Former English and IBF European middleweight champion ‘Smokin’ Joe Mullender (11-2) has been backed by J.Ebsworth Brickwork Services to win the British belt on March 8.

The 32-year-old from Brentwood will face the reigning British middleweight Liam Williams (19-2-1) in a maiden defence of his Lonsdale belt live on BT Sport at the historic Royal Albert Hall.

The iconic venue, steeped in history, has 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 in 2012. Almost seven years on and Brentwood boxer Joe Mullender will headline the televised event that also sees double Olympic champion Nicola Adams and heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois in action.

Former employer, Jason Ebsworth, was quick to offer sponsorship support to Joe as soon as the fight was announced by promoter Frank Warren early this year.

He said, “I’ve known Joe for a while and I also train at his RM7 gym in Romford with his trainer Jamie Williams.

“Joe actually worked for me many years ago, so I wanted to support him because he is a local boy doing good, and, being a family business, I wanted to give something back to the local area.

“It would be great for Joe to bring back the British title to Essex and inspire the next generation of boxers in the area.”

The J.Ebsworth branding will feature prominently on Mullender’s fight kit and the company director and many employees will all be seated nearby to support their local boxing hero.

For over two decades, J.Ebsworth Brickwork Services have undertaken numerous projects in the South East, ranging from full supply and fit packages to labour only projects.

The family business specialise in high-end residential brickwork projects, as well as a wide range of other services all across the South East area.

The middleweight ace who won his English title in an epic sequel with Lee Markham in June 2017 said of the partnership, “I’m really pleased Jason has got behind me again. He sponsored me for my IBF European title fight in 2017 and the financial backing helps me enormously. It’s my first time headlining on BT Sport, so I’ve already got my head down, working hard, focusing on what I need to do to win that British title.

“Sponsors allow me to focus on my training and not have any worries playing on my mind, so I can’t thank Jason and his company J.Ebsworth Brickwork Services enough for their support.”

Welshman Williams is a two-weight British champion who’s only losses came at the hands of former world champion Liam Smith. 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 title when no one else would take the fight. He stopped Heffron in December at the Manchester Arena and now looks ahead to his initial defence against the rugged Essex puncher, who will enjoy the home advantage in London.

Mullender also enters the fight off the back of an impressive win when he recorded a brutal stoppage victory over Ben Capps (15-4-2) last October at the Brentwood Centre, just a stone's throw from his house.

Mullender concluded, "For me it is all about the British title and the odds are stacked against me, but that is what I like."

Tickets are priced from £40 and are available via RoyalAlbertHall.com