JWP - what if you really were 22 again?

[CharlieA]

Hi there JWP,

I have a question for you, I don't know if you can answer or not, but I think on the basis of your last post (where you mentioned your involvement with the top 2 promotions in the sport) you are probably the most qualified Aussie to ask.

I am interested to know, what is the secret of your success in terms of getting these offers to fight overseas on the big shows?

The reason that I ask is that I read your post when you say you would love to be 22 again, then I read the Preacher's post where he mentions trying to break into the K1-Max (presumably without complete success at this point??).

I have followed your career with much interest since the first time I saw you fight on the Gold Coast and I believe that you have all the attributes that make a truly remarkable and entertaining fighter, but there must be something else that you are doing right too.

In summary what I want to know is, if you really were 22 again right now, what would you do to accelerate your progress?? Where would you fight, who would you fight etc. What advice can you offer to the Preacher etc, who are a bit younger and could learn from your experience in career planning and networking? What steps should someone like Preacher take right now to move towards the type of contracts that you are being offered? ETC...

My interest is actually from a marketing perspective as I am not a fighter myself, but I bet a lot of fighters who look up to you would love to know too.

Cheers,

CharlieA



Edited by - CharlieA on 19 Jul 2004 15:30:10

[JWP]

Hi CharlieA,
What would I do different, that's hard to say because I don't think I could have changed anything. All you can do is fight who they put in front of you and hopefully if you beat enough people promoters will start taking notice.
I was lucky to have Jim Gloftis and Richard Vell supporting me from a young age sending me to Thailand. With some big wins in Thailand that helped me get famous in Japan before I had even fought there. When I look back there was no Super League and K-1 was only for heavy weights so there wasn't anything I could have done different back then because the opportunities weren't there.
I have always thought of Muay Thai as more then just fighting, its a show and people are paying there money to be entertained, just like wrestling. If you can do something to stand out from the other fighters so when people leave the venue your the one they are taking about and look forward to seeing you fight again, that's what makes promoters want to use you because your selling tickets.
Being able to fight is also important, you can't stand out from the crowd if you cant back it up. A lot of people think I am a little cheeky before I fight (I know, I don't understand either) and want to see me get beat but once the fighting starts and they can see I can back it up and I soon get the support.
But like I said, just keeping fighting as much as you can and things will happen, even if it feels like it never will. Last year I only had five fights and almost retired then out of no where I had promoters all over the world knocking on my door wanting me to fight on their shows, so luck has a lot to do with it as well.
Hope that helps a little.


JWP

[CharlieA]

Thanks JWP,

I know we all appreciate your input on this site and that is a very interesting answer. I had always had the misconception that your team simply had a well formulated plan from day one which you set about executing as a young man.

I do know what you mean now about making a lasting impression though. I can remember seeing your fights in QLD and always you stand out. Like the fights against John Myles on G.C. with the gun-shooting cowboy stuff and all of the show-boating around the ring against Krongsak Lek in Brisbane City Hall (am I thinking of the right opponent there? He was thai).

I can remember actually also one of your fights - I think it was the City Hall one in fact - where someone drunk from the ringside seats tried to start some s**t with you between rounds or at the end of the fight? remember that? all pure entertainment for us punters. And I can remember that fight better than the main event too by the way. (which was a 12 x 2 KB bout for someone's comeback)

I also take your point about luck too. Who would have thought that taking a loss in your fight against Chris Allen could have made you such a legend locally!

So thanks again for the response. Sounds a little like Thailand might be the back door to Japan hey?

Cheers

CharlieA



Edited by - CharlieA on 21 Jul 2004 10:34:02