Johnny Fisher wins Zuffa Boxing debut after Michael Pirotton takes him 10 rounds

Johnny Fisher won his first fight for Zuffa Boxing by majority decision over Michael Pirotton at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 26 September. The British heavyweight started strongly but had to withstand a comeback from the Belgian over 10 rounds, making his debut for the promotion a closer contest than the early exchanges suggested.

One judge scored the bout 95-95, while the others had Fisher ahead 98-92 and 96-95. Those cards gave Fisher the win without a unanimous verdict. Both BBC Sport and Sky Sports reported the same scores in their accounts of the fight.

An early lead, then a harder fight

Fisher pressed forward from the opening round. Sky Sports described him using double jabs and working Pirotton’s body, while also leaving himself open when he leaned over his front leg. The report said Pirotton caught him with a right cross, even as Fisher landed enough head shots to damage the Belgian’s left eye.

Pirotton was cut around the eye early in the bout. A doctor examined him in the fourth round and allowed the fight to continue. BBC Sport reported that Pirotton told the referee, ‘I can see, don’t stop the fight.’ Fisher attacked head and body when action resumed, but the examination was not the end of Pirotton’s resistance.

Sky Sports reported that Fisher found hooks in the sixth and drove Pirotton towards the ropes in the seventh. Pirotton kept advancing and landed another right over Fisher’s jab. Despite a second cut around his left eye, he remained competitive in the later rounds. A doctor examined him again before the seventh, according to BBC Sport, and let the bout proceed.

Fisher produced one last surge in the 10th. BBC Sport said a short right hand staggered Pirotton and briefly raised the prospect of a stoppage. Sky Sports also described Fisher hurting him in the final round, but reported that he could not find a decisive finish. Pirotton stayed upright and took the contest to the scorecards.

What the win means for Fisher

The result was Fisher’s 15th victory in 16 professional fights, according to BBC Sport. He is 27 and was making his first appearance since leaving Matchroom Boxing for Zuffa Boxing. Pirotton, a 30-year-old Belgian, entered the bout as a less familiar opponent to the London crowd but made Fisher work throughout the scheduled distance.

The Copper Box has hosted sharply different moments in Fisher’s career. BBC Sport recalled his 36-second win over Alen Babic there in July 2024 and his fifth-round stoppage defeat to Dave Allen at the same venue in May 2025. Saturday’s points win added another result at the arena, though its narrowest winning card showed how close one judge considered the contest.

Fisher’s following was audible at the venue. BBC Sport described his supporters as a noisy presence despite empty seats and a closed upper tier at the 7,500-capacity Copper Box. Sky Sports likewise reported chants for Fisher during the fight. BBC Sport said Fisher has spoken about wanting recognition for his achievements in the ring as well as his popularity.

The next opponent remains open

Fisher left the ring soon after the decision and gave no interview there or at the post-fight media session, BBC Sport reported. Its account therefore carried no fresh post-fight explanation from him about the performance or his plans. The available reporting establishes the result and the course of the contest, but offers no confirmed date or opponent for his next appearance.

BBC Sport reported that British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe has offered Fisher a title shot. It also cited Fisher’s earlier description of a possible Dillian Whyte fight as having a ‘good chance’ of happening next, while noting talk of Deontay Wilder. None of those possibilities was announced as Fisher’s next bout in the cited reports.