The Luss boxer hoping to be world champion

HANNAH RANKIN will set out on the road she hopes will lead her to becoming a world champion for the third time when she returns to the ring later this month.

The Luss boxer’s promoters confirmed this week that she’ll face Tanzania’s Grace Mwakamele in Liverpool on Friday, April 26.

Up for grabs is the WBA continental super-welterweight title as the former Hermitage Academy pupil aims to bounce back after losing out to Eva Kozin for the WBC and WBO world titles in Manchester last November.

Speaking to iFL TV this week, the 33-year-old admitted that family matters overshadowed her preparations for the Kozin fight.

Her gran was taken to hospital in the run-up to the bout and died a few days later, though Rankin was able to return home after the points defeat to be with her gran before she passed away.

Rankin told iFL TV: “I found it very difficult to process the fight because I was also grieving for my gran. I lost on a split decision and it wasn’t my best performance as I wasn’t able to showcase how I wanted to box.

“There were a lot of other things going on but to lose out on so many big opportunities that I was rooting towards was hard to deal with, but at the same time was very muted while the whole family is grieving.”

Rankin has joined forces with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions for the April 26 bout at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, which will be broadcast live on BoxNation TV.

Looking ahead to the fight, she said: “I never come back without a challenge as I like to be in there with good opponents. There is a WBA continental title on the line so I am very excited about that. I am jumping straight back in and I am ready to put on a show.

“I am fully focused on obtaining that third world title to take back to Scotland. That is my dream and my goal so whoever has those titles at the time is who I have got my eye on.”