Alexander Volkanovski is backing a push to have Australian boxer Jasmine Parr sign on with the UFC – and has even offered up his own team to help make it happen.
Yet first, the fighter dubbed ‘Princess’ wants a boxing world title.
And to get there, the hyped Gold Coast prospect is even eyeing off the family who brought down Tim Tszyu.
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Widely considered one of the nation’s most exciting female fighters, 22-year-old Parr will tonight look to continue her rise on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu’s anticipated pay-per-view comeback in Sydney.
After suffering a surprise, and contentious, loss against longtime Australian boxing queen Shannon O’Connell last year, this daughter of Australian combat royalty is now gunning to push back up the rankings against undefeated Efasha Kamarudin – aka ‘The Face of Singaporean Boxing’.
The fight is one of two women’s bouts on the No Limit card, with Gold Coast Only Fans model Shannon Rose also challenging Ash Heal, who is herself the daughter of Australian basketball legend Shane Heal.
Taking up boxing after being bullied at school, Heal is making her professional debut against the model and fitness creator who, while originally from Coffs Harbour, now trains on the Gold Coast with Tapu Opetaia – the father of cruiserweight world champion Jai.
Of course, Parr is herself the daughter of Australian combat legend John Wayne Parr, and is also managed by Ash Belcastro, whose strong client roster is topped by UFC featherweight king Volkanovski.
On Sunday, the group all got together to watch UFC 319 in Sydney, with Volkanovski keen to help Parr (7-1) with her progression.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Belcastro also revealed he would love to eventually help his fighter make an MMA crossover, with members of Volkanovski’s team – including Joe Lopez and Frank Hickman – ready to help out.
“I’d absolutely love for Jazzy to go to the UFC,” Belcastro said. “And we have spoken about it already.
“Right now though, she’s shutting me down.
“She has goals and aspirations in boxing and I respect that.
“I’d actually love for her to achieve what she wants in boxing and then switch straight across to the UFC.
“Because she’s a boxer who has also been a Muay Tai fighter, a kickboxer, and given her lineage … absolutely she can be a success there”.
Currently fighting at super flyweight, Parr wants to spend the next year positioning herself into world title contention – and hasn’t ruled out going down a division, where America’s undisputed flyweight queen Gabriela Fundora reigns.
Earlier this year, it was Sebastian Fundora – Gabriela’s older brother – who earned a second straight world title win over Tim Tszyu.
“So Gabriela Fundora, that would be a huge fight down the line,” Parr said.
“There is already a storyline there and I’m sure Australians would love to get some payback.
“Obviously she fights at a lighter weight class so I’d be happy to drop back.
“Like her brother, she is quite tall too which makes things interesting.”
Pushed on her quest for gold, Parr continued: “I want to get a few more wins under my belt then start chasing those big names.
“I’m definitely looking at the global stage.
“I want to get to the United States, I want to get around the world.
“I want world titles.
“Want to be undisputed.”
So does Volkanovski.
“Volk is definitely a fan,” Belcastro said.
“We were all hanging out over the weekend and Alex, like the rest of us, has really high hopes for her.
“Jazzy Parr is a superstar.”
Asked about the recent explosion of women’s boxing globally – thanks in no small part to the surprise involvement of Jake Paul – and Parr agrees that now is “the perfect time for me to shine”.
“Because the opportunities are here,” she said. “I just need to seize them.
“There are great things happening in women’s boxing and that motivates me.”
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