JWP flying kick in his latest fight
winning pass to K-1 Max Finals |
John Wayne Parr is in Australia getting ready for the assault
to the K-1 Max title in July 20. He is training harder as ever and all us
will see the strongest JWP in the finals!
Congratulations & happy birthday John and Angela who celebrated their
birthdays this week.
He made a rest in his training and dedicated some time to this interview
for his fans: |
K-1Fans: Hi John, first of all, congratulations,
very good fight vs Chapman! you wanted a KO and you got it.
Qualified to the K-1 Max Finals!
JWP: Yes I am
very happy. This year I really want to do the best that I can in the K-1
max and making the final was very important to me. Chopper is a very good
fighter and many people were backing him to beat me so it feels good to
beat a strong opponent.
K-1Fans: You have many fans that bet for you to be the
K-1 Max champion this year, how
do you feel? this will be your year?
JWP: It feels great
having everyone support but its also a little bit of pressure because I
dont want to let anyone down. Last year I was also one of the favorites
but lost to Baukaw first fight, I hope this year I can get revenge for my
lose.
K-1Fans: We know that National Geographic is following you since last year for a
documentary called "Glory". This will be great when released! what will we see
in that documentary?
JWP: You will see what
really happens in the lead up to K-1, the training, making weight, the
stress on the family plus the joys and also the heart break of winning and
lossing, the captureed me loseing a close fight to Sakmongkon but also
captured a win over Chopper, I just hope they can film me winning the Max.
National Geographic will also be traveling to Japan to interview Masato
and his training plus going to Thailand to film Baukaw. I think this will
be one of the best Documentary about kickboxing so far, because so many
people already know the fighters involved but now they will see them out
side the ring.
K-1Fans: Last year in K-1 Max, Buakaw stopped you, bad luck because he was the
best in that tournament, anyway he only could win you by points in a very equal
fight; and furthermore he said you was the most difficult and hard fighter he
had in front (toughest than Masato). what about? ready to beat Buakaw and
Masato?
"..this year I can get revenge for my lose"
"..I have a secret weapon"
|
JWP: I really want to
beat Baukaw, last year was close but I know I can fight better. This year
I have a secret weapon but you wont know until the final, but I can tell
you now its going to make the biggest difference to the fight you could
imagine. Masato will be a hard fight but if I train hard and not to
damaged I believe I have enough ring experience to beat him.
K-1Fans: You won S-1 Championship 2003, it was very good tournament. I think
that being campion there was one of your happiest days, true?
JWP: Yes, it is the happiest I have ever been after a tournament being the only one I have
won. I won two fights Kings birthday in Thailand but the final was in
France. I also made the final in Melbourne but lost a very close decesion
to Zambidis, winning the S-1 in Thailand ment so much because I finally got
the respect of the MuayThai fans.
Skarbowsky nose broken by
Parr hard punch
|
K-1Fans: There you broke Skarbowsky nose, You are a bad boy! ;)
JWP: Yeah, just a good
shot. Could have happened to either of us, just a mater of who landed
first.
K-1Fans: How many time did you fight in thailand? fights, experiences in King
Birthday, thailand partners/trainers, etc..?
JWP: I fought about 30
times in Thailand. 3 times at Lumpinee, 3 times in one day Raqjadumdern, 4
King birthdays and many Songchai promotions in the country. I also made
the front cover of Muay Siam Magazine in 97 which I am very proud of.
K-1Fans: I think this is difficult to answer or maybe it´s obvious, but what do
you prefer: Fight in thailand (S-1 for example) , in Japan (K-1 Max) , or in
Europe (SuperLeague) ?
JWP: I love them
all but all are different in their own way. Fighting in Thaialnd is great
because the fans are true MuayThai fans and they know the real fighters
from the fakes. Europe is great because the fighters have a different
style but all fight very exciting and a fast pace. Japan is great because
of the Japanese fans and the respect you get from the MuayThai around the
world if you do well. I love fighting everywhere, as long as I am
fighting.
K-1Fans: Do you prepare yourself always similar, or each fight independant?
depending the fighter in front, etc, viewing his videos..?
JWP: I train pretty
much the same way but I have a different game plan for every fighter. Unless I am fit I can not make my plan work, so fitness is very important.
K-1Fans: Usually there are controversy in fights, bad judge decicions, etc.
What about the decision of your fight vs Zambidis in K-1 Max Oceania, and your
fight vs Sakmongkon?
Great & intense fight vs Zambidis.
Controversy in the decission.
For many fans, John should have won.
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JWP: The Zambidis
fight is one the will haunt me forever, it was a very close fight and I
believe I won. Everyone has their opinion on who they thought won so I
just have to live with the decision. I am sure we will rematch again in
the future and hopefully I can win more convincing than the first to
impress the judges enough to give me the win.
JWP vs Sak, one of his heros |
The sakmongkon fight was also a heart breaker, I really wanted it because
Sak has been my hero for so many years. After three rounds it was close
but the fourth was mine no question about it. The judges couldnt make up
their minds so sent us out for one more round, after giving it all I had
in the 4th the wasnt much left in the fuel tank for the last.
Sakmongkon is a great fighter and used his experience from keeping me from
coming in and fought a very smart last round. I lost the fight but I
learnt alot.
Training to reduce weight
Wow!
10kg in 3 days! |
K-1Fans: I heard that your normal weight is 78 KG! How do you do to reduce 8KG
and enter in K-1 MAX Weights (Under 70kg) ?
JWP: After living in
Thailand so many years I learnt how to drop weight over a 3 day period,
its not recommended doing it the way I do but I have pretty much mastered
it now and come fight time feel strong. The most I lost was in Las Vegas,
I lost 10kg in 3 days and won a five round war against Rodtung.
K-1Fans: We hear some rumors saying that you will fight Dekkers? could be true
someday?
JWP: I have no idea,
it's been so long since there was talk of the fight. I am just
concentrating on the Max at the moment but if the fights happen I am sure
it will be one that the whole world will be talking about.
K-1Fans: It is hard to live and get money from this sport? or you consider
fortunate doing what you want?
JWP: I am very lucky
to be doing what I love for a job. For so many years I was just surviving
from fight to fight and had to count every penny but after fifteen years I
am very happy with what I am making a fight thanks to K-1. I am going to
keep fighting as long as I can as long as I am winning and fighting on the
big shows. The thought I retiring is always there but now I am making the
money I am I would be made to give it away now.
Boonchu Gym |
K-1Fans: You opened a Gym, how it goes? have you good boys already training
there?
JWP: At the moment I
have 100 members and about 10 fighters. Its hard to be a fighter and run
the gym at the same time but I am lucky my wife Angie supports me as much
as she does and does a very good job taking care of the gym when I am
away.
K-1Fans: About Angela,
when I first saw your Wife´s fighting photos I thought.. "Parr is lucky
having that girl", she likes fighting as you, understand you, etc. how did
you meet Angela?
Angela Rivera Parr |
JWP: We meet at master
Toddys camp in Las Vegas. I seen posters on the wall of one of Master
Toddys champions and thought she was very cute. Soon as we met we started
talking and never been a part since. Its so good having a wife who is
also a fighter because she understands everything I am going through and
can understand techniques of the sport.
K-1Fans: But how do you take and feel when she is in the ring?
Angela great front kick! |
JWP: I get nervous but
I also want her to win. She was one of the most famous female fighters in
America when we met and I want people to remember her as one of the best.
K-1Fans: Yes, she is
one of the best, we hope she demonstrate it again
in your next fights, both fight in Xplosion K-1 Challenge in Australia. Good
luck.
Back to K-1 Max.. this year Finals, now officially confirmed:
Masato vs
Zambidis , Kohi vs Souwer , Parr vs Kraus ,
Buakaw vs Jadamba
How do you imagine will be the tournament: semis, final, champion..
?
JWP: I am hope I can
give Kraus the fight of his life getting the win, next I see myself
fighting Baukaw, this will be a great fight and very intense work rate but
I hope I can revenge my lose, Final I think I will meet Masato, this will
be another great fight and I will do everything that I can to become the
2005 K-1 Max world Champion.
JWP prediction for K-1 WORLD MAX 2005! |
I Agree with your prediction! Great event! ;-)
K-1Fans: We are
finishing this interview John. What are your future projects and thoughts for
next years?
JWP: Fight as much as
I can and win as many as possible!
K-1Fans: Ok, thanx for the answers
my friend, I hope the fans liked reading from you.
Good luck this year and the best for you. Something more to say to the fans?
JWP: Thank you so much
for all your support over the years. My next fight will be K-1 World Max
final and after all these years training this is what i want more than
anything, to leave my name in the record books as one of the worlds best.
If you ever see me at the fights please say hello because meeting fans
from the internet always makes me happy.
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