Jasmine Parr claims the Women's International Boxing Federation world flyweight title
After a year plagued by injuries, the world stage awaits for this Gold Coast champion. What's next for the rising star?
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.
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.”
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.”
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