By Brian Campbell
LONDON — In what stands as one of the most charismatic acquisitions during Zuffa Boxing’s formative first year of operations, popular British heavyweight contender Johnny Fisher is primed to take center stage on Saturday evening. Billed as "The Romford Bull," Fisher will square off against Belgium’s Michael Pirotton in a 10-round heavyweight main event inside London’s Copper Box Arena.
The scheduled clash headlines Zuffa Boxing 11, marking a high-profile homecoming for the 27-year-old Fisher. Bringing forward an explosive, come-forward fighting approach and backed by an intensely loyal domestic following, Fisher (14-1, 12 KOs) will be tested by the towering 6-foot-5 frame of Pirotton (12-2, 6 KOs), a resurgent contender arriving on English soil riding the momentum of consecutive stoppage victories.
The event highlights Zuffa’s rapid operational expansion and represents the organization’s second excursion to the United Kingdom within its initial nine months in business. After inaugurating its enterprise in late January with Zuffa Boxing 01 in Las Vegas, the upstart fighting outfit crossed the Atlantic in June for Zuffa Boxing 07. That event, hosted in the coastal town of Bournemouth, earned widespread acclaim when cruiserweight competitors Chris Billam-Smith and Ryan Rozicki produced a punishing, crowd-pleasing slugfest.
Now returning to British shores, Zuffa is entrusting Fisher with the responsibility of headlining in front of his home country’s passionate fight fans, with the broadcast accessible to a wide audience through Paramount+.
The Rise of ‘The Romford Bull’
A proud native of London, Fisher enters the ring aiming to build sustained momentum following the most turbulent stretch of his professional tenure. His record was temporarily derailed when he suffered his lone career defeat—a fifth-round technical knockout loss at the hands of domestic rival David Allen in their highly anticipated rematch. Prior to that setback, Fisher had announced himself on the championship trajectory during their original 2024 encounter, displaying immense heart by climbing off the canvas to secure an upset split-decision victory across 10 hard-fought rounds.
The return match, however, proved much harsher. Fisher was knocked to the canvas twice in the fifth frame, prompting his corner to intervene and toss in the towel to protect their fighter. Rather than letting the loss define him, Fisher regrouped and ended his year on a positive note, traveling to Monte Carlo last December to deliver an emphatic stoppage of the previously undefeated Ivan Balaz.
Outside the ropes, Fisher’s profile has soared rapidly, making him one of the most recognizable emerging figures in contemporary British boxing. Much of that popularity stems from his vibrant, unpretentious personality, combined with the massive online following generated alongside his father, "Big" John Fisher. Widely recognized across social media platforms under the moniker "The Boshfather," the elder Fisher has cultivated an enormous online presence, introducing his son to a mainstream audience that extends far beyond the traditional hardcore boxing demographic.
Fisher’s route to the upper tiers of the heavyweight division has been unorthodox. Having dedicated his teenage years primarily to playing competitive rugby, Fisher did not recommit his focus to the sweet science until his university days. As a consequence of this delayed pivot, he accumulated only a brief, relatively modest amateur background.
To bridge that technical deficit, Fisher gained critical education through top-tier sparring sessions, serving as a primary training partner for established British heavyweight figures such as Joe Joyce, Hughie Fury, and his eventual two-time opponent, Allen. What Fisher lacks in terms of fluid footwork, defensive wizardry, or technical agility, he routinely compensates for through physical durability, high punching volume, pure power, and an unyielding willingness to wage battle in the pocket.
"I’m known for my aggressive style, and my best performances have been when I’m aggressive and going for the knockout," Fisher told UFC.com. "I might not be an Oleksandr Usyk or Agit Kabayel, or a top-level heavyweight right now. But one thing you’re guaranteed when you come to watch me fight is entertainment, and it’s a privilege and an honor to reach out to this new market of American supporters and American fans."
Saturday’s contest will also test Fisher’s sharpness, as it brings an end to a career-long nine-month layoff following his December triumph in Monte Carlo.
Pirotton’s Search for Validation
Across the ring, Michael Pirotton approaches the bout with an entirely different perspective, viewing the high-profile assignment as the realization of years spent grinding away in relative obscurity. The 30-year-old Belgian turned professional back in 2019, navigating a challenging existence that has often placed severe obstacles in front of his athletic development.
Pirotton has frequently characterized boxing not merely as a career, but as "violent therapy" necessary to endure and process the hardships he has experienced throughout his personal life. His two career defeats came in back-to-back decision losses against undefeated prospects during 2025. According to Pirotton, those shortcomings were largely byproducts of outside circumstances: he was forced to balance multiple jobs simultaneously just to earn a living wage, frequently accepting short-notice assignments primarily for financial survival while being far from peak physical and technical conditioning.
With greater stability and dedicated focus inside the gym over the past year, Pirotton has enjoyed a career resurgence, stringing together back-to-back stoppage victories that restored his confidence and paved the way for his promotional debut under the Zuffa banner. Standing 6-foot-5, he intends to utilize his physical reach and ring generalship to neutralize Fisher’s aggressive tendencies.
"[Fisher] has never been through what I have been through," Pirotton said ahead of the fight. "The way to beat Johnny is to outsmart this guy. People don’t rate my boxing IQ because, honestly, I never show it properly except in sparring. I’ve never been on such a big stage but I know that’s my quality. I’m ready to be embracing the moment and just be me."
For Pirotton, pulling off the upset in London would fundamentally alter his career path, elevating him from an unheralded European contender into a prominent player within Zuffa Boxing’s heavyweight plans.
Undercard Storylines and Contenders
While the heavyweight clash headlines the evening, the supporting card at the Copper Box Arena features a slate of competitive matchups across multiple weight divisions, highlighted by four additional main-card bouts.
The most intriguing contest on the undercard showcases veteran light heavyweight Radivoje Kalajdzic taking on London’s own Craig Richards in a bout carrying significant divisional weight. Kalajdzic enters the ring riding the wave of one of his career-defining moments, having earned a stoppage over former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in February at Zuffa Boxing 02. Richards will be making his first appearance of 2026, though he carries sharp finishing power into the contest after closing out 2025 with consecutive, emphatic knockout victories over domestic standout Dan Azeez and Irish veteran Padraig McCrory.
Elsewhere on the main card, a compelling middleweight matchup features Lee Cutler squaring off against Louis Greene. Cutler (16-2, 8 KOs) looks to sustain his upward trajectory after securing a TKO victory over Aaron Sutton in June, an encounter cut short when Sutton suffered an unfortunate, severe shoulder injury. That victory built upon Cutler’s notable 2024 campaign, in which he claimed a secondary WBC title by earning a hard-fought majority decision over Stephen McKenna.
Greene presents a formidable obstacle for Cutler, entering Saturday’s showdown in prime form. Boasting an active three-fight winning streak, Greene has emerged victorious in six of his last seven outings, establishing a reputation as a durable and disruptive force capable of turning competitive matchups into bruising wars of attrition.
Zuffa Boxing 11 fight card, odds
The lineup set for the Copper Box Arena in London features betting lines courtesy of DraftKings:
- Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton (Heavyweight)
- Radivoje Kalajdzic vs. Craig Richards (Light Heavyweight)
- Lee Cutler vs. Louis Greene (Middleweight)
Where to watch Zuffa Boxing 11
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 26
- Location: Copper Box Arena — London, England
- Preliminary Card Start Time: 12:15 p.m. ET
- Main Card Start Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
- Live Stream: Paramount+
Prediction
Johnny Fisher’s tactical blueprint rarely contains surprises. As a natural pressure fighter with heavy hands, Fisher does not waste time feeling out opponents, choosing instead to close distance quickly and enforce his physical will. That stylistic aggression ensures immediate answers regarding Pirotton’s durability. The Belgian challenger will need to display exceptional ring composure and a rock-solid chin early on if he hopes to survive Fisher’s initial barrage and establish his jab from range.
While Pirotton’s size and recent finishing sequence make him a live underdog, the experience Fisher has gained against dangerous domestic opponents—most notably his two demanding encounters with David Allen—gives the Londoner a decisive edge in battle-tested seasoning. Entering the ring as a heavy betting favorite before a partisan home crowd, Fisher possesses the firepower and high-tempo output necessary to break through Pirotton’s defenses.
Expect Pirotton to attempt to box from distance early, but Fisher’s unrelenting forward march and willingness to exchange inside should force the bout into the exact phone-booth brawl the favorite prefers. Once Fisher corners his opponent against the ropes, his sustained combination punching should turn the tide definitively.
Pick: Fisher via TKO5
