John Wayne Parr Wins ONE X Fan Vote Performance Bonus After Epic Retirement Fight
Australian combat sports icon John Wayne Parr captured the hearts of the global fan base with a courageous performance in his retirement fight at ONE X: Grand Finale on Saturday, 26 March.
Although “The Gunslinger” didn’t get the 100th career victory he so desperately wanted, he’s now earned the ONE X Fan Vote performance bonus for his thrilling three-round Muay Thai battle against Filipino superstar Eduard Folayang at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
With almost 42 percent of the vote following the massive 10-year anniversary event, Parr will ease his way into retirement with an extra US$50,000 from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
While Saturday’s battle turned into a barn burner, Parr appeared to be in danger when he struggled early and then hit the canvas in round two.
However, the 45-year-old dragged himself up and came back strong in the final frame.
He threw everything at Folayang – driving the crowd into a frenzy – before falling just short on the judges’ scorecards. Still, it was a moment that viewers around the world will never forget.
Following the announcement of his performance bonus on Tuesday, Parr posted a video of his call with ONE commentator Mitch Chilson where the big news was first revealed.
The Aussie legend could hardly contain his excitement about the cash prize, which will make his transition to retirement much easier.
He said:
“This is amazing. I’ve been dreaming of this for so long. It’s so cool, that’s amazing. Thank you so much everybody. You don’t know how much that means. I think I just paid my house off.”
John Wayne Parr’s Emotional Retirement Farewell
Following his epic final performance at ONE X, John Wayne Parr delivered an emotional post-fight interview inside the Circle.
He took to the mic alongside commentator Michael Schiavello and thanked the fans who’ve supported his storied career.
Ending his long tenure in Muay Thai and kickboxing with a professional record of 99-36-1 – along with a slew of prestigious titles – Parr had a couple of lip-quivering moments as he delivered his last message to the audience in Singapore.
“The Gunslinger” said:
“I want to thank Mr. Chatri [Sityodtong] for giving me the chance to fight for ONE Championship. It was an absolute honor to be here. And thank you to all the fans for the last 30 years. You guys have been amazing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
