Fisher wins majority decision over bloodied Pirotton in Zuffa debut at Copper Box
Johnny Fisher outpointed Michael Pirotton to claim a majority decision in his first fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner at London's Copper Box Arena on Saturday, with the judges scoring the 10-round contest 95-95, 98-92 and 96-95.
The 27-year-old Essex fighter, known as the "Romford Bull", recorded his 15th victory in 16 professional contests in what was only the third time he has gone the distance as a professional. The bout was Fisher's first appearance since leaving Matchroom Boxing and joining Dana White's Zuffa promotion, and he looked laboured at times over the 10 rounds.
Belgian Michael Pirotton, 30, suffered a cut around the eye early in the fight and bled through his white shorts as the contest progressed. Before a doctor examined him in the fourth, Pirotton told the referee, "I can see, don't stop the fight," and the ringside doctor allowed him to continue; the doctor checked him again before the seventh and again permitted the bout to go on.
Fisher opened aggressively, landing heavy hooks that reddened Pirotton's eye in the first round, but the Belgian rallied in the fifth — described in reports as his best round — while Fisher began to look tired and more static. Neither fighter produced much in the later rounds until Fisher landed a short right that staggered Pirotton in the 10th and briefly threatened a stoppage, but Pirotton held on.
The result handed Pirotton his third loss in 15 fights and left Fisher short of an emphatic finish; Fisher left the ring shortly after his arm was raised and did not take part in the post-fight interview. The 7,500-capacity Copper Box was well short of full with the upper tier closed and empty seats visible, though Fisher's "Bosh Army" and his social-media star father "Big John" provided a vociferous reception.
Among those in attendance were British fighters Derek Chisora, Conor Benn and Caroline Dubois, alongside WWE stars AJ Styles and LA Knight; the article notes that WWE is owned by the American sports and entertainment group TKO, which is also behind Zuffa Boxing. The Copper Box has already hosted contrasting moments in Fisher's career: in July 2024 he overwhelmed Alen Babic in 36 seconds, and ten months later he was comprehensively stopped in five rounds by Doncaster's Dave Allen.
Fisher has repeatedly insisted he wants to be known as more than a popular ticket-seller with a catchy nickname and viral antics, and the two meetings with Allen were cited as showing the gap he must close for his British-title ambitions. Current British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe has offered Fisher a shot at the belt; Deontay Wilder has been mooted as an opponent, but a meeting with Dillian Whyte appears the more realistic possibility, with Fisher saying there is a "good chance" that contest could come next.