John Wayne Parr boxer

John Wayne "The Gunslinger" Parr (born 25 May 1976), also known as JWP, is an Australian kickboxer and boxer, fighting out of Boonchu Gym in Gold Coast, Queensland. He is a former 10-time 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. 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. 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" and he also started participating in traditional boxing bouts.