Ahead of the next legislative session, State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) has pre-filed a bill banning face slap fighting in the state of Alabama.
The lawmaker told 1819 News that the main purpose of the legislation is to protect individuals from severe bodily harm.
"It's a brutal issue. To have two individuals face each other and slap each other. You're talking about some serious damage. Facial damage, jaw damage and concussions," Allen said. "That's why I say it's such a brutal and ugly type of event that does not need to take place in Alabama."
"We just can't sanction a sport like that in this state to give individuals the right to slap each other and to create some serious bodily injuries in a competition they just don't need to participate in," he added.
According to Allen, the Alabama Athletic Commission is responsible for regulating and sanctioning boxing and mixed martial arts in the state. The body already has a policy against face slapping. Allen’s bill would codify it.
"We want to prohibit those slapping events in Alabama," Allen continued. "We have covered and overseen those boxing events and that sort of thing, but we want to prohibit and not sanction the slap-fighting events. That's the goal and the intent of the legislation. "
"And it's certainly my hope that the state senate and the Alabama House will support me on this, and I think they will," he added.
During the 2025 legislative session, Allen filed a similar bill that would have imposed criminal charges on those participating in slap competitions.
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