Tauranga cruiserweight James Emerson is hopeful a strong showing before being stopped in the final round of his first-round Super 8 Fight Night bout will open doors throughout Australasia.
Emerson, who accepted a place in the eight-man elimination tournament on short notice, looked to be on his way to anupset against top New Zealand cruiserweight Monty Filimaea, before a brutal right hand changed the fight early in the third round.
"I won the first two rounds and then, in the third, I got caught," a matter-of-fact Emerson said yesterday.
"I felt fine and really fit for this event, it was just unfortunate that I got tagged. Otherwise I would have advanced on to the next round."
Emerson won the first round but Filimaea gradually made his presence felt in the second before landing the huge right hand in the third.
Emerson said: "It was great to be part of an event at a higher level with the best boxers in Australasia in that division.
"It was disappointing to lose in that fashion but ... I showed everyone that I deserved to be in the tournament and that I'm a boxer. I think I earned a lot of respect."
The young professional is in discussions with his manager about a fight in Queensland next month, while a national cruiserweight title fight may also be in the works against Filimaea.
