Former boxer and wrestler Danie “Pitbull” van Heerden of South Africa is now championing recognition and regulations for his new passion – slap fighting.
In this little-known combat sport, participants stand face-to-face and take turns slapping each other in the face, with penalties given if the slapped individual flinches.
Van Heerden’s transition to slap fighting gained widespread attention when a video of him competing went viral on TikTok, amassing over 17 million views. This exposure led to an invitation to participate in a slap fighting event in Las Vegas, where he secured a victory by technical knockout.
