British heavyweight Johnny Fisher successfully kicked off a new chapter in his career on Saturday night, securing a hard-fought majority decision over Belgium's Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena in London.
The 27-year-old fighter from Essex was making his promotional debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner following his departure from Matchroom Boxing. The encounter marked just the third time in his professional career that Fisher was forced to go the full 10-round distance.
Fighting before a vocal crowd that included notable names from boxing and the entertainment industry, Fisher started aggressively. He targeted Pirotton with heavy hooks from the opening bell, quickly marking the face of the 30-year-old challenger and causing an early cut around his eye.
Pirotton proved resilient, absorbing the sustained pressure and refusing to let the hostile environment deter him. Despite the injury and blood staining his shorts, the Belgian competitor fought back tenaciously, weathering two separate ringside doctor evaluations in the fourth and seventh rounds to remain in the contest.
As the bout wore into its latter stages, Fisher appeared visibly fatigued and slowed his output, allowing Pirotton to find moments of success. However, Fisher managed to rally in the final round, landing a sharp right hand that briefly staggered his opponent and raised expectations of a late stoppage.
Pirotton survived the final moments, extending the fight to the judges' scorecards. The officials ultimately returned tallies of 95-95, 98-92, and 96-95 in favor of Fisher, handing the British heavyweight his 15th victory in 16 professional bouts.
Following the decision, Fisher departed the ring promptly without addressing the media or participating in post-fight interviews. The victory gets him back on track following previous mixed fortunes at the London venue, where he previously scored a rapid knockout win over Alen Babic before suffering a stoppage defeat against Dave Allen.
With this latest win secured, attention now turns to Fisher's next steps as he pursues a domestic title shot. Potential future matchups include a bout with British heavyweight champion Richard Riakporhe or a high-profile meeting with fellow contender Dillian Whyte.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
