Boxing: Aussie bout a big step up for Tauranga boxer

Bay boxer James Emerson has a major fight in Australia on Wednesday night. Photo/Supplied

James Emerson will face the biggest challenge of his short professional boxing career when he fights highly regarded Australian cruiserweight Kane Watts in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Emerson, 30, of Tauranga but who grew up in Scotland, will have his work cut out against Watts, who has won nine of his 11 pro fights and recently went 10 rounds with the current Australia champion Daniel Ammann.

"I want to test myself at that level because in Australia the level of boxing's grown so much," Emerson said. "It is not ideal at this time, as I have only had two pro fights, but I think I am capable.

"I have been boxing since I was a youngster and I have the experience from the amateurs, so I think I can do pretty well."

Emerson, who is trained by his brother-in-law, Grant Storey, out of their home gym, has been regularly sparring in Auckland on the weekends against top fighters Kahu Benson and Robbie Berridge.

Emerson turned pro last year but missed most of the year with a serious shoulder injury. He made his pro debut in a loss against the current New Zealand cruiserweight champion Monty Filimaea in what Emerson says was a controversial fight.

"I never got the decision I probably deserved, but that's boxing. I really think I won that fight. At the very least I should have got a draw."

His second pro fight was against the former captain of the Pakistan Olympic boxing team, Rashid Balik, that Emerson won on points.

Emerson started boxing in Glasgow, Scotland, aged 12, and won the West of Scotland title before moving to Tauranga 14 years ago with his mum, who hails from Mount Maunganui.

He used to train with top Tauranga fighters David Aloua and Gunnar Jackson, and as a heavyweight won the North Island Golden Gloves twice and the New Zealand Golden Gloves.

"The highlight of my amateur career was getting selected in 2009 to represent New Zealand in Tahiti," Emerson said.

"I had two bouts and won both. It was a great experience to go over there."

Emerson juggles fulltime work with training, as do most pro fighters in New Zealand.

He says he has so much to thank his employers for.

"I am so grateful to my boss Bill Ross at BOP Gear Cutters for supporting my boxing and giving me time off. From my amateur days till now they have always been supportive."