Key points:
- Johnny Fisher wins Zuffa Boxing debut but not conclusively
- The Romford Bull couldn’t put Pirotton away despite landing heavily
- Fisher immediately left the ring after his victory with no post-fight interviews
“The Romford Bull” Johnny Fisher (15-1, 12 KOs) narrowly won his Zuffa Boxing debut with 10 tough rounds against Belgian boxer Michael Pirotton (12-3, 6 KOs) at London’s Copper Box Arena.
The scores of 95-95 and 96-95 showed just how close the contest was, but the third judge saw it as 98-92.
The 27-year-old Essex fighter was the deserved winner, but looked laboured as the fight wore on and appeared to feel the pace over 10 rounds.
In the final minute of the fight he landed a huge overhand right from a crouched down position, which earned a roar from the crowd and gave him the extra energy to turn up the pace, but the 30-year-old bloodied Belgian stood strong. Fisher was staggering from exhaustion by the final bell, he had given it his all.
Pirotton was hampered by a cut around the eye from early in the fight but battled gamely.
Fisher left the ring shortly after his arm was raised without doing an interview and also did not attend a post-fight interview, possibly due to exhaustion or potentially down to embarrassment for not securing a more conclusive victoty.
It was Fisher’s first appearance since leaving Matchroom Boxing and joining Dana White’s Zuffa promotion.
The 7,500-capacity Copper Box was some way short of full, with the upper tier closed and empty seats dotted around the arena.
But Fisher’s “Bosh Army” did their best to fill the gaps with noise, giving the “Romford Bull” a raucous reception.
Alongside his social-media star father “Big John”, Fisher has built a loyal following through an unusually unfiltered glimpse into family life, training camps and the pair’s well-documented enthusiasm for Chinese takeaways.
Fisher started with intent, swinging heavy hooks and reddening Pirotton’s eye in the opening round.
The little-known Belgian was unfazed by the home support or Fisher’s pressure, but his eye was cut by the second.
“I can see, don’t stop the fight,” Pirotton told the referee before a doctor examined him in the fourth.
Allowed to continue, he came out firing, but Fisher responded with a flurry to head and body.
Blood stained Pirotton’s white shorts, yet he rallied in the fifth – his best round – as Fisher began to look tired and static.
Among those in attendance were British fighters Derek Chisora, Conor Benn and Caroline Dubois, alongside WWE stars AJ Styles and LA Knight.
WWE is owned by American sports and entertainment group TKO, which is also behind Zuffa Boxing.
The doctor took another look at Pirotton before the seventh but allowed the bout to continue.
Neither man was offering much by the latter stages until a short right hand from Fisher staggered Pirotton in the 10th.
For a moment, a 13th stoppage victory appeared within reach, but Fisher could not find the finishing burst as the brave Belgian slipped to his third loss in 15 fights.
Craig Richards’ Zuffa debut didn;t go to plan as he was outpointed by Radivoje Kalajdzic.