Johnny Fisher is pushed to his limits by Belgium’s Michael Pirotton; Fisher started strongly against Pirotton but had to hold on for majority decision win at the Copper Box Arena in London Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Johnny Fisher came through a bruising battle as he outslugged Michael Pirotton to win their heavyweight clash at the Copper Box Arena. Fisher punched forward to take a lead, but as his energy reserves waned he began to look increasingly vulnerable as the Belgian battled back. The Romford favourite forced himself through to the finish, taking a majority decision win, but it was testing. Having just watched gym-mate Craig Richards lose in the chief support, Fisher looked to banish any nerves by plunging forward onto the front foot.
He went straight for the Belgian with double jabs. Pirotton hefted a left hook across, but Fisher’s “Romford Bull Army” of supporters had found their voice. Feet stamping, voices raised, they chanted Fisher’s name to create a raucous atmosphere in the Copper Box. Fisher responded by driving himself into Pirotton, and leaving himself open when he leaned over his front leg.
The Belgian did catch Fisher with his right cross. But the “Romford Bull” did show off some of his work with new trainer Tony Sims, every now and then bobbing and weaving under an attack to stay in the pocket and pummel Pirotton’s body. Fisher was landing head shots and Pirotton was cut over the left eye early on. It was in a bad position and the doctor had a close look at it in the fourth round.
On resumption, Fisher stormed forward, sensing his moment. He hit Pirotton with a hard left hook to body, and then launched his right down on his head. That combination worked for him and Fisher tenderised the body to open up the head He shook up Pirotton and directed him back into the ropes. But getting through the fourth, Pirotton fired back in the fifth round.
Power began to drain away from Fisher’s punches and the Briton held his feet. Pirotton blasted his right into a tiring Fisher and caught him with following head shots. Fisher struck back before the end of the fifth round but he was flagging. In the sixth round, his supporters bellowed him on as Fisher searched for his second wind.
He did find chopping hooks that rattled Pirotton round the head. In the seventh round, Fisher’s right swung wildly, missing, but he launched himself back in with an explosive left to drive Pirotton into the ropes. The Belgian, increasingly on the offensive, continued to make it a bruising night’s work for Fisher. He threaded his right over Fisher’s jab, a fine shot.
Fisher dug into Pirotton’s body with a left hook. Even though he’d picked up a second cut round his left eye, Pirotton was undaunted, looking to chip into Fisher’s lead. The Englishman repeatedly targeted Pirotton, but the Belgian managed to stand his ground. Pirotton’s left eye was almost fully close by the last round.
Fisher hurt him, lashing in shots as the crowd roared. He summoned up his final dregs of energy, windmilling rights at Pirotton as he went for him. Fisher couldn’t find a decisive finish and one judge had the two heavyweights level at 95-95. A second saw it close at 96-95 but the third had Fisher ahead 98-92.
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