John Wayne Parr

John Wayne "The Gunslinger" Parr (born 25 May 1976), also known as JWP, is a retired Australian Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer and boxer, fighting out of Boonchu Gym in Gold Coast, Queensland.

He is a former 10-times World Champion and was the runner up on The Contender Asia.

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.

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.

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.

In 1999 Parr moved back to Australia to open his own training facility "Boonchu Gym" and he also started participating in traditional boxing bouts.

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.

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.

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.

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.