Johnny Fisher: Heavyweight Jeopardy
I’ve experienced enough Johnny Fisher fight nights from ringside to understand the level of support that he carries. It might not match those famous Ricky Hatton occasions at the Manchester Arena back in the day, but he has a natural home at the Copper Box Arena. That level of support can help any fighter. But it can only take you so far.
Fisher has left Matchroom to further his career under the Zuffa banner, and will make his first ring walk in his new promotional home this weekend live on Sky Sports. The Copper Box will again be the theatre of choice. Fisher will almost certainly get the job done. But recent evidence suggests that you just can’t be sure that he does. Of course, Fisher can improve, and it’s always a little harsh to write off a heavyweight who can punch after one crushing defeat. But certain flaws, are probably beyond being fixing The strength of Fisher’s chin you suspect will always be a problem for him. Even against an extremely low level of opposition.
The lightly-regarded Belgian heavyweight, Michael Pirotton (12-2) will welcome Fisher into the next phase of his career. Pirotton has been handpicked. A safety first choice of opponent.
The Belgian isn’t supposed to trouble the likeable Fisher too much. But the perceived fragility that currently surrounds the British heavyweight hopeful can’t guarantee any safe route to the next fight, let alone what plans are being made for the longer-term. Any fight is a risk, as we saw last time out in Monte Carlo against the last-minute substitute Ivan Balaz. As they say in the trade, Fisher goes over a little too easily. Dana White and Zuffa have invested heavily enough in Fisher to tempt him away from Eddie Hearn, but it is unlikely to be a long-term investment.
White knows Fisher sells tickets, but maybe more importantly, signing him is another little victory over Hearn. Boys will be boys. But as with the Zuffa signing of Conor Benn, it is likely to be Hearn having the last laugh. Money saved rather than money made.
We forget that Fisher was supposed to easily defeat Dave Allen when they were first matched up. Fisher got away with one the first time around, but Allen got his revenge in emphatic style last May when he badly knocked out Fisher in five rounds. That incredibly shaky victory over Balaz wouldn’t have convinced many. Some might say Fisher is an accident waiting to happen. He’s exciting and vulnerable in equal measure.
But Fisher does have that vocal fanbase. How loyal they are will depend on Fisher staying in the win column. Another defeat and the Romford heavyweight might have to look elsewhere for employment. The fans might not come in such large numbers, and White might choose to put his money elsewhere. You sense the Johnny Fisher story is only one punch away from being over. He talks about Deontay Wilder, but the apparent suspect chin will probably mean he never gets there.
Hearn is a master at picking the right opponent for fighters of somewhat limited ability. The Dave Allen fight looked a safe enough choice at the time, but Fisher simply couldn’t handle someone who probably isn’t a top ten British heavyweight. Those two fights and the comeback win over Balaz are incredibly worrying. Fisher had to pick himself off the floor in each fight. And of course, Allen badly knocked him out last May. Hearn might have shown a little more patience and skill in taking Fisher a little further than he perhaps should. I’m not sure White has either the same patience or skill. As a result, sooner rather than later, Fisher will get found out again.
Photo Credit: Zuffa Boxing
