Ryan “The Punisher” Kenny has never been interested in taking the easy route. When the Canadian heavyweight received the opportunity to face Zakir Naimanbayev at Power Slap 22 in Belgrade, Serbia, his answer was immediate.
Kenny understands the danger that comes with facing one of the division’s most powerful and recognizable competitors, but that is exactly why he accepted the matchup. He believes careers are built by testing yourself against the best, regardless of whether the result ends in victory or defeat.
With both men known for their durability, Kenny expects an explosive heavyweight battle that could either become a three-round war or produce the first knockout loss of one fighter’s career.
Ryan Kenny Immediately Accepted The Zakir Naimanbayev Fight
Kenny was originally linked to a different opponent for Power Slap 22 before being offered the opportunity to face Naimanbayev. He did not need much time to consider the change.
“I got a text asking if I wanted to fight Zakir, and I was like, ‘Absolutely,’” Kenny said.
That reaction reflects the mindset he has carried throughout his career. Kenny believes competitors should never turn down the chance to test themselves against the top names in their division, regardless of the risk involved.
“If I got a text tomorrow to fight Damien Dibbell, I’m going to take it,” he explained. “You beat the best by fighting the best. Whether you lose or win, you’re going to learn from that experience.”
Kenny respects Naimanbayev’s toughness and understands that he will be standing across from one of the most physically imposing heavyweights on the roster. That danger is exactly what makes the matchup so appealing.
A Victory Could Launch Kenny Into The Heavyweight Rankings
Kenny enters Power Slap 22 outside the upper tier of the heavyweight rankings, while Naimanbayev currently holds a prominent position in the division.
That creates enormous potential for the Canadian.
“If I were to beat Zakir, that should skyrocket me into the top five in my mind,” Kenny said. “Regardless, top 10 for sure.”
A victory would immediately strengthen Kenny’s case for bigger fights and move him closer to the championship conversation. It would also give him the type of signature win that can transform a fighter’s standing within the promotion.
Kenny understands the stakes, but he is not allowing the importance of the moment to overwhelm him. Instead, he sees it as the exact type of opportunity he has been waiting for.
Two Durable Heavyweights Could Produce A War
Stylistically, Kenny believes the matchup has all the ingredients needed to produce one of the most entertaining fights at Power Slap 22.
Both men have shown impressive durability. Naimanbayev has been briefly shaken before, but he has never been officially knocked down. Kenny has also never been put on the floor during his Power Slap career.
“We both have good chins,” Kenny said. “You’re going to see two big heavyweights slapping each other, or maybe one of us goes down for the first time in our career.”
Kenny believes the combination of size, power and toughness could create either a dramatic knockout or a three-round battle in which neither competitor is willing to give in.
Whatever happens, he expects the fight to deliver.
Kenny Is Hunting For A Knockout, Not Another Draw
Kenny’s previous battle with Johnny Magna demonstrated his ability to endure a difficult three-round contest. While the draw proved both men had toughness and heart, Kenny does not want the same result in Serbia.
“My mental goal is always to sit the person down that’s standing across from me,” he said.
Kenny accepts that the fight could go the distance if both men absorb the punishment, but he wants the judges to produce a clear winner if that happens.
“The draw just doesn’t help you,” Kenny explained. “It doesn’t hurt you, but it doesn’t help you. It just adds another tally at the end.”
In a sport where knockout clips can quickly go viral and lead to more opportunities, Kenny understands that decisive results matter. A spectacular finish against Naimanbayev would do far more for his career than another competitive draw.
Training Alone Has Forced Kenny To Become Resourceful
One of Kenny’s greatest challenges is the lack of nearby Power Slap athletes in Canada.
The closest experienced competitors are several hours away, making regular in-person training sessions difficult. Instead, Kenny has built a remote support system that allows him to continue refining his technique.
He regularly exchanges training videos with Lewis and Carl, receiving feedback on small technical adjustments that could improve his speed, movement and power.
“Lewis is one of the best coaches around,” Kenny said. “Any tweaks he can help me with keep me motivated and looking to improve the tiniest things.”
Without a large team around him every day, Kenny has learned to remain disciplined and self-motivated. Much of his preparation consists of training alone, reviewing footage and repeatedly striking a training dummy until his accuracy feels automatic.
Canadian Winters Have Made Training Even Tougher
Kenny’s dedication has occasionally forced him to train in extreme Canadian weather.
He recalled one outdoor session in temperatures around minus 30 degrees, with the wind chill making it feel closer to minus 40. Despite the brutal conditions, he continued working on his strike.
“That one really sucked,” Kenny admitted. “You could hear the echo off the dummy, and it didn’t sound normal.”
The freezing conditions may not be ideal, but they demonstrate the commitment required for Kenny to compete at the highest level without access to a traditional slap-fighting gym.
Every training session is designed to improve his accuracy and ensure that his hand lands on the correct target when it matters most.
Kenny Is Trying To Measure The Speed Of His Slap
Kenny has also become interested in tracking the speed of his strike.
After watching faster heavyweights such as Johnny Magna, he began searching for ways to measure his own slap velocity. He eventually found a mobile application that attempts to estimate speed, although he remains unsure of its accuracy.
“I was curious,” Kenny said. “I know I’ve got power, so I wanted to see if I could get my speed up to Johnny’s level.”
The experiment even led to an unusual conversation with a police officer after Kenny was pulled over for a seatbelt violation. He asked whether the officer’s radar gun could measure slap velocity.
“I told him, ‘I slap people for a living. I just want to see how fast it is,’” Kenny joked.
The police radar system was not suitable for the test, but Kenny now plans to invest in equipment commonly used to measure baseball pitch speed.
Kenny Questions Power Slap’s Defensive Positioning Rules
During the interview, Kenny also discussed recent changes to how referees position athletes before receiving a slap.
He believes officials are becoming too focused on forcing competitors to expose their chins while failing to consistently enforce other important rules, including stepping and illegal strikes.
“I’m not a fan of it,” Kenny said. “They’re focusing too much on the chin.”
Kenny pointed to several recent fights in which athletes appeared to lift their feet or step during their strikes without being penalized. At the same time, other competitors were repeatedly instructed to adjust their defensive positioning.
His main concern is consistency.
“If you’re going to apply that rule, it has to be across the board,” he explained. “I’d rather they focus more on clubbing slaps or feet.”
The Baton Position May Not Work For Every Athlete
Power Slap currently asks athletes to hold a baton behind their backs while receiving a strike. Kenny understands the intention, as the position is designed to keep the shoulders lowered and prevent defensive movement.
However, he believes the position may be physically difficult for certain heavyweights.
Kenny has previously broken his arm multiple times and cannot comfortably move one arm beyond a certain point. He believes other large athletes may eventually be unable to reach the baton at all because of their size or limited shoulder mobility.
“There are some people with really big shoulders,” Kenny said. “There’s going to be a day where somebody can’t grab that baton.”
He suggested that holding the baton in front of the body could feel more natural and potentially reduce flinching by allowing athletes to remain relaxed while still keeping their shoulders controlled.
Kenny Was Surprised By Wes Mena’s Victory Over Johnny Magna
Kenny also reflected on Wes Mena’s victory over Johnny Magna at Power Slap 21.
Having previously shared the stage with Magna, Kenny did not expect to see him defeated in that manner.
“My hat is off to Wes Mena,” he said. “I did not see that happening.”
Kenny does not believe Magna was simply the product of hype. Based on his own experience, he knows Magna is a legitimate heavyweight with real speed, toughness and skill.
However, he believes the stricter defensive positioning may have contributed to the result by forcing Magna to expose more of his chin than he had in previous appearances.
Serbia Gives Kenny Another Opportunity To See The World
Although competing overseas brings new challenges, Kenny is excited about travelling to Belgrade.
He has already competed internationally and previously made the long journey to Saudi Arabia, so he is comfortable stepping outside his usual environment.
“I love travelling,” Kenny said. “It’s fun to see the world.”
Kenny plans to explore Belgrade during his time in Serbia and hopes to visit several of the city’s landmarks alongside Lewis and any other athletes who want to join them.
The travel experience is an added bonus, but his main focus remains the fight.
Kenny Believes The Fight Deserves A Bigger Platform
Despite his excitement, Kenny was surprised to learn that his matchup against Naimanbayev would not be featured on the live main card.
With Naimanbayev ranked near the top of the heavyweight division and both men known for their durability, Kenny believes the fight deserves more attention.
“Why aren’t me and Zakir on the main card or live at all?” he asked. “That’s wild.”
Kenny struggled to understand why Power Slap would fly both athletes to Serbia only to place the matchup on a taped portion of the event.
One possible explanation is that the promotion expects the fight to produce a viral knockout that can be used to promote the main broadcast. Kenny was happy to embrace that theory.
“That’s what we’re going to go with,” he said. “We’re going to aim for that.”
Ryan Kenny Is Ready To Shock The Heavyweight Division
Ryan Kenny understands what defeating Zakir Naimanbayev could do for his career.
It could move him into the rankings, earn him bigger opportunities and establish him as a genuine threat in one of Power Slap’s deepest divisions.
The matchup will test his chin, technique, power and composure against one of the most respected heavyweights on the roster. Kenny would not want it any other way.
Whether the fight becomes a three-round war or ends with the first knockdown of either man’s career, Kenny intends to make sure the heavyweight division remembers his performance in Serbia.