Revel Gold Coast, a new world champion has arrived.
Fighting through an injury plagued 2022 and a jam-packed schedule, Jasmine Parr has once again defeated Nicila Costello — this time claiming the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association flyweight title in the process.
In what was the 19-year-old’s first bout over 10 rounds, Parr claimed victory in somewhat controversial circumstances after her forthcoming rival was deemed ineligible to win the belt at the Star Casino.
Costello’s failure to make weight ensured while the fight went ahead and was fought with plenty of ferocity only Parr was able to claim the mantle.
Despite still being so raw to the sport, this just Parr’s third professional bout, the presence of the belt around her waist could open up doors for her to tackle further scalps on the world stage.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 03: Jasmine Parr punches Nicila Costello during their WIBA Flyweight World Title fight at The Star Gold Coast on December 03, 2022 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
No doubt the likes of WBA, WBC and The Ring champion Marlen Esparza, IBF leader Arely Mucino and undefeated WBO sensation Gabriela Celeste Alaniz will be high on her to do list moving into 2023.
Speaking in the lead up to her bout, Parr declared her original plans to crack the UFC — having already thrived in Muay Thai and kickboxing as well — were off the table after she discovered a newfound passion for boxing.
In her pursuit of global dominance, she spoke of the hunger she felt to become the best in the ring, and while she had already overcome Costello on her debut a year ago was determined to prove it was no fluke.
While for months her boxing pursuits were put on hold as she battled through a torn labrum and underwent hip surgery earlier in the year, Parr said she now felt “like I can do anything.”
“When the opportunity came up to fight for a world title it’s hard to say no. It’s every fighter’s dream and when an opportunity comes you don’t turn it down, it sets up your future,” Parr said.
“I haven’t stopped training for the last four months straight now and have been grinding and hustling every day.
“I’ve found a whole new passion for boxing; I feel strong, I’m probably the fittest I’ve ever been in my life.
“Being professional in boxing is a whole different experience; MMA is similar, but boxing is a whole different game. I love the professionalism, I love the people that are fighting, I love the focus on the skill.
“I’m obsessed and so focused to be a successful boxer; it’s all I want to do. I feel like I can do anything … I have a goal, I have a focus.”
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 03: Jasmine Parr and John Wayne Parr celebrate winning the WIBA Flyweight World Title fight against Nicila Costello at The Star Gold Coast on December 03, 2022 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Earlier in the night, Parr’s fellow Gold Coast product Ricky Esilva missed his chance to claim the Australian Cruiserweight title after a loss on judges decision to Luke Modini.
The fight was thrown into chaos prior to the first bell after Esilva’s initial opponent Vite Pomale suffered an injury, with his replacement in Modini announced less than a week before the battle commenced.
Nevertheless, the short turnaround did nothing to deter Modini’s quest to have his hands raised in victory over the Glitter Strip pugilist.
‘A WHOLE NEW WOMAN': REALITY TV STINT PRIMES PARR FOR WORLD TITLE
(November 28)
“I feel like a whole new woman.”
Jasmine Parr never would have guessed a stint in reality TV would have enticed her to utter such words of her transformation.
Yet the bold declaration has sent an ominous warning to her forthcoming rival, as the boxing phenom plots her rise to becoming a world champion.
Already the Gold Coast pugilist has been forced to overcome hurdles that defy her teenage years; from intense media scrutiny in her combat sports debut as an eight-year-old to fighting through severe injuries to reach her goals.
But ahead of her bid for the WIBA World Flyweight title at the Star Casino on December 3, Parr has declared her foray in front of the camera could prove the biggest phase in her evolution.
The 19-year-old is fresh off her return from Malaysia where she competed in The Challenger; a Muay Thai based reality show which pitted her against the upper echelon of the sport.
Parr’s father, Australian boxing and Muay Thai legend John Wayne Parr, competed on a similar show — The Contender — 15 years ago in which he finished second.
While it has put her in a race against the clock to be prepared for her rematch with Nicila Costello, who Parr defeated in her professional boxing debut last December, the young fighter has declared she was in her physical prime courtesy of her television experience.
Jasmine Parr. Picture Glenn Hampson
But Parr revealed it was not just physically in which she had changed. In her own headspace she has never felt more fierce.
“I never thought I would go on a reality show, especially to do with Muay Thai. But that was a whole experience it itself; I can’t wait for everyone to watch in a couple of months’ time,” Parr said.
“I’m only 19 so I feel like the future is getting brighter and it’s motivating me to keep working hard now that I’ve seen how successful I can be.
“It was super different to what I was expecting, I feel like you can’t really expect anything when you go to an environment like that. You’re having the fights and competing, you lose weight and focus on training as well as interviews and cameras in your face all day.
“I don’t think any fighter can relate to it unless you’ve done it, and when you’ve got two hour interviews every day when you’re tired and hungry it’s a game change. But it makes you stronger and I’ve come out a whole different person.
“I feel more confident in myself as a fighter … it’s a totally different game when you can hustle and work and have all that extra pressure. “Now I have no other responsibilities other than this fight. I feel like a whole new woman.”
FIGHTING THE HATERS
Even after emerging from her first bout against Costello with the Australian Super Flyweight belt around her waist, Parr admits she still feels like the underdog.
For the Boonchu Gym product that has always been the case, stemming from a time when ‘the haters’ were calling for blood following her maiden Muay Thai appearance.
When word got out the then eight-year-old would be stepping into the ring, factions of the media and general public blasted the decision of her famous father for allowing the fight to go ahead.
Jasmine Parr, the daughter of Australian kickboxer and boxer world champion John Wayne Parr. Picture Glenn Hampson
The experience, Parr said, made her mature far quicker than perhaps other teenagers would have.
For all the criticism she and her father endured, she still had ambitions she was working towards and was making a plethora of lifestyle sacrifices to make happen.
Fast-forward 11 years and women’s combat sport has evolved, and Parr is determined to continue being a part of the trendsetters and pioneers in the ring.
“I was eight-years-old when I had my first fight, I heard all the media and people saying how terrible it was an eight-year-old fighting even though we were fully protected,” Parr recalled.
“I’ve seen that transformation now since starting Muay Thai to today, especially for women this sport has grown so much and for women’s boxing it’s amazing.
“Seeing any woman being successful it’s motivating, you want to know you have a future in this and I’ve seen that.
“A lot of women have a future in boxing, when you get a taste you want it real bad. I’m very hungry, I want to be the best and show everyone I’m worthy of being a champion.
“I feel people doubt me in my skill because they still think I’m my father’s daughter. I’m my own fighter, I know I have the skill and power and know I can beat the best of the best. “If people want to hate and doubt me, actions speak louder than words.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
There is a steely resolve in Parr as she enters the final stages of her fight preparation.
During her last clash with Costello the Glitter Strip star tore her labrum, going under the knife in March, and yet still left the ring with her hands raised in triumph.
While she is steadfast in not looking beyond her Saturday clash, it appears one major career move has been taken off the table.
Jasmine Parr.
Parr revealed initially her plans were to take on mixed martial arts and move her way towards a UFC debut in 2023.
However she said something had clicked inside her, the euphoria boxing had created had proved too captivating to turn away from. Even prior to this interview she was in the midst of watching highlights in the sport, sucking each bit of anticipation out of them as she could.
A world title now beckons, and Parr said that would open the door to take on the globe.
“To fight in the UFC was a long-term goal of mine. But since I’ve fought in boxing I’ve got a whole new passion and I’m in love,” she said.
“It’s all I want to do. I think UFC is off the cards for now, but you never know what the future can hold. “But I haven’t thought about what I’m doing after this fight, this right now is all that matters to me. I don’t need to worry about the future, I have one goal and one target and she’s in the way of my future.
“I have to move this obstacle first before thinking what happens next.”
Shock rival revealed as miracle discovery saves champion's quest
– November 25
Jai Opetaia’s camp have revealed it has not just been his broken jaw that has delayed his quest for global dominance, but a hidden infection that threatened his comeback to the ring.
The Gold Coast pugilist rose to prominence when he triumphed in a bloody and gruelling encounter with Mairis Briedis to claim the IBF cruiserweight world title, sustaining a severely broken jaw in the bout’s early rounds.
Forced to eat nothing but soft foods for more than a month, Opetaia’s trainer Mark Mathie said there was something about his star fighter’s recovery that was not stacking up.
As the 27-year-old prepares to return to training, Mathie said consultation with another surgeon revealed an infection caused by a screw from his initial treatment had both caused Opetaia (22-0, 7KOs) significant discomfort while also delaying his rehabilitation.
While he said doctors did not elaborate on a worst possible case scenario, they were simply told if left undetected it “wouldn’t have been great”.
Jai Opetaia is plotting a massive comeback.
“It just wasn’t healing as fast as it should have been,” Mathie said.
“It was pretty obvious that something just wasn’t quite right. We got him straight into one of the top surgeons for a second opinion and had more scans.
“He had a screw coming under his wisdom tooth that was causing a pocket of infection that couldn’t heal. So he just had some minor surgery, pulled the wisdom tooth out and cleaned it all up.
“Now it’s 100 per cent ready to go. The jaw structurally has healed fantastic which is a minor miracle after the nature of the two breaks.
“He is in a good head space and can’t wait to get back into full sparring as soon as we are ready.”
Opetaia’s forthcoming return to action has come at a critical time as his camp prepare to thrust him back into action the ring come March. According to his promoter Dean Lonergan, the IBF champion is required to defend his title against the mandatory challenger within nine months.
It makes a March contest as late as he is able to go or risk losing his belt, however Lonergan said if the injury had created that scenario he was confident the IBF would show leniency.
But with the scare now behind the rising star, Lonergan confirmed there were lofty goals in store as they plotted to unify the cruiserweight belts.
At this stage, Opetaia would theoretically next face off with Polish fighter Mateusz Masternak, who defeated Australian Jason Whately last month to become the mandatory challenger.
However Lonergan said they may yet seek an exemption from that bout with a bigger fish in mind — WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu — with hopes to bring the clash back to the Gold Coast.
Jai Opetaia's camp may attempt to go beyond the contender for his belt and target a bigger fish.
He said while they may still take Masternak first, ideally with a clean bill of health the Opetaia camp would seek to unify the division’s belt within a year.
"I’ve been in discussions for guys around the world, like the manager of the WBC champion Makabu and he’s keen to fight Jai,” Lonergan confirmed.
“Right now there are three other world champions — Makabu (29-2, 25KOs), (Arsen) Goulamirian from France (WBA: 26-0, 18KOs) and (Lawrence) Okolie from Great Britain (WBO: 18-0, 14 KOs).
“There’s a whole lot of guys we’re looking at very closely, and Masternak is in that mix because we might get the mandatory out of the way first and then unify the division.
“Like everything in life you’d rather pick who you want to fight as opposed to be told. At the end of the day Jai is in charge, he’s the world champion.
“Timelines are one thing, but getting things done on an appropriate schedule is another … Jai has had a couple of injuries along the way which haven’t helped.
“Could it be unified in a year? Yes. Will it happen? Maybe.”
Opetaia’s camp confirmed he would delay a move up to the heavyweight division until he had the chance to unify the cruiserweight belts.
'Blessing and curse’ reality for internet star turned contender
– November 1
From what initially seemed an innocuous sparring session with an Australian champion, Ricky Esilva’s name was suddenly up in lights on the nation’s boxing scene.
However ahead of his maiden title fight at the Star Casino, the Gold Coast pugilist has revealed how that infamous moment nearly cost him in the long run.
The Kiwi product has barely been in the ring for two years, having established himself as a Muay Thai fighter before moving across the ditch to the Glitter Strip.
But ‘The Punisher’ (6-1-0) was quick to announce himself as a potential force in the sport during a session with Justis Huni last year, after video emerged of the Australian heavyweight star being knocked to the canvas.
The blow occurred in the midst of Huni’s preparation for his blockbuster bout with Paul Gallen.
Ricky Esilva (right) in action.
While he recalls the moment with a small laugh, Esilva admits it temporality triggered setbacks in his own rise towards a hopeful world ranking.
“It’s been a really blessing and curse, it’s made it kind of tough for me to get fighters — not a lot wanted to fight me after seeing this video,” Esilva said.
“People would say yes to fighting me and then you do your research on the opponent and it would come up that I knocked out Justis Huni in sparring.
“All of a sudden we have pull outs, they’d say they’re not ready yet, a range of different excuses.
“But I like that we’re up against the top in the Australia, it’s put a target on my back which I like.”
In the context of Esilva’s career, they do not come much tougher than who will be waiting in the other corner come December 3.
Esilva will battle it out against the undefeated Vita Pomale (5-0-0) for the Australian cruiserweight title, a rival who has finished each of his victories via knock out.
Ricky Esilva pre-fight.
It was just three weeks ago that Esilva registered the fifth knock out of his own professional career, and regardless of what side of the ledger he fell on against Pomale he knows it would only end one way.
“There’s no way this is going the distance. I’m willing to die in that ring, I’ll put everything on the line,” Esilva said.
“The guy I’m fighting is 5-0 with 5KOs so he’s definitely tough and can bang. I’m in a fight sport because I like to fight, if they’re not tough what’s the point?
“It’s going to be a lot of bombs being thrown, you’ll hear some bones cracking and there will definitely be some blood — and maybe a tooth flying around as well.”
'The whole of Australia was hating me’: Legend’s daughter fights back
– October 27
As Jasmine Parr prepares to take on the biggest fight of her career, her father and combat sports legend John Wayne Parr has revealed the intense scrutiny surrounding her first foray into the ring “nearly broke her”.
The 19-year-old will battle for the vacant WIBA world flyweight title at the Star Casino on December 3, where she will face Nicilia Costello in what is expected to be a brutal rematch.
Plying her trade out of Boonchu Muay Thai Gym, the Gold Coast product has set about making a name for herself across the globe — with stardom in Mixed Martial Arts firmly on the radar for 2023.
Even now she is currently in Malaysia filming for the Muay Thai reality TV show ‘The Challenger’ — the same show her father appeared on in 2008 (then known as ‘The Contender’).
It continues an adage the former Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion, and Australian middleweight belt holder, adores.
Jasmine Parr, the daughter of Australian kickboxer and boxer world champion John Wayne Parr. Picture Glenn Hampson
“They say the first daughter walks in the father’s footsteps,” he said.
However Parr said the events of 11 years ago almost ensured his daughter’s dream never eventuated.
Stories ran throughout Australia when the then eight-year-old made her Muay Thai debut, drawing the ire of media commentators.
Parr still recalls the front page headlines condemning the move, only to then see a boy of the same age praised for a victory in the ring shortly after.
Oh how times have changed.
“(The story) went national and then the whole of Australia was hating me (thinking I was) forcing my daughter to compete in a sport with possible brain damage and career ending and detrimental to young girls health,” Parr said.
“I was on every single show and newspaper and radio station, it was terrible. I was on Sunrise, on the Today Show, on everything questioning my parenting as a father.
“Two weeks later (after Jasmine’s first Muay Thai fight) a little boy won a national title; he was the same age on the front cover as ‘Australia should get behind him’.
“Hang on a sec, the girl is doing the same sport but two completely different stories — just because he’s a boy he’s accepted.
“Look what happens 11 years later; she’s fighting for the world title, she’s on a reality TV show, internationally she’s becoming a global superstar at 19-years-old.
“Now it’s completely different with the girls doing so well, you’ve got the girls boxing and Ebanie Bridges representing Australia.
“She can turn it (outside noise) off and not let it affect her mentally, but before for an eight-year-old it almost turned her off the sport. There was so much scrutiny it nearly broke her.”
Jasmine will have limited time to prepare for the clash, with her return to Australia not expected for several weeks.
However having already bested Costello in December last year to claim the Australian Super Flyweight Title on her boxing debut, the rising star will hardly be coming in unprepared.
A hip injury which required surgery has hindered her progress in Muay Thai and MMA, but it was that setback which Parr said convinced the team to put the gloves back on.
Nicila Costello in action.
Now, despite the triumph over Costello, Parr said his daughter was determined to prove the victory was no fluke.
“Even on Instagram they’re promoting her instead of Jazzy even though Jazzy has already beaten her,” he said.
“Even though we’ve already won we’re underdogs again. It makes you more hungry to prove that the first wasn’t a fluke.
“As soon as she gets back to Australia we’ll leave the kicks away and work on hands until fight day. Muay Thai and boxing it’s like squash and tennis; they’ve still got a bat and ball but completely different sports all together.
“She’s been creating her own legacy now; before it was always John Parr’s daughter but now she’s making her own profile for herself.”
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