British heavyweight boxer Johnny Fisher secured his first victory under the Zuffa Boxing promotion with a majority points decision over Belgian fighter Michael Pirotton at London's Copper Box Arena. The 27-year-old from Essex won the bout in a closely contested 10-round fight, though he appeared to struggle with the pace at times. Pirotton, 30, suffered a cut around his eye early in the match but continued to compete, showing resilience even as he was rocked in the final round. The judges scored the fight 95-95, 98-92, and 96-95 in favor of Fisher. After the victory, Fisher left the ring without giving an interview and skipped a post-fight press session.
Fisher, who has won 15 of his 16 professional fights, made his debut with Zuffa Boxing after leaving the Matchroom Boxing promotion. The Copper Box Arena, which has a capacity of 7,500, was not completely full, with the upper tier closed and some empty seats visible. However, Fisher's supporters, known as the "Bosh Army," tried to fill the gaps with loud cheers for the "Romford Bull." Fisher has built a loyal fanbase alongside his father, "Big John," who is a social media personality. Their unfiltered portrayal of family life and training camps, along with their shared love of Chinese takeaways, has made them popular on social media.
The fight started with Fisher showing strong aggression, landing heavy punches that caused Pirotton's eye to bleed in the first round. Pirotton, who was relatively unknown, showed composure despite the home crowd and Fisher's pressure. However, his eye was cut by the second round, and he asked the referee not to stop the fight after a doctor examined him in the fourth. Allowed to continue, Pirotton fought back but was countered by Fisher's combination punches. Despite blood staining his shorts, Pirotton rallied in the fifth round, which was his best, as Fisher began to show signs of fatigue.
Among the notable attendees were British boxers Derek Chisora, Conor Benn, and Caroline Dubois, along with WWE stars AJ Styles and LA Knight. WWE is owned by the American sports and entertainment group TKO, which also owns Zuffa Boxing. The doctor checked on Pirotton again before the seventh round but allowed the fight to continue. In the final round, Fisher landed a short right hand that staggered Pirotton, briefly suggesting a potential stoppage victory. However, Fisher could not finish the job, and Pirotton lost for the third time in 15 fights.
The Copper Box Arena has been a significant venue in Fisher's career. In July 2024, he dominated Alen Babic in just 36 seconds, his most explosive win to date. However, ten months later, he was stopped in five rounds by Dave Allen in the same ring. Fisher aimed to move past that defeat and secured the victory he needed on Saturday, even if it wasn't the dominant performance he might have hoped for. Fisher has expressed a desire to be more than just a popular fighter with a catchy nickname and viral moments. While his public profile has grown, his achievements in the ring have not kept pace. Current British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe has offered Fisher a shot at the title, which would represent a significant step up in competition. A potential fight with Dillian Whyte, a former world-title challenger, seems more realistic, with Fisher indicating there is a "good chance" the bout could happen next.
Johnny Fisher wins debut under Zuffa with points victory over Michael Pirotton
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