EMMA MCCULLOCH said she was "buzzing" after ensuring her professional boxing career began with a victory on Saturday night.

The talented 27-year-old, from Lochgelly, stepped on to the canvas for the first time since deciding to leave the amateur ranks last year to face Bulgarian fighter Teodora Hristova, in Glenrothes.

Glenrothes Boxing Club star Emma, a four-time Boxing Scotland Elite Championship women's light flyweight 48kg champion, was one of the big names on the card that featured John McCallum – who was fighting for the Celtic Light Heavyweight title – Elaine Greenan and Eftychia Kathopouli.

Although she admitted to feeling nerves in the build-up to the bout, Emma, who last year was shortlisted for the Sporting Champion of the Year accolade at the Times Community Champion of the Year Awards, showcased her class to win on points by unanimous decision.

"It felt like my first fight as an amateur again," she told Times Sport this week.

"Elaine and Effy already had four and two professional fights each so they knew what it was all about. They said to me that it'd feel like any other fight, but that I would be buzzing after, and they were totally right!

"I felt ok until I got to the venue at the Gilvenbank Hotel, and then nerves started to kick-on. I felt more pressure because it was my own show, and a lot of people bought tickets to come and see me, but it worked well in the end.

"It was a pretty good performance. There are a couple of things that I need to work on, which my coach knows, but I knew I would win the fight. I was happy, especially with it being my first one, and Stevie (McGuire, Emma's coach) was happy too.

"I had no headguard, and that did play on my mind a little bit, because it was my first experience of that. But once you get in there you totally forget that; you're concentrating on the person in front of you, and I didn't feel like the shots were harder or hurt any more than normal.

"She (Hristova) has had 12 professional fights and has boxed two or three girls in England. Even if the record isn't great, she's still experienced, is a strong girl and older than me."

Emma, who wished to thank her sponsors, Diamond Fitness in Lochgelly, is likely to have another show in May, and added: "This year my focus is on getting more experience.

"I'm still fighting over four rounds, so maybe I can go up to six or eight, but in the long-term, hopefully I can get a title fight."