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Is Johnny Fisher Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn's new heavyweight draw?

Johnny Fisher

After saving the Dillian Whyte vs Otto Wallin card, Lewis Oldham looks at Johnny Fisher’s promising future…

Matchroom Boxing's Halloween weekend fight night was set to be headlined between Dillian Whyte and Otto Wallin.
The tasty heavyweight matchup was highly anticipated in the build-up. Whyte, on the back of his knockout win over Alexander Povetkin, was returning after seven months out looking to cement an all-British clash with Tyson Fury.
The Brit was stepping in with Swedish southpaw Wallin, who infamously gave Fury one of the toughest fights of his career in 2019 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former WBA continental heavyweight champion decisively beat Dominic Breazeale on points in February.

Unfortunately for all those excited to see this bout, it was called off just over a week before as Whyte cited a shoulder injury as the reason behind pulling out of the heavyweight showdown.

It keeps 'The Body Snatcher' in line for a shot at Fury's WBC world heavyweight title early in 2022. So, the legitimacy of this injury could be questioned, depending on how cynical you are.

A pretty decent undercard included the likes of Chantelle Cameron unifying the super lightweight division as well as Craig Richards and Alen Babic also in action. However, without Whyte-Wallin, the event appeared to be called off.

'The Romford Bull' to the rescue...

This was until Fisher stepped up to save the day. The 22-year-old Romford-born heavyweight - with the help of his supportive friends and family - sold around 1400 tickets to give Eddie Hearn no choice but to go ahead with the card.
Over 5000 were at the O2 Arena last month, with a large portion of the crowd being there to watch a 3-0 novice. Fisher was signed by Matchroom last year and had three TKO wins on his record heading into the biggest night of his career to date in Greenwich.

The 6' 4" fighter is a beast of a young fighter and he showed his punch power as he blasted past his first three opponents. It is very rare to see a fighter of Fisher's profile with a fanbase at all. It is simple: Fisher is one on their own in Romford and has a cult following.

This support created a raucous atmosphere last month. You would have assumed the place was packed going off the noise! This was a sink or swim moment for Fisher, even if his opponent Alvaro Terrero was not a world-beater. Impressively, the young Brit kept his nerve against the Spaniard (who had 13 losses on his record from his 20 bouts).

Having boxed well in the opening round, the Mark Tibbs-fighter then let loose in the second, knocking his foe down three times before Sean McAvoy called time on the contest.

The loud atmosphere continued after the conclusion as Fisher lapped up the support of his adoring fans. Seeing any young British fighter get such an ovation is great to see. Yet the way he handled himself on the night and the fact that it even happened in the first place is mightily impressive.
Listening to any Fisher interview, you understand why he is supported so well. He is a well-spoken young boxer who carries himself professionally. He has clearly been brought up well by his family and namely his old man who is eloquently referred to as 'Big John Fisher'.
But more key than this in terms of boxing is that Fisher simply loves a dust-up. His size and punch power make him great to watch and at the level he is at, he will roll over opponent after opponent.
Fisher has a lot to learn, but given his age, he will have the time to grow. Also with him already proving his worth to Hearn and DAZN, he will be afforded the platform to learn his craft on the biggest stage. Not to mention being under the guidance of world class coach Mark Tibbs.
You could just imagine Hearn sat ringside last month watching Fisher's entrance and him having dollar signs in his eyes! The Matchroom supremo has mentioned a world tour for Fisher, which will be great to see over the next few years.
Away days for the Fisher clan in Vegas and Spain are an inevitability and the bar intakes on those nights will be through the roof!

AJ, Whyte… Fisher?

Matchroom's move to DAZN was always going to bring its challenges. Perhaps the biggest of those is building up star attractions that people around the country will pay to watch.

They can't just be relying on the likes of Anthony Joshua and Whyte. Conor Benn is making strides and is becoming one of the biggest names in British boxing. But Hearn needs some new blood through the ranks that can sell tickets and more importantly, capture the public's imagination.

Given what we've seen from him already, Fisher is on track to become Matchroom's next heavyweight draw. The Romford Bull is following in the footsteps of some big names. It's going to be a blast watching his fanbase grow around the globe… Bosh!

Read more: When age defies logic - five fighters who overcame the odds and returned to the top

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