Gunnedah-based boxer Emylie Murrell is ready to make her debut in the professional ranks.<\/p>\n
A member of Black \u2018n\u2019 Blue gym, the 20-year-old Emylie will step into the ring at the Yagoona-based Arena Sports Club on April 18.<\/p>\n
Natasha Tuuta is scheduled to travel from her native New Zealand to square off with Emylie in the cruiserweight division, with Natasha also making her professional boxing debut.<\/p>\n
While Natasha has had a few amateur boxing bouts in addition to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights such as Muay Thai, Emylie has virtually been fast-tracked into the professional ranks due to a lack of opportunities at amateur level.<\/p>\n
Emylie\u2019s first exhibition fight was at the 2023 instalment of the annual Gunnedah-based Bad Intentions night, before she missed the following year\u2019s Bad Intentions due to injury.<\/p>\n
While Emylie has had five exhibition bouts, her only official amateur bout was at last year\u2019s Bad Intentions when she earned an interstate novice title as she won her battle with Sara Longo.<\/p>\n
Emylie had hoped to have at least one amateur bout in the first three months of this year, but four possible opponents pulled out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would\u2019ve liked to have more (amateur) bouts,\u201d Emylie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to make the step up, but I didn\u2019t think it would be this soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first it felt a bit daunting, but I\u2019ve put in the work and hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to take that next step, and hopefully I\u2019ll get more opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emylie said there would be numerous differences in the professional ranks compared to the amateur ranks, although the bouts would still feature four rounds of two minutes each.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plan will be similar,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUse the first round to work things out, then pick up the pace in the other three and finish strong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Changes which Emylie identified included the use of 10-ounce gloves instead of 16-ounce gloves, and the absence of headgear along with the weigh-in occurring the day before the bout rather than the same day as the bout.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be a lot more aware because you don\u2019t have extra protection,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Emylie said she needed to eat healthily and hydrate as usual, while there was a little extra time to reduce or gain weight in the lead-up to the fight if necessary.<\/p>\n
Emylie continues to train six days each week, including three at the Black \u2018n\u2019 Blue gym.<\/p>\n
Wade Ryan and David \u2018Spike\u2019 Syphers have trained Emylie a lot with the boxing side of things, while Enja Ryan has helped out with strength work.<\/p>\n
With Wade and Enja having won Australian titles in past years, Emylie said \u201cthere\u2019s that opportunity\u201d for her to achieve similar feats \u201cif things go to plan\u201d.<\/p>\n
Emylie nonetheless said she had to take it \u201cone fight at a time\u201d and \u201ccan\u2019t look too far ahead\u201d.<\/p>\n
With Emylie also a motorbike rider, she said she started boxing a few years ago for fitness purposes and didn\u2019t necessarily plan to take up boxing.<\/p>\n
After sparring, she said things \u201ctook off from there\u201d while it was a case of boxing finding her rather than her pursuing something she might have planned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a mental thing,\u201d she said of boxing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be strong mentally, not just physically.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a mind game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the nature of boxing, Emylie said she always respected her opponents because \u201cit takes a lot for anyone to step into the ring\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wade meanwhile said Emylie\u2019s bout on April 18 would be \u201ca really good gauge to see where she\u2019s at\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wade said Emylie had sparred against other Black \u2018n\u2019 Blue boxers at training, while her work ethic and commitment put her in good stead.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the Australian titles at the Gold Coast last year, she sparred against a professional boxer,\u201d Wade said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmylie held her own against her, and took a lot out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an eye-opener and a good confidence booster.\u201d<\/p>\n