A politician from Alabama wants to make the state’s ban on slap fighting, a vicious competition that is legal in Nevada and popular on YouTube, stronger.
Two competitors square off and trade open-palm punches without self-defense during a slap fight.
John Parris, executive director of the Alabama Athletic Commission, described it as “basically, you stand there and get slapped as hard as you can.”
You are not permitted to relocate. So, without any equipment or anything, it’s just a brain injury waiting to happen.
Professional boxing, mixed martial arts, professional wrestling, and Toughman competitions are all governed by the Alabama Athletic Commission.
In 2022, just after slap fighting was approved in Nevada, the commission decided to outlaw it in Alabama.
A bill introduced by Tuscaloosa Republican Senator Gerald Allen would make the Alabama Athletic Commission’s ban on slap fighting a state law.
According to Allen’s bill, the commission is not allowed to approve any slapfighting match, competition, or display.
According to the bill, slap fighting is an unarmed conflict in which two opponents stand at arm’s length and alternately smack each other across the face.
As blows are delivered, the opponents are not allowed to move, flinch, or defend themselves in any manner.
Allen claimed that while working on an amendment to the Alabama Athletic Commission’s state statute earlier this year, he became aware of slap fighting.
Allen remarked, “We don’t need this,” after I pointed it out. Additionally, we must outlaw such events in Alabama and enforce this as effectively as possible.
Power Slap is a slap combat organization run by Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate combat Championship.
Over 3 million people have subscribed to the YouTube channel.
Over the past few years, the commission has received a few allegations of slap fighting incidents in Alabama, including one that was verified, according to Parris.
According to Parris, “we got video and the person was fined and it was taken care of that way.” They were prohibited from participating in any state tournaments for a predetermined number of years.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh released a study last year that was based on an examination of 78 slap fight recordings. Of the 56 competitors, 44 reportedly displayed at least one concussion symptom.
According to Allen, the primary worry is the long-term effects of repeated concussions.
According to Parris, he is not aware of any other competition that puts competitors at risk for harm similar to slap fighting.
According to Parris, the only thing that would be comparable would be a bare-knuckle event. However, you can still move and defend yourself when boxing bare-knuckled. Therefore, you are not prohibited from protecting yourself in any other way.
Promoting, taking part in, or attending a slap fighting event is prohibited in Alabama and carries fines of up to $10,000, according to the Alabama Athletic Commission’s website.
It states that anyone with knowledge of an unlawful slap fighting event is urged to get in touch with the AAC and the local authorities to have the event immediately canceled.
Parris stated that slap fights have not been a significant issue in Alabama, despite multiple reports of such incidents. He claimed that wresting promoters and the commission get along well and keep him updated.
“There are many excellent investigators that collaborate with us,” Parris stated.
My wrestling promoters and I communicate well, and they let me know if something negative is about to occur.
