Johnny Fisher says TikTok famous dad is getting more attention despite strong start to boxing career

Johnny Fisher was not accompanied by a rich amateur pedigree as he set off on the long road to professional boxing glory. Nor was he carrying the weight of a legendary family name which guaranteed bums on seats before a punch had even been thrown.

Yet still, just four fights into his pro career, and with 14 contests under his belt altogether, the 22-year-old heavyweight from Romford is generating unprecedented levels of popularity and attention for a fighter of novice rank.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant his debut, a ferocious knockout of journeyman Matt Gordon, was staged in the eerie surroundings of a desolate Wembley Arena last year. The next victory also came behind closed doors, this time at Manchester Arena, while the third was boxed in front of VIP attendees at Matchroom’s Fight Camp festival in Brentwood.

Johnny Fisher is gaining unprecedented popularity despite his lack of boxing experience

Johnny Fisher is gaining unprecedented popularity despite his lack of boxing experience

However, it was the fourth outing at London’s O2 Arena where Fisher offered promoter Eddie Hearn, whose eyes were left glowing with pound signs, an encouraging glimpse of the box-office draw he could eventually become with the right nurturing and guidance.

Unheard of for a newcomer in the sport, Fisher sold close to 1,400 tickets off his own back in the 20,000-seater venue. The noise of his travelling support was deafening as he embarked on his ring walk and saluted the crowd before beating Spain’s Alvaro Terrero to a pulp. 

And this Saturday night at Alexandra Palace, there will be 2,000 members of the Romford Bull army roaring him to victory against another Spaniard in Gabriel Enguema.

‘I think people in Essex really get behind you and it’s testament to my family who have been supporting me,’ Fisher tells Sportsmail.

Fisher's first three victories came behind closed doors and in front of a small VIP crowd

Fisher’s first three victories came behind closed doors and in front of a small VIP crowd

But the 22-year-old sold an incredible 1,400 tickets for his fourth outing at the O2 Arena

But the 22-year-old sold an incredible 1,400 tickets for his fourth outing at the O2 Arena

He has sold around 2,000 tickets for his clash with Gabriel Enguema this weekend

He has sold around 2,000 tickets for his clash with Gabriel Enguema this weekend

‘Obviously I’ve got to get the job done as well. I’ve had four fights and four knockouts, that’s exciting, that’s what people want to watch. So as long as that continues, the support will continue.

‘But I know the people around my area, I know a lot of them. The 2,000 odd people that are coming [on Saturday], I know most of them. I know that sounds ridiculous but they’re friends of friends and stuff like that.

‘It’s really snowballed over this past year and I’m really grateful for the support that I’ve received.’

While his amateur schooling was minuscule, Fisher was not entirely obscure upon entrance to the big leagues. The youngster, championed at the time by then-manager Sam Jones, had held his own in sparring with world-level heavyweight Joe Joyce and impressed enough to earn the professional backing of Hearn’s Matchroom promotion.

Heavyweight icons Tyson Fury, who he has sparred with in the past, and Lennox Lewis were on hand with supportive messages ahead of his bow against Gordon. Despite taking place in an empty venue, he could still feel the pressure as a result.

‘The debut itself was quite nerve wracking,’ he admits. ‘The eeriness of the Covid bubble, walking around in the same place as your opponent, and it was also the fact that I was a bit of an unknown.

‘I’m still an unknown now, but Sam Jones was bigging me up, I had Tyson Fury shouting me out, Lennox Lewis… there was a lot of pressure on myself and I had to deal with that.

Fisher burst onto the professional scene with a mere 10 amateur fights under his belt

Fisher burst onto the professional scene with a mere 10 amateur fights under his belt

Lennox Lewis was the undisputed heavyweight king

Tyson Fury is the WBC heavyweight champion

Before doing so he received messages of support from Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury

‘I showed that I had the power and I had the raw ingredients, and every time since then I’ve put on a decent-ish performance.

‘It’s getting a little bit easier, but the nerves never go and I’m glad that they don’t, because they show that I care and that I want to do well.’

After getting up and running in an unusually peaceful environment, Fisher was met with the polar opposite when he took to the ring against Terrero. As he emerged at the O2, his troop of supporters whipped up a boisterous atmosphere likened by Hearn to an early Anthony Joshua fight.

‘In the ring walk I was just soaking it all up because it was surreal,’ he recalls.

‘I thought I’d walk out and there would be a little section of my supporters, because the O2’s a big stadium. But I walked out and it was like no noise I’d ever heard before, and it was so noisy because I know most of them people.

He brought an army of 1,400 fans to the O2 for his fourth outing against Alvaro Terrero

He brought an army of 1,400 fans to the O2 for his fourth outing against Alvaro Terrero

Fisher says walking out in front of his travelling supporters from Essex was a 'surreal' moment

Fisher says walking out in front of his travelling supporters from Essex was a ‘surreal’ moment

Eddie Hearn likened the noise generated by his fans to an early Anthony Joshua fight night

Eddie Hearn likened the noise generated by his fans to an early Anthony Joshua fight night

‘They’re my family, they’re my friends or they’re friends of friends, and that’s what makes my journey a little bit special I think. They’re people that I’ve known and grown up with for most of my life and they’ve really got behind me.

‘When you’re walking out and there’s people there that genuinely care about you, I don’t think it makes you more nervous, I think it actually inspires you. So I’m elated and grateful for the support that I’ve been getting so far.’

Fisher is the one putting his body and pride on the line when he steps through the ropes, yet he is not the only star of the show. Another driving force behind his early rise to prominence comes in the shape of dad ‘Big John’ Fisher.

Since his son burst onto the scene, Fisher Sr has amassed his own legion of fans on social-network platform TikTok simply by shouting the catchphrase ‘BOSH!’ and documenting his unparalleled love for Chinese food.

Johnny is not the only star of the Fisher show, with dad 'Big John' also gaining an army of fans

Johnny is not the only star of the Fisher show, with dad ‘Big John’ also gaining an army of fans

The TikTok channel, set up by youngest son Will (willbatross), has received over seven million views and demonstrates the appeal of the Fisher family as a whole.

Big John has become such an internet sensation, in fact, that he is now carrying out meet-and-greet events at universities across the country.

‘He’s got four dates lined up,’ Fisher says. ‘He’s got one next week in Bristol. It’s amazing what a big man eating Chinese can do!

‘I think it’s just because he’s real. People value real people and my dad doesn’t mince his words, he doesn’t dress anything up, he’s just who he is and people can relate to that. He’s a relatable guy having a Chinese on a Saturday night. Millions of people around the country have their Chinese on a Saturday night. He’s just a manifestation of that that people can look and relate to.

‘My brother started filming him eating Chinese and then it’s blown up from that. He’s got hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of likes, it’s just relatable stuff. There’s little clips of what our family do, my mum’s on it, my brother’s on it. People just seem to be interested in what we get up to.

Big John's love for Chinese and 'Bosh' catchphrase has garnered seven million views on TikTok

Big John’s love for Chinese and ‘Bosh’ catchphrase has garnered seven million views on TikTok

‘There’s never a dull moment in our house, so it’s entertainment for people.’

He then adds: ‘I’d say my dad gets recognised more than me. If we go out of the area, we were in Cornwall once having fish and chips, and someone walked round the corner and went ‘Bosh! That’s the TikTok man, can we have a picture?’ It’s mental.

‘TikTok is amazing how it can send things viral. Something as simple as a man eating food, enjoying a bit of Kung Po prawns. It’s mental how it can blow up.’

So with Big John revelling in his newfound TikTok fame, there begs one question: what does mum make of it?

‘You can imagine there’s a few sighs going on, but she knows it’s all tongue and cheek,’ Fisher laughs. ‘His newfound fame can get on her nerves a little bit.

Matchroom's recent 'Gogglebosh' documentary gave a glimpse of life in the Fisher household

Matchroom’s recent ‘Gogglebosh’ documentary gave a glimpse of life in the Fisher household

‘Last night at Oxford, he must have had pictures with about 150 different women. He’s becoming a bit of a player as well! He’s behaving himself, but he’s becoming a bit of an icon for the ladies.’

Not only is he an endearing and humble personality in his own right, the Johnny Fisher package also includes a down-to-earth family that ordinary people can relate to. Matchroom’s recent ‘Gogglebosh’ documentary, which aired on their YouTube channel earlier this month, gave viewers an enjoyable glimpse of life in the Fisher household and ended with Big John placing a mammoth Chinese order for the entire crew.

For all the attention he is garnering early on in his career, Fisher was reminded by the current heavyweight champion of the world to not lose sight of the most important part of his life.

‘I talk to Tyson Fury every now and then. He’s a really down to earth guy,’ he says.

Fury advised Fisher to always keep your family close on the journey to boxing stardom

Fury advised Fisher to always keep your family close on the journey to boxing stardom

He gives me good advice and speaks a lot about keeping your family close, because they’re the people that really care about you and it makes perfect sense.

‘I look at him and the relationship he has with his dad, it speaks for itself about having your family around you. It’s a very important thing.’

Nevertheless, there is one last pivotal question which needs answering ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Enguema at Ally Pally. Will it be a Chinese to celebrate?

‘Bloody hell,’ Fisher laughs. ‘Is the Pope Catholic?’

source: dailymail.co.uk