Johnny Fisher edges Michael Pirotton in gruelling Zuffa Boxing debut

Johnny Fisher began his Zuffa Boxing career with a hard-earned majority decision over Michael Pirotton at London’s Copper Box Arena.

Fisher won by scores of 98-92 and 96-95, while the third judge had the 10-round heavyweight contest level at 95-95. The 27-year-old improved to 15-1 with 12 stoppages, but was pushed throughout by Pirotton, who fought through two cuts around his left eye and remained dangerous until the final bell.

Competing for the first time since leaving Matchroom Boxing, Fisher pressed behind his jab and heavy hooks from the opening round. He was backed by his customary noisy support, although the arena’s upper tier was closed and there were empty seats elsewhere in the building.

Pirotton landed right hands early, but Fisher began targeting the body and slipping beneath attacks before countering at close range. An arcing right opened a cut over the Belgian’s left eye in the second round, and the wound continued to bleed as Fisher maintained his pressure.

Before a ringside doctor examined the damage in the fourth, Pirotton told the referee: “I can see, don’t stop the fight.” He was permitted to continue and came out firing, only for Fisher to force him backwards with a left hook and further combinations to the head and body.

Fisher’s pace began to drop as the fight progressed. His feet slowed and he increasingly remained within range of Pirotton’s accurate straight punches, with the Belgian enjoying his best spell in the fifth as Fisher looked tired and static. Fisher nevertheless finished the round with a right hand that shook Pirotton.

A second cut opened around Pirotton’s damaged left eye, prompting another examination before the seventh. His corner controlled the bleeding well enough for the fight to continue and, despite the eye becoming almost fully closed, Pirotton kept advancing. He repeatedly found a route over Fisher’s jab with his right hand while absorbing hooks to the body.

Fisher created one final opening in the 10th, landing a short, hard right that buckled Pirotton’s legs. Pirotton moved in close to deny him room and Fisher, by then exhausted, could not find the finishing combination that would have delivered his 13th stoppage.

The fight was Fisher’s third significant appearance at the Copper Box in less than two years. He stopped Alen Babic in 36 seconds there in July 2024, but was halted by Dave Allen in the fifth round at the same venue in May 2025. Their first meeting had ended in a disputed decision victory for Fisher.

Zuffa Boxing head Dana White described Fisher’s performance as dominant, while acknowledging that he tired over the final three rounds. White had not spoken to Fisher immediately after the contest, but said the heavyweight appeared to be okay and would return on another UK show if fully healthy.

Dillian Whyte has expressed interest in facing Fisher and potentially joining Zuffa, while Fisher has said there is a “good chance” that bout could be next. British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe has also offered him a title opportunity, and former WBC champion Deontay Wilder has been mentioned. White, however, said there were no specific plans beyond another appearance in Britain.

Kalajdzic drops and defeats Richards

In the chief support, Radivoje Kalajdzic handed Craig Richards a unanimous-decision defeat after dropping the Londoner in the closing seconds of their light-heavyweight contest.

All three judges scored the fight 97-92 for the Serbia-born American, who improved to 31-3 with 22 knockouts and recorded his second successive victory since losing to David Morrell in August 2024.

Kalajdzic hurt Richards with a left hook in the fourth round and again placed him under heavy pressure in the sixth, but Richards responded with right hands and body shots. The home fighter started the final round strongly before Kalajdzic countered with a right hand that sent him heavily to the canvas. Richards rose on unsteady legs and reached the final bell, falling to 20-5-1.

Lee Cutler also earned a unanimous decision over Louis Greene, recovering after being hurt by a right hand in the third round to win by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice. Alex MacMillan stopped Guillaume Azagier in the second round, while Kayla Allen, Zuffa Boxing’s first signed female fighter, won her professional debut when Edina Kiss retired after the third.