British heavyweight Johnny Fisher secured his first victory under the Zuffa Boxing banner with a majority decision win against a bloodied Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena in London. The 27-year-old fighter from Essex earned the win in a tight contest, although he appeared fatigued at times over the 10-round fight.
Belgian opponent Pirotton, 30, was hindered early by a cut around his eye but displayed great determination throughout. In the last round, Fisher nearly stopped Pirotton after landing a powerful shot, but the Belgian managed to survive until the judges scored the bout 95-95, 98-92, and 96-95 in Fisher’s favor. Fisher exited the ring soon after the decision without participating in post-fight interviews.
This marked Fisher’s 15th win in 16 professional fights and his first outing since moving from Matchroom Boxing to Dana White’s Zuffa promotion.
The Copper Box, with a 7,500 capacity, was far from full, with many upper-tier seats closed and scattered empty spots throughout the venue. Nonetheless, Fisher’s fanbase, known as the “Bosh Army,” added plenty of energy, giving the “Romford Bull” a vociferous welcome. Fisher, aided by his social media-famous father “Big John,” has cultivated a loyal following by sharing candid insights into their family life, training, and passion for Chinese takeaway food.
Fisher started aggressively, landing heavy hooks and causing swelling around Pirotton’s eye in the first round. The Belgian, though largely unknown, remained unfazed by the crowd or pressure but suffered a cut by the second round. Despite this, Pirotton insisted the fight continue after a medical check in the fourth.
While Pirotton kept up his offensive efforts, Fisher responded with combinations to the head and body. Blood soon stained Pirotton’s white trunks, but he rallied in the fifth round, which was arguably his best, as Fisher showed signs of tiredness and became less mobile. The bout drew notable spectators, including British boxers Derek Chisora, Conor Benn, and Caroline Dubois, plus WWE stars AJ Styles and LA Knight — the latter’s organization, WWE, and Zuffa Boxing share ownership under the American sports and entertainment group TKO.
The ringside doctor checked Pirotton again before round seven and allowed the fight to proceed. As the match wore on, both fighters slowed until Fisher landed a short right that briefly stunned Pirotton in the final round. While it looked like Fisher might snatch a 13th stoppage win, he couldn’t capitalize, handing Pirotton his third career loss in 15 fights.
The Copper Box Arena has already witnessed contrasting moments in Fisher’s career: in July 2024, he achieved his most spectacular win with a 36-second knockout of Alen Babic, while ten months later at the same venue, he was stopped in five rounds by Dave Allen. This recent win was a much-needed positive step, albeit less dominant than he might have hoped.
Fisher has consistently stressed that he wants to be recognized as more than just a charismatic draw with a catchy nickname and viral persona. His popularity has outpaced his in-ring accomplishments, with his two bouts against Allen highlighting the gap he must bridge to realize his British title ambitions. Reigning British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe has offered Fisher a title shot — a significant challenge that would test Fisher’s skills far beyond his victory over Pirotton.
While talks have mentioned former world champion Deontay Wilder as a potential opponent, a fight with ex-world-title contender Dillian Whyte seems more plausible in the near future. Fisher has hinted that such a clash might happen soon, saying there’s a “good chance” it could be his next fight.
Fan Take: Johnny Fisher’s win under the Zuffa banner marks a critical milestone for a fighter seeking to move beyond hype and establish himself as a serious contender. For fans of the sport, his rising profile and potential upcoming matchups against top-level heavyweights could inject much-needed excitement and fresh narratives into the British heavyweight division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
