Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton: A Heavyweight Battle

Fisher (14-1, 12 KOs) is loud, fun, and not all that talented at boxing. He isn’t bad. He is better than me, but part of his appeal is his big personality and learning on the job. As Zuffa Boxing aims to make a name for itself in the U.K., it seems they have invested in two personalities: Conor Benn and Fisher. Albeit the Irish IBF middleweight champion, Aaron McKenna brings real substance.

Fisher is a big-ticket seller. His father is also a big social media personality. His biggest win is over Alen Babic, a fun but limited heavyweight. His other major win was a majority decision over Dave Allen; many people thought he lost. In the rematch, Allen stopped him. He returned in December and scored a stoppage win, but it wasn’t notable.

With Fisher, you are buying into a personality and hoping the talent catches up to his charisma. That said, with the right marketing and storytelling, he could be a good foil for the right guys, like Ryan Rozicki.

Who is Michael Pirotton? 

I vaguely remember watching Pirotton (12-2, 6 KOs) on a ProBox TV card in the summer of 2024. I also vaguely remember him being one-and-done at the WBC Grand Prix in the heavyweight division. He followed up the loss in the Grand Prix to Juan Alberts in South Africa. Since then, he has two wins, both coming this year.

Pirotton resembles another fighter we just saw on Zuffa Boxing, Raphael Akpejiori. Mostly a mover, not especially gifted with speed or power, but athletic enough to build a solid professional record.

Every Fisher Fight Could Be A 50-50 Fight? (In A Good And A Bad Way)

Here is the catch: Fisher has some ability, but between his inexperience, a knockout loss, and willingness to exchange, every developmental fight can be tough. Given that he just signed with Zuffa Boxing, one would think this would be more of a showcase bout for local fans to see him with a new entity. Part of the charm of Fisher is that any fight he is in can go so many different ways, because he doesn’t always make it easy for himself.

What Does The Eye Test Say? 

Within 20 seconds, we will know if we fight or not. If Fisher can go through Pirotton’s punches, the fight is all but over, but if he can’t, it is a fight.

What Do The Odds Say?

Fisher is the favorite.

What Else Should You Know About This Card?

Craig Richards vs. “Hot Rod” Radivoje Kalajdzic

Richards is a pro’s pro. Having beaten Dan Azeez in December, he now has a chance to vault up the ranks with the upstart Zuffa Boxing. Richards has taken a hard road, with losses to elite fighters such as Dmitry Bivol, Joshua Buatsi, and Willy Hutchinson. When a fighter like Richards signs with Zuffa, it is a lifeline, as in traditional boxing, guys like him were used and abused, fed to the slaughter for younger, more marketable fighters. Hopefully, he can get some solid paydays with Zuffa.

The 35-year-old Radivoje Kalajdzic has had some career. Most thought he beat Marcus Browne over 10 years ago. He resurfaced a few years later and was stopped by Artur Beterbiev. He rebuilt himself, gave David Morrell a hard fight, and then, in February, stopped Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Now, the man they call “Hot Rod” will go overseas and look to spoil Richards’ homecoming.

It is a battle between two tough fighters, whose best trait is that they never stopped believing in themselves. A hard thing to do in the modern era.

Cesar Mateo Tapia vs. Leo Ruiz

Tapia is balls-to-the-wall. His 2024 draw with Endry Saavedra was a mini-classic, but it also exposed his vulnerabilities, as he was dropped three times in the fight. Meanwhile, Ruiz had a lot of hype going into a 2024 fight against Elias Mauricio Haedo but was stopped in the first round.

It is a battle between two fighters who, at times, can let emotion cloud judgment and brawl, for better or worse. This has the makings of a “Fight of the Year” type bout.

Alexis De la Cerda vs. Cain Lewis

De la Cerda delivered one of the best knockouts of the month when he last fought in Zuffa Boxing. Now, the unbeaten fighter, De la Cerda, will face an unbeaten Irish fighter, Cain Lewis.