Hannah Rankin eyes up Battle of Britain bout after Hydro title defence

Scottish fighter Hannah Rankin says she’s ready for a Battle of Britain fight with Natasha Jonas after a historic homecoming win at the Hydro.

The 31-year-old retained her WBA and IBO super-welterweight titles with a 10th round stoppage of Mexican opponent Alejandra Ayala.

Rankin became the first female fighter to headline a major fight card in Scotland.

Now Rankin, from Luss, is looking to take on other champions to unify her belts.

She said: “I’ve got two of the belts, I want all five of them. Whatever is next will be down to my team, but right now I’m going to enjoy this moment, a history making moment.

“Natasha Jonas she’s got the WBO super-welterweight world title, Marie Eve Dicaire she’s got the IBF.

“Currently, Patricia Berghult’s got the WBC so I know all the girls who have got the belts in my division shouldn’t be too hard to make a fight with one of them happen.”

After the fight on Friday night, Natasha Jonas tweeted congratulations to Hannah Rankin – but said she would like the clash to be in her hometown of Liverpool.

Hannah says it would be a great fight: “It’s two British boxers in the same division. Obviously Scotland versus England.

“It would be really fantastic for women’s boxing as well because you don’t normally have two boxers in the same division in the same country.

“I want to fight at home infront of my fans, I want to make the Hydro my home, any Scottish boxer would it’s a fantastic arena.

“But at the end of the day everyone knows me I’ve fought all over the world. Put the ring up, let’s go.”

Hannah is taking a break to go to South Africa as part of an outreach programme for women and girls in sport, in association with the social enterprise Boxwise.