Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton: Skills Test at Copper Box

Johnny Fisher headlines Zuffa Boxing 11 at London's Copper Box Arena on Saturday against Michael Pirotton, a fight billed as a boxing skills test after Fisher's two roughest nights as a professional. Fisher was knocked out by Dave Allen last May, then dropped by Ivan Balaz before rallying to win in Monaco. Pirotton has watched both of those fights and believes he has found the blueprint to hurt Fisher again.

"Skills for skills, I think I have the better of him," Pirotton told Sky Sports. He said his team trained in a cramped ring specifically to make Saturday's ring feel bigger by comparison, a way of rehearsing movement under pressure before he has to do it for real against a heavier man walking him down.

Can Pirotton Box His Way Past Fisher's Pressure?

Pirotton's plan hinges on movement, not power. He has openly said Fisher can be hurt, pointing to the Allen knockout and the Balaz knockdown as evidence. But circling alone won't be enough. If he retreats without making Fisher pay on the way in, Fisher can keep closing the distance until Pirotton runs out of ring to give up.

Fisher, for his part, has already scouted the counter. He told Sky Sports that Pirotton tends to move straight back rather than at angles, and that he plans to cut the ring off rather than chase him around it. Fisher also said he doesn't view Pirotton as a big puncher, a read that, if accurate, should let him press without the same fear factor that Allen brought.

Has Fisher Fixed the Flaws Allen and Balaz Exposed?

Getting knocked out by Allen and dropped by Balaz revealed real technical issues that a game plan against a lighter opponent won't automatically fix. Fisher has said he's worked with trainer Tony Sims on ring positioning, on knowing when to attack and when to reset rather than simply walking forward. Saturday is the first real test of whether that training holds up if Pirotton catches him clean early.

The instinct that got exposed against Allen and Balaz was Fisher's tendency to try to fight his way out of trouble rather than staying patient. Working behind a jab, cutting off the ring with his feet set rather than lunging, and going to the body to slow Pirotton's legs are all more sustainable paths to a stoppage than chasing a single home run shot.

Betting Angle

Matchmaking-wise, this fight was built to get Fisher a highlight-reel win to launch his run with Zuffa Boxing in front of a London crowd, and Pirotton enters as the clear opponent on paper. But the same flaws that cost Fisher against Allen and Balaz, limited head movement and a habit of squaring up his feet when he punches, are exactly what Pirotton says he intends to exploit with straight shots down the middle. For bettors, the fight likely comes down to one question: does Fisher stay disciplined behind the jab and walk Pirotton down methodically, or does he get impatient with the Copper Box crowd on his back and open himself up again. Discipline, not power, is the variable that decides this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Johnny Fisher fighting next?

Johnny Fisher fights Michael Pirotton on Saturday at London's Copper Box Arena, headlining Zuffa Boxing 11.

Has Johnny Fisher ever been knocked out?

Yes, Johnny Fisher was knocked out by Dave Allen last May and was also dropped by Ivan Balaz before rallying to win that fight in Monaco.

What is Michael Pirotton's game plan against Johnny Fisher?

Michael Pirotton says he has superior boxing skills and plans to use movement and straight punches to make Fisher think twice about pressing forward.