Johnny Fisher will face Belgian heavyweight Michael Pirotton in a 10-round main event on 26 September at London’s Copper Box Arena. The contest marks Fisher’s debut for Zuffa Boxing on Sky Sports as he continues his career recovery following a knockout defeat to David Allen.
The match-up has generated significant reaction across social media, with fans criticizing the choice of opponent for Zuffa’s first headline feature with the Romford heavyweight. Fisher signed with the promotional company last month amid expectations of a stern test. Instead, matchmakers selected Pirotton, a little-known fighter who has spent the majority of his career competing in Belgium alongside a brief spell in the United States.
Pirotton brings a modest overall record into the bout. He suffered a six-round decision defeat against Piotr Lacz last year and subsequently exited the WBC Grand Prix following a points loss to Kevin Ramirez.
The conservative matchmaking reflects the caution required after Fisher’s stoppage defeat to Allen at the Copper Box in May 2025. Their initial encounter produced a disputed split-decision victory for Fisher, despite Allen landing the cleaner strikes throughout. The rematch exposed persistent defensive flaws, as Fisher proved vulnerable under sustained pressure and struggled to recover once hurt. A fourth-round stoppage of Ivan Balaz in December provided an initial bounce-back win, but Balaz offered little resistance.
Addressing the reaction to the fight announcement, the 27-year-old defended the decision during an interview with Sky Sports. He stated: “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. I’ve got ambitions in this game.”
Pirotton provides Fisher with a tall opponent capable of extending him through useful rounds without posing severe danger. Still, Zuffa will eventually expect Fisher to transition toward higher-tier competition. Before world-title ambitions can be discussed, the British heavyweight must demonstrate improved defensive discipline at the Copper Box on September 26.
