Liam Williams vs Joe Mullender – challenger likes the odds
Liam Williams (19-2-1) will make a first defence of his British middleweight title against former English and IBF European champion Joe Mullender (11-2) on March 8 at the Royal Albert Hall, live on BT Sport.
The iconic venue steeped in history has only played host to just one professional boxing show in the last 20 years, when Billy Joe Saunders defeated Tony Hill for the vacant Commonwealth title back in April 2012. The Royal Albert Hall return will also see heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois and double Olympic champion Nicola Adams in action.
Welshman Williams was hugely impressive in his move up to middleweight from light-middle when he stepped in to face heavy-handed unbeaten prospect Mark Heffron, now 21-1, for the vacant British middlweight strap when no one else would take the fight. He stopped Heffron in December at the Manchester Arena to become a two-weight British champion and he now looks ahead to his maiden defence against the rugged Essex puncher, who will enjoy the home advantage in London.
Former English champion Mullender recorded a brutal stoppage victory over Ben Capps (15-4-2) last time out in October at the Brentwood Centre, just a stone's throw from his house.
"I think this has got all the makings of an exciting fight and you can see from his style that he always brings it and comes to have a good tear up, so I am looking forward to it," commented 'The Machine' from Clydach Vale, whose only defeats came from world champion Liam Smith.
"I do believe I am a class or two above him to be quite honest, but I also think he will give anyone a decent fight because of his style. He would give most fighters in the world a good fight, however long it lasts, because of the way he approaches fights."
The Brentwood man, known as 'Smokin Joe', won the English title in an epic sequel against Lee Markham in June 2017.
"For me it is all about the British title and I will fight anyone," insisted the hugely popular 32-year-old. "I respect Liam as a fighter, he has done what he's done and is levels above me on paper, but I don't really care who I fight, to be honest.
"It is for the British title and the odds are stacked against me, but that is what I like."
Sharing the bill will be Daniel Dubois, who faces his toughest test to date in the shape of Romanian giant Razvan Cojanu.
The 31-year-old former world title challenger extended Dubois' domestic rival Nathan Gorman to the full 12 round distance in December, having originally been scheduled to fight the young Londoner a week previously before Dubois succumbed to illness.
The 16-5 Cojanu has operated at the highest level and in 2017 he challenged Joseph Parker for the WBO world heavyweight title and faced Luis Ortiz in July of last year.
British sporting royalty Nicola Adams will bid for her crowning moment at the South Kensington concert hall that was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 and first staged a boxing competition in 1918. Adams will challenge the WBO world flyweight champion Arely Mucino, having won the Interim world title in October with a clear cut points victory over Isabel Millan in her fifth professional fight.
The 29-year-old Mexican Mucino holds a record of 27-3-2 and is a three-time world champion, winning the IBF title in 2011 and successfully defending three times before losing a challenge for the WBC belt in 2012. Mucino won the WBO title in February of last year with a majority decision over Monserrat Alarcon before overcoming Maria Salinas via a split decision in September.
'The Pexican' Johnny Garton, who won the British welterweight title in a thriller against Gary Corcoran last October features on the card, along with Welling's Archie Sharp (14-0), who will be making a first defence of his WBO European super-featherweight title against fellow unbeaten talent Lucas Ballingall (11-0).
Tickets are priced from £40. A pre-sale open to members of the Royal Albert Hall’s Friends and Patrons scheme is open from noon on Thursday 17 January, with tickets on general sale from noon on Friday 18 January via RoyalAlbertHall.com
To follow Joe on Twitter, click here @joe_mullender
For tickets to the next fight, please call 07904 719 639
Joe would like to thank his sponsors LMAC Construction, J.Ebsworth Brickwork Services, Grilla Fitness, AB Salute Gym and Agent Tim Rickson
