Jazzy Parr: John Wayne Parr’s daughter chasing boxing glory after switch from Muay Thai

Parr returns to the ring on Saturday for her fourth professional bout, where she hopes to defend her WIBA flyweight title against Brianna Harrison at Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast.

As she has been throughout her young career, she will be cornered by her father, combat sports icon, “John” Wayne Parr.

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After growing up on Muay Thai and kickboxing, the 20-year-old Parr said she feels like she’s found a “home” in the boxing ring.

“Before my first boxing fight, I didn’t want to fight boxing. That wasn’t a part of the goal at all,” “Jazzy” told Sporting News.

“I took the boxing fight because it was a massive opportunity and as soon as I got in the ring, I was like, ‘This feels like home.’ And I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Parr claimed the Australian title in her debut, the same belt her dad had won in 2001.

“As soon as I got out of that ring and had that belt, I knew I wanted more and that’s the goal,” she said.

“I want to keep going all the way to the top.”

Despite a professional boxing record of 11-3, John Wayne Parr made his name in the Muay Thai and kickboxing scene, building a worldwide fanbase and collecting countless honours over a career spanning more than 20 years.

Jasmine, the eldest of three children, had her first kickboxing fight aged eight and looked to be following in not only her father’s footsteps but also those of her mother, Angie, herself formerly a world class fighter.

While she’s still in the hurt business, Parr said she’s now got her eyes set on boxing glory.

“The plan was always that I was going to do Muay Thai and once I’d got a world title or kind of kicked some goals in Muay Thai, I was going to transition to MMA,” she explained.

“Since that boxing fight, I just really want to stick with boxing and I think this is what I’m going to do for hopefully the rest of my career.”

Despite reaching the pinnacle of his sport, John Wayne Parr didn’t enjoy the same financial rewards on offer for those at the top in boxing.

The 47-year-old is fully supportive of his daughter’s venture down the boxing path.

“At this stage, she’s definitely got the taste and the prizemoney is almost triple of her Muay Thai money that she’s made so far,” Parr told Sporting News.

“Financially, it’s a wiser career move.

“I’ll support her either way. As a father, you’ve got to love your kids for whatever form of violence they like to do to other people.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than watching the kids create their own legacy and chase their own dreams.”

Having been the fighter inside the ropes so often, John Wayne reflected on the challenges of being a trainer, and a father.

“I don’t really get nervous, I get excited. It’s so exciting to walk out behind them and to be in their corners and have them execute the stuff I’m helping them with, seeing the shots that they can’t see,” he said.

“And then when they pull it off, we win together, we win as a family. It’s really cool. I’m very lucky and proud of all three kids.

“When it’s time to fight, you’ve got to take your father hat off and put your trainer hat on. You can’t get emotional.

“Once emotions get in the way of things, then you’re sort of blindsided a little bit.

“I try and keep as professional as I can, trying to see the openings and the shots.”

In preparation for Saturday’s fight, Jazzy travelled to Thailand for a two-month camp, again treading the same path as her old man.

“She trained at the same camp I trained at back in 1996-2000. It’s gone full circle, same camp, same everything,” he said.

“It’s really cool having the little baby leave the nest and grow on her own.”

As a young fighter with a dream, Parr headed to Thailand to live the Muay Thai life, honing his skills in Spartan conditions.

His daughter believes that lifestyle has her primed for a big performance this weekend.

“It was really awesome training at the same camp that my dad trained in,” she said.

“That made him the fighter that he is and I can see why. Training eight-hour days is full on – it felt like the army.

“You wake up, go run, straight into work for four hours, go to bed, sleep, recover, refuel, then another four hours – that sh*t is hard.

“That can make or break you and it’s going to make me, I think.”

In Tim Tszyu, Australian boxing has witnessed the rise of its latest superstar, himself grappling with the challenges that come with having a legendary father.

While Jasmine Parr isn’t about to ask fans what her “motherf***ing name” is, she can relate to the situation and admits she was probably destined to be a fighter.

“I have been in the shadow of my father basically my whole life and I don’t think that’s a bad thing necessarily, but there’s been a lot of pressure my whole career,” she said.

“‘She’s only good because of her dad.’ But if I didn’t do the work and I didn’t hustle and I didn’t train my arse off every single day, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“I can have it in my blood too and 100 per cent, I’m going to take that because, why not? I’ve got it in my blood so I’m going to ride that ‘til I die.”