Johnny Fisher Gets Durable Pirotton in Zuffa Debut

London, England, UK - British heavyweight Johnny Fisher will begin the next chapter of his career on September 26, when he faces Belgium’s Michael Pirotton in the 10-round main event of Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher, 14-1 (12 KOs), signed with Zuffa Boxing in July after leaving Matchroom Boxing, and the 27-year-old will immediately be placed in a familiar position — headlining in front of his large British following. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

The opponent, however, appears to have been selected with Fisher’s development in mind.

Pirotton, 12-2 (6 KOs), is a 30-year-old Belgian heavyweight who has proven difficult to remove. He has never been knocked down during his seven-year professional career and has gone the distance in both of his defeats.

That durability could make him a useful test for a fighter attempting to rebuild momentum after the most difficult stretch of his career.

Fisher Begins Again Under Zuffa

Fisher quickly became one of British boxing’s biggest ticket sellers during his rise through the heavyweight ranks.

Nicknamed “The Romford Bull,” Fisher combined a large travelling fan base with genuine heavyweight power, winning 12 of his first 14 professional victories inside the distance.

His rapid 36-second destruction of Alen Babic in July 2024 appeared to signal that Fisher was ready to move towards considerably more serious heavyweight opposition.

Dave Allen changed that trajectory.

Fisher escaped their first meeting in December 2024 with a controversial split-decision victory after being dropped during the fight. Five months later, Allen left considerably less room for debate, stopping Fisher in the fifth round of their rematch at the Copper Box.

It remains Fisher’s only professional defeat.

He returned in December with a fourth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Ivan Balaz in Monte Carlo and will now fight for the first time in nine months.

The September bout also brings Fisher back to the same building where Allen handed him that first defeat.

Who Is Michael Pirotton?

Pirotton isn't a contender, but his record suggests something more useful than a routine comeback opponent.

The Liège heavyweight began his career with 10 consecutive victories before stepping up his opposition in 2025.

Pirotton entered the WBC Grand Prix of Boxing and was eliminated on points by unbeaten Polish heavyweight Piotr Łącz in the round of 32. He later travelled to South Africa and lost another decision against unbeaten Juan Alberts.

Neither man stopped him.

Pirotton has since returned to winning form, scoring two stoppage victories in 2026. He stopped Fernando Brito before defeating Jiovani Sheik in three rounds on August 2.

At 12-2, Pirotton therefore arrives with a respectable record, recent activity and enough durability to potentially give Fisher rounds.

Fisher has already identified another target beyond simply winning — becoming the first professional fighter to stop him.

“It’s a golden ticket for Michael Pirotton, but it’s also my golden ticket because if I win, I get to go on to bigger and better things,” Fisher said while discussing the matchup.

A Sensible Test for Fisher

There is little question who is expected to win.

Fisher will enter as a substantial favourite and, on paper, possesses the greater power and higher ceiling.

But this stage of Fisher's career should probably be about development rather than rushing towards the heavyweight elite.

At only 15 professional fights, Fisher remains relatively inexperienced. The two fights against Allen exposed defensive vulnerabilities and demonstrated the considerable difference between knocking over developing opposition and dealing with experienced heavyweights who can withstand his early power.

Pirotton presents a useful middle ground.

He is experienced enough to present problems, durable enough that Fisher may need to construct a victory rather than simply overwhelm him, but he isn't currently operating near the upper levels of the heavyweight division.

For Zuffa Boxing, it is also a logical first assignment for one of the promotion's new attractions.

Fisher brings something increasingly valuable in boxing: an established audience. His “Bull Army” following has helped turn him into a headline fighter long before his résumé would normally justify that position.

Zuffa now has the opportunity to develop the fighter behind that popularity.

Bigger Fights Could Follow

Fisher has made no secret of his ambitions.

Following his move to Zuffa, he spoke about eventually challenging for major titles and specifically mentioned the British heavyweight championship as a target. He has also begun working with trainer Tony Sims as he attempts to make improvements following the Allen fights.

That makes September 26 an important first step.

A routine victory over Pirotton would move Fisher to 15-1 and allow Zuffa to continue rebuilding him towards stronger opposition.

A dominant stoppage would be more noteworthy.

Pirotton has already shared the ring with unbeaten heavyweights and nobody has yet put him on the canvas. If Fisher can become the first man to stop the Belgian, it would provide some evidence that his power remains a genuine weapon as the competition improves.

But Pirotton's durability also creates the possibility of something Fisher may need even more — rounds.

After the turbulence of the Allen rivalry, Fisher doesn't necessarily need another dramatic heavyweight shootout.

He needs to show improvement.

On September 26, back inside the Copper Box and beginning life with a new promoter, Johnny Fisher gets that opportunity.