Social-media star dad keeping Fisher 'level-headed'

Johnny Fisher is hoping to fight again next month

Boxer Johnny Fisher has thanked his social-media star dad for keeping him "level-headed and grounded" as he looks to make his way up the heavyweight rankings.

Fisher stopped Alen Babic in 36 seconds at London's Copper Box Arena last weekend and is now unbeaten in 12 fights as a professional.

His father, 'Big' John Fisher, has 44,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel and also posts videos on TikTok, many about his love for Chinese food.

"He praises me, he promotes me, but in private he tells me what the truth is and I think that's what a good dad does - tell you the truth at all times," Fisher told BBC Essex.

"He knows what's best for you and you've got to listen. If you get in there and you haven't trained properly or cut corners, gone out too late one night, it will show, and my dad is on me.

"I don't drink at all, but if I'm out till nine o'clock, 10 o'clock on a Friday or Saturday night, I'll have that text or phone call saying 'you should be at home resting'.

"All them little 1% and 2% can make all the difference when it comes to fight night."

Fisher, nicknamed The Romford Bull, had his first professional contest at Wembley in February 2021, stopping Matt Gordon.

He won the vacant Southern Area heavyweight title in his 10th fight last summer when opponent Harry Armstrong's corner threw in the towel at London's O2 Arena.

"My dad's helped me massively, not just because of the celebrity status he's carved out out of nowhere, quite miraculously," Fisher said.

"Before that he was helping just sell my tickets and dealing with people and their requests and doing it all by pen and paper from my front room - the old school way - he was just helping me in the background."

'You have to be humble'

Despite the mutual love of Chinese food, Fisher is now observing a strict diet and since the Babic fight plans to get "straight back on to healthy living" as he looks to return to the ring next month, possibly in Manchester.

"I know how difficult this sport is, I know how humble you have to be because heavyweight boxing is a case of anything can happen at any time," he said.

"Although I had a hard training camp, it was only a 30-second fight and I want to keep nice and active."

As his own reputation in the ring grows, he still has a way to go to rival his dad who Fisher thinks is "probably the most famous man in Essex at this point".

He added: "Whenever we walk around anywhere, we can't have a minute without him getting recognised. But it's brilliant because he's worked hard all his life.

"We set up a business selling meat door to door during Covid lockdown and they were tough times, my dad had the stress and strain of that.

"He's still working, not earning a fortune, but he gets to do things in more of a fun way - doing DJ sets in Australia, for example, unbelievable stuff."

Johnny Fisher was talking to BBC Essex's Ian Wyatt.