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 while 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 driving himself into Pirotton, but leaving himself open when he leaned over his front leg.

The Belgian did catch Fisher with his right cross. But the “Romford Bull” also showed 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 he 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. Even though he’d picked up a second cut round his left eye, Pirotton was undaunted, looking to chip into Fisher’s lead and he managed to stand his ground.

Pirotton’s left eye was almost fully closed 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, exhausted at the end of the battle, 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.

Dillian Whyte says he is “well up” for a fight against Johnny Fisher and has vowed to stop ‘The Romford Bull’ inside four rounds.

The Brixton heavyweight was watching from ringside as Fisher battled to a majority-decision victory over Michael Pirotton at The Copper Box on Saturday night.

Whyte is ready to return following his loss to Moses Itauma last August and has welcomed a verbal challenge from Fisher.

“Johnny Fisher has been calling me out for a while. He wants to fight me. I’m well up for that fight,” Whyte told Sky Sports.

“I knock Johnny Fisher out. It’s heavyweight boxing, anything can happen. I could get caught high on the head like I did last time out, but I’ll knock Johnny Fisher out.

“I’ll be surprised if it goes past three or four rounds. I’m an ageing dog but I still have all of my teeth.”

Whyte, who holds wins over the likes of Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin, insists he would relish an explosive showdown with Fisher, who has 12 knockouts in his 15 victories.

“He’s a bit erratic and he’s open in lots of areas but he’s dangerous,” said Whyte. “He’s swinging big punches, a big man, and he hits hard so yeah, I think it would be an exciting fight while it lasts.”

Asked about Fisher’s biggest threat, Whyte added: “Big overhand rights really. That’s it really, but I’ve fought the best of my generation. The reason this fight attracts me is because it’s dangerous. My last fight lasted a round so people could be thinking I’m washed up and finished now so let them run with that.

“I don’t mind being a stepping stone because you need a stepping stone to step somewhere else. Let’s go. They want to fight me. I was at home relaxing, they offered me out, so let’s get it on.”

Nelson warns Fisher about Whyte threat

Sky Sports expert Johnny Nelson has warned that Whyte could be ‘too much’ for Fisher.

“No he can’t [keep having fights like that],” Nelson told Sky Sports.

“I spoke to Dillian Whyte, who is kind of looking at being a potential opponent for Johnny Fisher.

“I think Dillian knows too much for him, regardless of what stage of his career he’s at.

“They need to think smartly, matchmaking him, if they want to get him to a British title attempt.

“I wouldn’t put him in with Dillian Whyte, because Dillian knows too much.

“He’s strong, he’s rugged and he’s experienced.”

Zuffa Boxing returns when Chris Billam-Smith fights Cheavon Clarke on November 7 live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free on NOW