Dillian Whyte saw an opening after Johnny Fisher labored to a majority decision over Michael Pirotton on Saturday. Fisher looked exhausted after his Zuffa Boxing debut and went to a hospital for precautionary checks before being cleared. Whyte promptly called for the fight. The harder question is whether Zuffa should pay to make it.
“I’d fight Johnny Fisher, and I’d knock him out,” Whyte told Sky Sports.
Fisher’s struggles make that an easy challenge to issue. Pirotton lasted ten rounds and forced Fisher to work well beyond his early bursts of power. Whyte would expect to press him inside, attack the body, and test whether his stamina holds up.
Whyte represents real danger for Fisher despite looking faded in recent outings. Fisher often leaves his chin unprotected when he throws that looping right hand, inviting Whyte to land his trademark left hook. That single punch is Whyte’s main world-class asset, and he still has it in his arsenal.
That makes his asking price the deciding factor. Whyte would likely want a large purse for a domestic fight with Fisher. Zuffa would be paying for a familiar name coming off a defeat, while taking the chance that Fisher loses to a fighter with limited value as a long-term investment.
At a modest price, the matchup might be worth considering. At a large one, Zuffa has a better use for Fisher’s next fight: a younger opponent, preferably one ranked in the top 15, who can test his stamina and defense while moving him toward the division’s contenders. Fisher needs that kind of progress after Pirotton. Whyte needs a comeback payday. Zuffa does not have to treat those needs as the same thing.
Whyte got accustomed to massive paydays with Matchroom, pay-per-view guarantees against Tyson Fury, and made millions over the years. He might accept the B-side label against Fisher, but Zuffa would still have to meet his price. That price, rather than his pride alone, is what could kill the fight.
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