Slap Fighter Darren Godfrey Aims to Establish His Own Gym

Combat sports veteran Darren ‘Tarantula’ Godfrey, who has competed in boxing, bareknuckle fighting, and kickboxing over a 20-year career, has stated that slap fighting is the discipline transforming his life and enabling him to open a gym of his own. This sport, which has seen a surge in popularity and is viewed by millions online, entails participants delivering alternating open-handed, undefended strikes to the cheek. While Godfrey expressed confidence in the available medical care, medical professionals and scientists have voiced concerns regarding the sport’s potential to inflict serious brain damage. The 36-year-old, who resides in Annscroft, competed in the US reality television program Power Slap: Road to the Title in 2023. The previous month, he secured a knockout victory against mixed martial arts fighter Ke’ali’i Kanekoa at the Power Slap 9 event held in Abu Dhabi. According to Godfrey, footage of this fight has subsequently achieved viral status, garnering billions of views. “I came home with pretty heavy pockets from this one so I went out and treated the family and got a new car.“It’s actually changing my life. We are looking at finding premises and opening my own gym which was always a goal of mine, I just didn’t have the funds to do it.” The BBC has previously documented concerns from doctors regarding the potential for serious repercussions from slap fighting. These concerns were initially raised in 2021 following an incident where Polish slap fighter Artur Walczak sustained a brain bleed during a match in which he was knocked out, subsequently leading to his death. Dr. Joseph Maroon, a US neurosurgeon, commented that slap fighting presents an evident risk and necessitates appropriate guidance. “The worst possible thing to do in terms of possibly incurring brain damage is to return to a contact sport before the brain has completely recovered… the brain is more susceptible to damage with a lesser force,” he said. Godfrey affirmed that fighters receive proper treatment. He stated, “People like my mum are thinking “you’re gonna have no brains left when you’re older, my boy” but the rewards are worth it,” adding, “It’s just the same as UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship] we get all the same drug testing, screening and the brain scans”. Godfrey is scheduled to compete again next year in Saudi Arabia, with the objective of securing the world middleweight title. For updates, follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.