Zuffa books Johnny Fisher-Michael Pirotton fight for September 26

Johnny Fisher will face Michael Pirotton on September 26 at London’s Copper Box Arena, with the bout serving as his promotional debut under Zuffa Boxing. The heavyweight contest is scheduled for 10 rounds and will headline Zuffa Boxing 11 on Sky Sports.

The selection gives Fisher a less demanding assignment after the dangerous challenges posed by David Allen. Fisher was dropped in their first meeting before winning a disputed split decision, then suffered two knockdowns in the rematch before his corner ended the fight after five rounds.

Fisher returned to winning ways against Ivan Balaz, but the next step against Pirotton keeps him away from an opponent known for applying the same physical pressure as Allen. Pirotton is 6ft 5in tall, has an 82-inch reach and has not been stopped in his career.

His experience at a high level remains limited. Pirotton has never boxed beyond eight rounds and lost a six-round decision to Piotr Lacz in April 2025, with all three judges awarding every round to Lacz. Juan Alberts also beat him on points later that year.

Two stoppage wins followed, although the level of opposition was modest. Jiovani Sheik arrived for their August meeting with one victory and 10 defeats, while Fernando Brito had previously lost 60 times. Those results did little to demonstrate that Pirotton is ready for a major headline assignment.

The rankings also place Fisher ahead of his opponent. Fisher is listed 83rd among active heavyweights, while Pirotton is 145th. Fisher has gone the full 10 rounds before and carries the more established punching power, although his defensive problems remain a possible opening for the Belgian.

The matchup allows Zuffa to introduce Fisher to its audience without immediately placing him in another severe test. Pirotton’s size and durability give the fight a credible heavyweight profile, while the opponent’s record and limited depth of experience indicate a controlled route for Fisher’s first appearance with the promotion.