EMMA McCULLOCH has paid tribute to an "amazing" home crowd ahead of continuing her efforts to qualify for the Commonwealth Games this weekend.

The Lochgelly boxer was the star attraction at the Glenrothes Boxing Club show, held at the town hall on January 20, and she delighted her huge army of fans by claiming yet another victory.

The event – was the first of its kind to be held in Lochgelly for decades – was a massive success, with a sell-out crowd of 250 watching Emma defeat Nicole Ryan, from the O'Dell's Gym, in Birmingham, over three, three minute rounds.

There is more action to come this weekend for the talented fighter when she jets out to Sweden for the all-female Golden Girl Championship, a competition that she believes will be an important step in her bid to represent Scotland next year.

Emma, the current Boxing Scotland Novice Championship elite women title belt holder at both 51kg her regular weight of 48kg, previously told the Times that her ambition is to make the squad for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and believes this weekend will go a long way to helping her achieve that aim.

She said: "This is one of the bigger tournaments with some of the best female boxers in Europe, so I am super excited about this one! This tournament will also be a good stepping stone towards possible qualification for the Commonwealth Games next year.

"It won't be easy but I'm working hard and am prepared to do all I can to get there."

On fighting in her home town, Emma added: "Our show was a successful one and, although we expected it to be a sell-out, I didn't expect there to be so many people there to support the show. The venue was packed; it was really exciting!

"The crowd was amazing throughout my performance but I found I had to try and remain extra focused in order to not get sucked in with the atmosphere!

"I fought Nicole Ryan from O'Dell's Community Pride ABC in Birmingham. It's the third time I have boxed Nicole - once at the Chairman's Box Cup, Liverpool, and the other at the O'Dell's Boxing Show in Birmingham - and after winning both those contests, I knew that Nicole would be prepared for the fight.

"I felt I had done enough the first and second round, maintaining the centre of the ring, however, I did feel tired in the third round. I had to dig very deep and I got the decision."

Her coach Stevie McGuire says that he can't see any reason why she shouldn't be in the frame for the Gold Coast, commenting: "She has to meet the criteria but I think she'll go; there shouldn't be another female who can take her place. She must be on 11-12 fights now and she's been fighting decent opponents. By the time the Commonwealth Games comes round, she'll have boxed double the opponents."