The Romford Bull has a huge decision to make.
Johnny Fisher recently became a promotional free agent after his contract with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing expired.
Negotiations over a new deal were believed to be underway before Zuffa Boxing stepped in with a lucrative offer.
Hearn has since addressed the situation as Dana White’s Zuffa close in on another fighter from his stable.
He told iFL TV: “We had a conversation, and he’s received an offer from Zuffa.
“Of which my reply to him will be, ‘Swim, walk, or crawl, to the office, ASAP, and sign that contract with Zuffa Boxing, before they change their mind’.
“Because, I can’t, I just can’t pay, Zuffa could have offered half, what they offered and I couldn’t have matched it.
“Because, Johnny, it’s about the fights. Johnny, feels like, he has to be taking two or three fights, against opposition, that for me, is a co-main event, or is in the middle of the card.
“And, they’re fights that, won’t drive ticket sales, and won’t drive viewership. So, there’s a certain amount of money, available for those fights.
“Zuffa, their offer’s incredible, for the same fights. And Johnny, has to take it.
“Listen, I’d love to carry on with Johnny. And, I think we’ve done an amazing job.
“We’ve had a great run. And now, he’s at the stage of his career, where we saw in the last fight, in Monaco, literally, anything can happen at any moment.
“Take the money, mate. And I’ll be really pleased for him, to see him, take that money. that’s, really, what’s happened.”
What did Johnny Fisher say originally?
Fisher told The Stomping Ground: “I’ve been made an offer by Zuffa or Zaffa, whatever you call it.
“I messaged Eddie last night before my manager put the proposed agreement to him, and I asked him what could be done.
“My manager said that there is a possibility that I don’t even have to give Eddie matching rights to this because of a match that happened in the past… but that’s besides the point.
“It wouldn’t be right to try and challenge that.
“I want to give Eddie the chance to give me something close to that, so let’s see what Eddie comes back with.
“It’s an exciting time for me. The money is one thing, and for the level of fights I’m being asked to have, it’s six or seven times what I’ve been offered by Eddie.
“So I have got to consider it, and I have got to put that to Eddie, surely.”
When asked to share further details, Fisher added: “I’ve been offered a one-fight deal, but it is exceptional money.
“Obviously, I’ve got to consider that because it is a lot higher than I’ve been offered [by Matchroom].”
An update on Fisher’s decision is expected to follow in due course.
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