Johnny Fisher and Michael Pirotton came face-to-face outside the Copper Box Arena on Friday, where the two heavyweight rivals will collide in the main event this Saturday. The pair maintained civility throughout their encounter, exchanging handshakes before and after their head-to-head, yet Fisher was quick to reject the Belgian's suggestion that his mind was compromised.
Pirotton has embraced his role as the outsider, confident he can pull off an upset and insisting the burden of expectation rests entirely on the shoulders of the home favourite. Fisher, however, was having none of it when asked about any potential mental vulnerabilities.
Look at my last fight [against Ivan Balaz], if I had mental frailties, I wouldn't have got back up and won the fight in the fourth round,Fisher told Sky Sports.
But boxing's a tough game, it's tough mentally. That's where it all takes place. You have to be in charge of your brain and I'm in charge of mine. I'm excited to get in there and do it.
The pressure on Fisher is substantial. The Romford heavyweight carries a reputation as a devastating puncher, yet he has been knocked down and stopped previously in his career. Pirotton, by contrast, remains undefeated in terms of never hitting the canvas or being halted, boasting a record of 12-2 with 6 KOs.
Fisher acknowledged the challenge ahead.
Pirotton deserves my utmost respect. He's going to be a tough fight,he said.
Every fight week has responsibility, it has pressure, I've got a loyal army of fans. I'm very excited to show what I've been doing.
The 14-1 heavyweight, who carries 12 knockouts on his record, stressed the intensity of his preparation.
I've been training extremely hard and prediction-wise, I'm going to get the win, whether it's a 10-round job or a one-round knockout. I've got to go and do my job. I've trained hard enough for it.
Fisher's confidence extended to his long-term ambitions.
I'm so excited to show everyone that the best version of Johnny Fisher, the 'Romford Bull' is yet to come.
This clash marks Fisher's Zuffa Boxing debut and his third headline appearance at the Copper Box Arena. Pirotton had previously warned that psychological pressure would prove decisive in their heavyweight encounter, with the Belgian priced as a significant underdog at 7/1.
Card details and broadcast information
The main card begins at 7pm BST on Saturday, September 26, with prelims starting from 5pm BST and ringwalks expected between 9.45pm and 10.15pm BST. The undercard features several notable bouts, including Craig Richards facing Radivoje Kalajdzic and Lee Cutler taking on Louis Greene. Additional support comes from middleweight contenders Cesar Mateo Tapia and Leo Ruiz.
Sky Sports will broadcast the event live in the UK, with coverage also available on Paramount+ for viewers in the US and Canada.
What comes next
Following this weekend's action at the Copper Box Arena, Sky Sports Boxing will return to the same venue on November 7 for Zuffa Boxing 12, continuing the promotion's schedule of events.
