John Wayne Parr

The tattoo on John Wayne Parr’s chest says it all: Boonchu, meaning “blessed by the gods” in Thai. In the world of Muay Thai kickboxing, Parr has surely had a blessed career without equal: The Australian is a ten-time Muay Thai World Champion, a Bellator kickboxing veteran, and together with bouts in traditional boxing, has competed in 147 fights with 110 wins and 58 knockouts. It was all destiny from the start: After starting taekwondo fighting in his native Queensland, Australia, at the age of 11, his progression shot through the roof once he discovered his love for kickboxing and started fighting at 14, only to turn pro at 16. This set Parr on a path that would lead to Thailand, the cradle of Muay Thai, training with one of the sport’s luminaries, legendary Muay Thai fighter Sangtien Noi. Ultimately, he spent four years in Thailand, competed in 30 fights, and won two Muay Thai World Championship titles. As his calling card, Parr gestured drawing a gun from his holster before each fight, earning him the nickname ‘Gunslinger’. In 1999, he came full circle by moving back to Australia and opening his own training facility, Boonchu Gym. After a brief retirement from Muay Thai competition and shaking up the Bellator ranks, John Wayne Parr is back fighting on the ONE Championship kickboxing circuit, and the legacy continues. Parr told his fans on Facebook: “If something was to happen tomorrow and I was no longer on this planet, on my gravestone put a smiley face emoji