ATTENTION SEEKER
Rankin’s world bid is ying under the radar, writes Elliot Worsell
SCOTLAND’S Hannah Rankin has been a professional boxer for only 14 months, yet on Saturday (August 4), in Uniondale, New York, she will attempt to snatch the WBA super-middleweight title from the hands of champion Alicia Napoleon.
If experience becomes the deciding factor, Rankin, with just six pro fights to her name, could very well be found wanting. But if boxing is about more than just experience – rounds fought, lessons learnt – and has room for yet another Cinderella story, maybe, just maybe, the go-getting 28-year-old from Glasgow is in with a shot.
Certainly, it’s a shot worth taking. Rankin, after all, has struggled sourcing worthy opponents back home and, moreover, has earned this opportunity following a thrashing of the unbeaten Sanna Turunen in June. That win landed Rankin the WBC silver middleweight title, a belt that has recently become noteworthy (for better or worse) in the men’s game, but arrived with a caveat, which was this: the performance, while comprehensive and life-changing, took place at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley, which serves to remind us, once again, that female boxers are having to fight more than one fight in their quest for recognition and respect. Still, take nothing away from Rankin’s victory. In beating Turunen, she went the 10-round distance for the first time as a pro and defeated her first opponent with an impressive winning record – albeit one comprising a mere five fights – and ambition. More importantly, she made a little history and suddenly emerged on the radars of numerous world champions. One of these, Alicia Napoleon, is now all that stands between Rankin, 5-1 (1), and her dream of becoming the new WBA supermiddleweight champion. The brash 32-year-old from New York has been a pro four years, has gone the 10-round distance three times, and last time out dominated Femke Hermans on her way to winning the belt she currently holds. That was a good win, possibly the best of her career. Hermans, undefeated at the time, has since lifted the WBO super-middleweight crown. More revealing, perhaps, and definitely something that will give Rankin hope, is the single defeat on Napoleon’s record. This was administered by the rugged Tori Nelson, recently seen losing decisions to Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer, and was fairly onesided.
But while Napoleon’s level appears to be somewhere short of the elite, the more pertinent question, I suppose, is this: what is Hannah Rankin’s ceiling? Six fights and 14 months as a pro doesn’t sound like ideal preparation for a world title shot, admittedly, but perhaps the stars will align and Rankin, a farmer’s daughter, will show her quality, rise to the occasion, and do everything her limited experience suggests she can’t.
That said, the sensible pick, based on what we know at this stage, has to be Napoleon, 9-1 (5), to successfully retain her title on points.
Topping the Uniondale card is one of those welterweight fights that still carries appeal but would have been a lot more enticing had it occurred a few years ago. I’m talking, of course, about the scheduled 12-rounder between former world belt-holders Devon Alexander and Andre Berto, both of whom need a win to propel them towards some a title shot.
Alexander, still only 31, seems to have been around forever and, of the two, boasts the better recent form. Though inactive, he won a decision over Walter Castillo in 2017, following two years out, and then earlier this year played his part in a hard-fought draw against Victor Ortiz.
Berto, meanwhile, has been similarly flaky. Since losing a 2015 decision to Floyd Mayweather, in fact, the 34-yearold has fought only twice. He won a minor classic against Ortiz in four rounds, and then, last April, was stopped in nine by Shawn Porter.
Form and momentum, then, favours Alexander, 27-4-1 (14). Stylistically, too, his clever southpaw skills should be enough to defuse the more robust approach of Berto, 31-5 (24), over 12 rounds.
THE VERDICT Huge chance for Rankin while atop the bill, surely it’s the end of the line for the loser of Alexander-berto. Kudos to promoter Lou Dibella for building such an enticing fight card.