BBN talks to Joe Mullender about his title ambitions and how he feels fighting on the big stage
Ex-English titlist ‘Smokin’ Joe Mullender (10-2) has had his next fight confirmed for December 9 at the Copper Box Arena in London, live on BT Sport and BoxNation TV.
The stacked show, titled ‘The Boys are Back in Town’, features two world champion headliners in IBF super-middleweight world titleholder James DeGale and IBF featherweight world champ Lee Selby.
Mullender was delighted to have been added to such a big card after five months out of the ring, “It’s worth the wait,” he enthused. “Location couldn’t be better because all my support are from around this way.
“It’s a big venue, almost like a mini stadium and, apart from a big stadium like Wembley, I don’t think you can beat the Copper Box.
“Being on the big stage doesn’t frighten me, that’s why I’m in boxing; it’s where I should be. It’s time now to get the fights, get the titles and earn the money.”
Mullender recently vacated his English championship to challenge for the IBF East/West European middleweight belt on what will be his 13th professional contest.
The 31-year-old from Brentwood stands by his decision to relinquish the English title in favour of the IBF honours, “There’s no point staying at English level and defending the belt when I can go higher.
“I’m going forward, fighting for this IBF belt on a big card. If I stayed at English, then I would have been defending the belt on a smaller card, fighting for less money.
“I don’t want to take the easy options just to say I won the fight. I’d rather the big risks for the big rewards.”
Trained by Jamie Williams at the Legends Gym in Romford, the middleweight will fight over 12-rounds for the IBF title that instantly propels the winner into the top-15 of the International Boxing Federation world rankings, mixed with names such as David Lemiuex, Daniel Jacobs and Jermall Charlo.
His forthcoming opponent is yet to be confirmed as manager Andy Ayling looks to line up a name, “Doesn’t faze me, I’d fight anyone,” he was quick to say. “If you aren’t willing to fight people then you shouldn’t be in this game.
“I’m on weight now so I could fight next week. Now, it’s just about getting fight-fit, making sure I got 12 to 15-rounds in me at a horrific pace.
“To fight in my style, you have to be elite in fitness level, so I’m in the gym three times a day, getting fitter and stronger.
“I win my fights, not on skills, but by breaking people’s hearts.”
The relatively unknown IBF East/West European title was first held by Italian legend Gianfranco Rosi in 2004, a two-time world champion who held the IBF super-welterweight world title for five years.
It will be the first time that the belt has arrived in England having previously been contested in Serbia, Switzerland and Germany.
“I would like to win and defend this IBF belt, but obviously the British title is a big ambition of mine,” asserted Mullender. “My target is to win this fight, have some time off with the family over Christmas and see what comes.
“I think it’s dangerous looking ahead of fights and at things before they’ve happened, so I look to December 9th and nothing more.”
“The Boys are Back in Town”
IBF super-middleweight world champion James DeGale and IBF featherweight world champion Lee Selby both defend their belts on a huge night of boxing at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday 9th December.
DeGale, 31, made history by becoming the first British boxer to win both an Olympic gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and a professional world title when he sensationally beat Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF belt in his own back yard in Brooklyn in May 2015.
‘Chunky’s’ unification fight with WBC champion Badou Jack ended in a majority draw earlier this year in a bout where both world titlists were floored.
The southpaw from St. Albans will now make the first defence of his IBF crown on home soil on a blockbuster night of action also featuring Frank Warren's rising British stars Anthony Yarde and Daniel Dubois.
The co-headliner, undefeated Welshman Lee Selby, won the IBF featherweight title in May 2015 when he defeated Evgeny Gradovich and has gone on to make three successful defences of his crown.
He says he is ready to give IBF mandatory challenger Josh Warrington ‘an educated boxing lesson’ on December 9.
The Barry fighter and the “Leeds Warrior” have been embroiled in a long-running battle of words, with Selby accusing Warrington of ‘bottling’ an opportunity to face him.
The rest of the card is yet to be announced.
