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MTG’s Fighter of the Year 2004 - John Wayne Parr
by Fahad Maniar, Admin / Team IronLife.com Staff Writer
I’ve been doing the fighter of the month feature for a few months now and I’ve featured Up and coming fighters and even featured trainers. Since we’re at the close of 2004, in review of what was in my opinion, a late starter in terms of great fighting, I would like to give this fighter the accolade of not Fighter of the month, but fighter of the year, some may even argue that he is fighter of this decade.
 His accomplishments include being crowned IMF world champion, ISKA world Champion, 3 times King’s Cup Champion and S-1 Champion as well as being amongst the elite in the Superleague and K-1 Max, John Wayne Parr has established himself as the force to be reckoned with in Muay Thai.
With a fight record of 72 fights, 54 wins and 27 coming by the way of knock out, John Wayne Parr has had in my opinion a great year. A lot of people reading this may disagree with my choice of fighter of the year. What about Buakaw Por Pramuk or Remy Bonjasky? Well, great fighters they are indeed, but when you mention the names Buakaw, Bonjasky and John Wayne Parr… I’m sure 99% of you will go “Ahhh yes, John “Wayne” Parr”.
In March of 2004, JWP entered the first of Songchai’s prestigious S1 Tournaments. A Knockout format tournament with balls as the final had to be fought under full thai rules.
JWP beat Mohammed Assalan in the first round and faced Jean Charles Skarbowski. After defeating Skarbowski by a second round TKO, JWP faced Thailand’s Nuangtrakarn who he defeated in convincing style to be crowned S-1 Champion.
Fahad Maniar & John Wayne Parr
JWP had success too in the Superleague beating Fadi Merza in Padova, Italy and Gregory “Chi.Ko” Swerts in Switzerland after which he fought in the K-1 Max finals as my personal favourite only to be defeated by the Champion Buakaw Por Pramuk.
When you think of Muay Thai Greats, a few names spring to mind and everyone recognises legends such as Rob Kaman, Ramon Dekker and a gun slinging Aussie who goes by the name of John “Wayne” Parr ?
JWP is currently training for a fight against Muay Thai Legend Sakgmongkol in December 2004. I had a chance to pose a few questions to him during a break from his busy schedule
- IronLife.com/Muuay Thai Guy: How did you start Muay Thai and when did you have your first fight?
John Wayne Parr: I started Taekwondo when I was eleven years old going into some tournaments doing quite well. After a few years Taekwondo left the hall we were training at and six months later kickboxing moved in. A few of the boys got together to try and out and I have never looked back since. I had my first kickboxing fight when I was fourteen in Sydney.
- What has been your career high and low this year and throughout the history of your career?
My highest achievement would have to be the S-1, there was lot of media before the show and was shown live on Thai TV from 4pm till 6:30pm. Walking around the next day being stopped by Thai people wherever I went was a real buzz. My lowest point, fighting Chris Allan in Melbourne back in 1998. After five rounds of Muay Thai I ended up with five cuts and 54 stitches in my face and hair line. It was just a bad night at the office with everything I threw just missing and getting caught with shots that shouldn't have landed. Even though it was a bad night for me, it was shown on Fox sports here in Australia with people never seeing a fight like that before and still always want to come up to remind me.
JWP Banging out "Bang"
- You fought pro boxing. How did you find that and would you ever consider trying MMA?
I was training with my best mate Paul Briggs when he switched to boxing. I seen some good things happening for him like fighting on TV and talks of big money fights in the future, this sounded good to me and I wanted to be part of it also. I retired after my fight with Orono on the Kings birthday 2000 to concentrate purely on boxing. After eight fights I won a Australian boxing title, my ninth fight I fought Nader Hamden who was ranked 5 in the IBF and lot of people said I should have won after 12 rounds. My final record in boxing was 13 Fights 10 W 10 KO's, my only loses were all on points over 12 rounds to Jeff Fenech fighters.
I enjoy to watching MMA but have no interest in competing in it.
- You've got a solid relationship with Sangtien Noi, the Deadly Kisser. How influential has this been with your career?
When I first went to Thailand I spent the first three months in Pattaya training at Sidyodtong. While I was there Sangtien Noi and Por Monort came to Australia to fight Jongsanan meeting my Thai sponsor Richard Vell. Richard took care of all the fighter for the week and to say thank you Por said he would let me train at his gym in Bangkok. Sangtien came and picked me up as soon as they arrived back in Thailand. Por was my trainer at the time and Sangtien was still fighting, everyday I had to grapple Sangtien and three times a week spar him boxing 100% with 18oz on. I was only 19 when I first went to Thailand and after four years was so lucky to learn so much about the sport.
- In my opinion you gave Buakaw the toughest fight in K-1. How do you feel about that fight and would you consider a rematch?
I would love a rematch. I don't like to use excuses but my last day training twisted my knee giving me some problems before the fight. This sort of threw my game plan off and didn't have the confidence to use my legs as much as I would have liked relying more on punches. At the same time Buakaw fought a very smart fight and even though I lost it was great watching him win the tournament. Hopefully 2005 will be my year.
- You recently made a statement that you'd like to fight Ramón Dekkers after a rumour that he was coming out of retirement. How do you feel this fight would go and how would you feel sharing the ring with him... I'm sure you're well on your way to being the next Ramón Dekker as it is.
I read on a lot of forums that Dekker was coming back and thought I would plant the seed to let people know that I was interested to fight him. I have the up most respect for Ramón being a big fan of his for a number of years. I even helped Sangtien prepare for when he fought Ramón Dekker in Europe. To this day I have always said I don't know if I would win, lose or draw with Ramón Dekker, but just saying that I fought him would be something else to add in my achievements in the sport, plus it would be a very good pay day because I am sure it would be a fight that everyone around the world would be interested in.
JWP vs. Buakaw in the K-1 MAX
- You've achieved nearly everything imaginable in Muay Thai. You've fought on the Kings birthday, won titles and won the S-1. What other aims and aspirations do you have now?
K-1 Max is the biggest thing in the world for middle weight fighters now, winning the crown makes you a house hold name world wide and your name is written in stone. At the same time just being part of all the big promotions around the world such as K-1 Max, Super League and Titans is enough to keep me excited to keep bettering myself.
- To create achievements, one must make sacrifices. You are now a family man and you spend time away from them to train. I understand that your wife and fellow fighter, Angie, is very supportive of you. It must be hard though to stay away from them for months at a time right?
This year I went to Thailand for six weeks to prepare for the S-1 and Super League Italy. This was the longest time I had been away from my family since I have meet Angie and it wasn't a good experience. I am lucky to have a good team around me in Australia and at my gym and do most of my preparation here in Australia now. Angie is great looking after the gym while I am away in Europe or Japan but more then a week is not fair on her to look after the gym by herself and also Jasmine my daughter. Now if I have a big fight I try and bring Por's son Nopachai Noi to Australia to help me prepare for my fights.
- You’ve got a fight coming up against the legend that is Sakmongkon. How is the training going for the fight against Sakmongkon and how do you feel about the fight?
Training has been going to plan, after Titans I had a week off then straight back into the gym . I have been working on getting my rear leg up for a southpaw and countering strong with kicks and punches. My Thai trainer that lives here in Australia has been coming in to the gym in the mornings helping me with technique and has a good game plan. I have done everything that I can for this fight and if I am not ready now I never will be.
We just had the weigh-in tonight and I made 69.7 first try, Sakmongkon had a little trouble first time coming in at 71.3 but 30 minutes later came back 69.3kg so no troubles with the weigh-in.
- In closing, on behalf of your fans on Ironlife, I’d like to wish you all the best for your up coming fight and all your future endeavors oh and Merry Christmas!
Once again thanks Fads. Hope you like the interview and Merry Christmas to all the people on Iron Life. I would like to say thank you to everyone for your well wishes and hope that I don't let you down. This is a big fight for myself and very excited but at the same time I am going in there to win. I am sure I will too excited to sleep when I get home and will post the results.
* Article by Fahad Maniar, Admin / Team IronLife.com Staff Writer.
* Back to This Issue's Frontpage
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