Johnny Fisher will fight Ukraine’s Andrii Rudenko on September 28, on the undercard of Dalton Smith’s European junior-welterweight title fight with Jon Fernandez.

Smith and Fernandez will contest the vacant EBU title at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, and by the time they do so the popular Fisher, 25, will have fought Rudenko – a proven professional who has previously been matched with other heavyweight prospects.

Jared Anderson, Hughie Fury and Agit Kabayel are among those Rudenko has fought – in August 2023 Anderson became only the second to stop the 40 year old – and Fisher, who recorded his 12th victory in 12 fights when in July inside a round he stopped Alen Babic, may even encounter his first true test.

Promoters Matchroom have also confirmed that Rhiannon Dixon will make the first defence of her WBO lightweight title against Terri Harper, and a super-bantamweight fight between Peter McGrail and Brad Foster.

“Andrii Rudenko will be my toughest test to date,” said Fisher. “Proven to be a warrior at the elite level – he will test my mettle. I’m ready.”

Dixon, 29, won the vacant 135lbs title when in April she outpointed Karen Elizabeth Carabajal. The 27-year-old Harper lost for the second time in March, to Sandy Ryan. 

Also scheduled is a lightweight fight between Cameron Vuong and Joe Underwood Hughes, and further fights for Giorgio Visioli, Ibraheem Sulaimaan, Brandon Scott, Josh Babb, and Connan Murray.