Muay Thai icon John Wayne Parr breaks down Allycia Hellen Rodrigues vs. Janet Todd world title unification
Reigning atomweight muay Thai champ faces interim titleholder at ONE Fight Night 8 in Singapore.
Australian muay Thai legend John Wayne Parr has his eyes locked on the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 8.
The blockbuster showcase features the long-awaited return of ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues, who will battle surging interim queen Janet Todd in a unification match on Friday, March 24.
These two warriors were originally scheduled to lock horns in December, but Todd tested positive for COVID-19 during fight week, causing the long-awaited contest to be postponed.
Now, the undisputed atomweight muay Thai queen will finally be decided on Friday, and Parr hopes that the crown will head to the United States with “JT.”
The Australian icon admits that he may be biased as he personally knows Todd, but he also believes that the American striker would do wonders for the sport in her home country.
“Hopefully Janet (wins). I like Janet. We got to hang out a few times at different ONE Championship shows. She’s such a nice lady,” he said.
“Hopefully, Janet can bring it home. It would be good for America. To help muay Thai grow in America is always good, so to have a good ambassador like Janet would be amazing.”
While Rodrigues is returning to the ONE Championship circle for the first time since her world title-winning debut back in August 2020, the Brazilian striker remains a formidable opponent.
Before taking time away from the sport to start a family, her razor-sharp skills were on full display as she dethroned Thai superstar Stamp Fairtex.
The 37-year-old Todd brings a wealth of experience to the contest, with 39 wins from her 50 professional bouts. And currently, she is riding a seven-bout winning streak.
But above all, Parr feels that mental strength could be the difference come fight night.
“(The fight will be) close, exciting, and hopefully Janet gets her hand raised,” he said. “Combinations, her walk-forward style, her aggression, and just having that not giving up (mindset) and pushing forward. Her will to win will get her over the line, I believe.”