Stalybridge slap fighter Louis ‘Razor’ Robinson got his Power Slap career off to a flying start at the weekend with a third round TKO victory over world number seven James Siekmann in Riyadh.
The 29-year-old showed no signs of debut nerves in Saudi Arabia, seeing off his American opponent with ease in his first overseas bout.
After winning three titles on home shores, Robinson was quickly picked up by Power Slap - a promotion company owned by combat tycoon Dana White, whose events are followed by millions across the globe - earlier this year.
Power Slap bouts involve two fighters exchanging open handed slaps until one is knocked out, a doctor stops the contest, or all rounds have been completed.
Participants are allowed 60 seconds to recover from each strike, but cannot flinch or avoid the strike, with three flinches in one round leading to disqualification.
Following the victory, Robinson told the Reporter it was the biggest of his career so far:
“This one meant more to me than the rest.
“I felt like I was representing my country, and felt I like I had to win not just for myself but for a lot of other people too.
“I wanted to get it done in the first round, but there’s a few differences between the organisation I’ve come from, (BritSlap) and Power Slap, so I was learning on the job if you will.
“But once I managed to dial it in in round three, I sent him packing - it was lights out.”
Though the popularity of slap fighting is growing globally, it is very much at an embryonic stage on British shores, and the lift engineer hopes to be the one to inspire the sport’s ascent in this country.
“I’ve come in from what other fighters would deem as an amateur league, so it was good to showcase that us Brits aren’t messing around when it comes to slap fighting.
“They gave me the world number seven, and I ran through him like it was nothing.
“Obviously it’s such a new and niche sport in this country, but it’s only going to be a matter of time before it blows up.
“The numbers online are already crazy, and it’s only going to increase the more fighters we get.
“I want to use this win to boost my profile, but also to boost the profile of the gym I train at.
“The plan is to try and get more local fighters in, and hopefully get them over to the big stage as well.”
Robinson currently trains at Resilience Martial Arts in Stalybridge, who can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
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