Johnny Fisher splits from coach Mark Tibbs after knockout loss to Dave Allen


Johnny Fisher has announced โ€œwith a heavy heartโ€ that he is parting ways with coach Mark Tibbs, as the heavyweight aims to bounce back from his first professional loss.

In May, Fisher was knocked out by Dave Allen in the fifth round of their rematch, five months after beating the British veteran via a controversial decision.

After an unconvincing performance in their first fight and a one-sided loss in their second meeting, Fisher has decided to seek a new trainer โ€“ a decision, he says, that Tibbs agrees with.

โ€œIt is with a heavy heart that after almost five years of being on this professional journey together, me and Mark have decided to part ways,โ€ Fisher wrote on Instagram Monday (21 July).

โ€œBoxing is the toughest sport in the world, and to continue I feel I need a fresh start to get the best out of myself.

โ€œMe and Mark have made some special memories and reached some milestones in my career that many thought we never would achieve.

โ€œMore importantly than all of this though is the friendship we have gained, and to know that I have Mark and Jimmy in my life and to be able to call them both friends is an honour. Thank you for everything.โ€

Johnny Fisher (right) with his now-former coach Mark Tibbs

Johnny Fisher (right) with his now-former coach Mark Tibbs (Getty Images)

Fisher, 26, was referring to Tibbsโ€™s father Jimmy, who is also a respected coach in boxing.

Prior to losing to Allen at Londonโ€™s Copper Box arena, Fisher went 13-0 with 11 knockout wins. In the same venue, in July 2024, he stopped Alen Babic in 36 seconds.

Fisher was dropped three times by Dave Allen across two fights, winning the first on points but losing the second via stoppage

Fisher was dropped three times by Dave Allen across two fights, winning the first on points but losing the second via stoppage (Getty Images)

But in December, on the undercard of Tyson Furyโ€™s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, Fisher was floored by Allen in the fifth round of a back-and-forth contest, before ultimately emerging as a split-decision winner over his former sparring partner.

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And in their rematch, Allen again dropped the โ€œRomford Bullโ€ in the fifth round โ€“ two times on this occasion. As Fisher tried to recover from the second knockdown, his corner threw in the towel.

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