Willie van Rooyen discusses childhood interest in Spider-Man before upcoming fight

Ahead of his bout at ONE SAMURAI 3, Willie van Rooyen shared his longtime affinity for the Marvel superhero Spider-Man. The 23-year-old Pretoria native described how watching early cartoons and the live-action films featuring Tobey Maguire shaped his interests outside of the gym. Van Rooyen, a two-time EFC Flyweight Champion, maintains his interest in superhero media and anime while preparing for his professional career. He is scheduled to face former ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Yuya Wakamatsu on Saturday, September 12. The event will be held at the Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan. Beyond entertainment, Van Rooyen noted that the character's commitment to helping others and persevering through adversity resonated with him as he navigated his own development as an elite martial artist.

• 3:21 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Massive Spider-Man Fan’ – Willie Van Rooyen Reveals His Lifelong Love For The Marvel Superhero