At ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen, #5-ranked flyweight contender Reece McLaren will battle one of the fastest rising stars in the division when he meets China’s Xie Wei.
Reece McLaren Trains with John Wayne Parr
But the matchup will be a fresh start for McLaren as the Aussie switched camps to train alongside martial arts legend John Wayne Parr at Boonchu Gym before his return to the ONE Championship Circle.
As one of the most action-packed athletes in the sport, McLaren is now adding additional tools under the guidance of one of the best western Muay Thai strikers of all time.
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“Yeah, look now, I’ve known Wayne for many years. Obviously, he’s who he is, and obviously, I’ve been a big fan. You know, just things kind of ran full circle, and now I’m training out of there full time. So yeah, I’ve been welcomed into the Boonchu family, and I’m very proud to call myself now a fighter from Boonchu,” said McLaren.
“It’s a strange one because it’s always like, you look up to people and then you finally like, meet them and then start to grow a relationship with someone with such high caliber and whatever.”
“And man, it’s just like, we were all just ordinary people, you know what I mean. But we just get in, battle hard, and the only reason we get how far we get is that we just got it more than anyone else.”
Reece McLaren's got the backing of Muay Thai legend @johnwayneparr ahead of his showdown with Xie Wei this Friday!#ONE158 | 3 June pic.twitter.com/SBOrCkfups
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) May 29, 2022
The switch has reinvigorated McLaren.
The #5-ranked flyweight contender credits Parr’s contagious energy as a big reason for his budding confidence heading into his matchup with Xie Wei.
“Look, I’ve made a switch. I feel like what I’m going to bring to the table now is just a new role. I’m bringing war. That’s all I can really say,” said McLaren.
“My training, man, I swear, it’s just that I’m feeling different. I’m feeling incredibly thankful and fit and grateful and just have a bout to fight someone, to get paid to do it. It’s just crazy. Now I’m just excited. Everything at the moment is lining up. I’m just ready, man.”
And that positivity, which has radiated down from Parr, has given McLaren the confidence to predict a swift end to the match at ONE 158.
The Aussie has a clear message for the judges sitting Circle-side.
“Man, sit down, judges. You ain’t going to be needed,” said McLaren.
ONE 158 airs live and free on watch.onefc.com at 5:30 a.m. ET/2:30 a.m. PT on Friday, June 3.
