 2nd round with a right hook to win Merza's newly vacated belt.[9]

On 6 July 2013, Parr forced two eight counts on Marco Piqué en route to a decision win at Boonchu Cup: Caged Muay Thai 3 on the Gold Coast, Australia.[10][11]

Parr intended to tryout for the Australia vs. Canada season of The Ultimate Fighter mixed martial arts reality TV show in September 2013 but a minimum of five professional MMA fights was required for candidates and so he was rejected in spite of his kickboxing and Muay Thai credentials.[12]

He was scheduled to have his rubber match with Cosmo Alexandre at Powerplay Promotions 22 in Melbourne, Australia on 8 November 2013.[13] However, Alexandre did not apply for his visa in time and was unable to enter the country and so he was replaced by New Zealand's Brad Riddell who Parr defeated by unanimous decision.[14]

He defeated Yohan Lidon by decision at Boonchu Cup: Caged Muay Thai 4 in Gold Coast, Australia on 1 March 2014.[15]

Parr lost the WKA World Middleweight (−72.5 kg/159.8 lb) Oriental Championship when he was knocked out by Toby Smith in the third round at Powerplay Promotions 24 in Melbourne on 21 June 2014.[16][17] On Saturday 11 June 2016 Parr is fighting Greek Pavlos Kaponis at MTGP5 event in London, UK.[18] John Wayne Parr defeated Pavlos Kaponis at Muay Thai Grand Prix 5 on Saturday, 11 June 2016 in London, England.[19] On Friday 14 October 2016 in Perth, Western Australia, Parr fought Daniel Dawson in their third bout at Origins 8 promotion at Herb Graham Rec Centre, Mirrabooka, WA.[20][21] Parr won the bout via unanimous judges decision.

Parr was expected to fight Jake Purdy of England in the main event of Caged Muay Thai 10 on 4 August 2017 in Brisbane, Australia, however Purdy pulled out of the fight on two days' notice with a broken toe. Purdy was replaced by Irish kickboxer James Heelan.[22] Parr went on to win this fight by unanimous decision.[23]

In October 2016 John Wayne Parr signed a three-fight deal with Bellator Kickboxing.[24][25] His first fight took place on 8 April 2017 in Italy at Bellator Kickboxing 5 against Nando Calzetta.[26] Parr won the fight via knockout in the second round.[27]

In his second outing held in Florence, Italy on 9 December 2017 at Bellator Kickboxing 8 Parr scored the third-round TKO win against Piergiulio Paolucci.[28]

In the third fight on 6 April 2018 in Budapest, Hungary, Parr faced a defeat by decision against Portuguese Eder Lopes.[29]

After the stint in Bellator, Parr signed with Rizin Fighting Federation and made his promotional debut against Danilo Zanolini at Rizin 18 on 18 August 2019. He lost the fight via split decision.

In March 2020, news surfaced that Parr had signed a six-fight contract with ONE Championship.[30][31] He made his promotional debut against Nieky Holzken at ONE on TNT III on 21 April 2021.[32] He lost the bout via TKO after a head kick dropped him.[33]

On February 17, 2022, news surfaced that Parr was scheduled to face former ONE Lightweight Champion and wushu champion Eduard Folayang at ONE: X on March 26, 2022 in a Muay Thai rules retirement bout.[34] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[35]

A feature-length documentary chronicling the life of Australian Muay Thai star and 10 time World Champion John Wayne Parr called Blessed With Venom was filmed.[36] The film provides an intimate insight into Parr's early years in Thailand where he endured rigorous training in primitive conditions, to the heights of his accomplishments around the world. We also get to see the personal side of the athlete as a husband and father of two, as a devoted family man and all round nice guy, respected by his opponents.

The documentary also examines seminal fights in Parr's career. From his bloody contests with Thai marvel Orono, which is considered the making of the Gunslinger's legend, to his contemporary battles with Mike Zambidis, Lamsongkram, and the three all out wars with Yodsanklai Fairtex. We bear witness as Parr comes back from 2 losses to ultimately defeat Yodsanklai in Melbourne. A blockbuster encounter between two true giants of the sport doing what they do best, trading bone crunching blows in the brutal world of Muay Thai.

John Wayne Parr has also acted in short movies such as "The Violent", written by James Richards and Keith Macdonald. It was filmed in Australia and won Best Fight Choreography Short award at an international film festival.

His wife, Angela Rivera-Parr, and daughter, Jasmine Parr, are also fighters. Angela has fought for the WBC Muay Thai title and won an IAMTF title (International Amateur Muay Thai Federation).[37] Jasmine is an aspiring kickboxer and won the Australian women's flyweight boxing championship in her first bout.[38]

• World Kickboxing Association (WKA)
  • 2013 WKA World Middleweight (−72.5 kg/159.8 lb) Oriental Championship
  • 2010 WKA Muay Thai World Middleweight Championship 72.5 kg
  • 1994 WKA South Pacific Super Lightweight Champion
  • 1992 WKA Australian Super Lightweight Champion[39]
• World Kickboxing Federation (WKBF)
  • 2011 WKBF K-1 Middleweight World Champion
• World Kickboxing Network (WKN)
  • 2010 WKN Thai boxing World Super welterweight(72.6 kg) Champion
• Lion Fight
  • 2009 Lion Fight Super Welterweight Title Contender
• International Kickboxer Magazine
  • 2008 International Kickboxer Magazine Champion
• World Muaythai Council (WMC)
  • 2008 WMC Contender Asia Runner up
  • 2007 WMC Thai boxing Middleweight World Champion
  • 2001 Kings Cup Tournament Champion* 1999 Winner Kings Cup
  • 1999 WMTC (Now WMC) Australian Jr. Middleweight Champion
  • 1997 Kings Cup Winner
• K-1
  • 2005 K-1 World MAX World Final 8
  • 2004 K-1 World MAX World Final 8
  • 2002 K-1 Oceania MAX finalist
  • 2000 ISKA Muay Thai World Middleweight Champion
• WKBA
  • 2005 WKBA K-1 World Welterweight Champion (Defence: 1)
• Onesongchai Promotion
  • 2004 S-1 Muay Thai World Middleweight Tournament Champion
• IMF
  • 2000 IMF Kings Cup Muay Thai World Middleweight Champion

• 2001 Australian Boxing Middleweight Champion