RANKIN EYES UP A BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Champ targeting unification bout with Jonas
HANNAH RANKIN insists she would love to have a crack at a Battle of Britain clash with England’s Natasha Jonas as she aims to unify the world super-welterweight titles.
Scottish world champion Rankin retained her WBA and IBO belts on Friday night via a final-round stoppage of Mexican Alejandra Ayala at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
It was an historic night for the Luss fighter, who became the first female to headline Scotland’s premier fight venue in front of a crowd of around 4,000.
She quickly turned her eye to a potential bout with Jonas, the impressive Liverpudlian who currently holds the WBO belt. Indeed, Jonas seems keen on the fight as well.
Writing on social media on Friday night, she said: ‘For the record, I want the fight. Let’s make it happen. Congratulations @Team_Rankin. You’ve had your homecoming defence, I’ll happily unify in mine.’
Rankin insisted that she would have no problem travelling to England to face Jonas if necessary, but admitted that she would love to fight again at the Hydro in front of her home fans.
The 31-year-old is now targeting world domination, insisting that she won’t stop until she has unified the division and has all five belts in her possession.
‘It was incredible to do it all at the Hydro,’ said Rankin, who is now heading off to South Africa to do some charity work with the Boxwise Foundation.
‘I’m still a bit overwhelmed at making history for my country. I have to give a massive thanks to my team around me because this is only possible because of them.
‘They took this leap of faith and put me on at the Hydro. The Scottish people got behind me and I’m so proud about that.
‘I’ll have a little bit of a rest and I have some things to sort out. I’ll speak to my team and see where they want to go next.
‘The super-welterweight division is really exciting at the moment. There’s a lot of great names in there. Natasha Jonas has the WBO belt, Marie Dicaire has the IBF and Patricia Berghult has the WBC — I know all the girls, so it shouldn’t be too hard to make a fight with one of them.
‘The Jonas fight is a great fight potentially. Two British boxers, same division, Scotland vs England — everyone likes that fight.
‘It would also be brilliant for women’s boxing as you don’t usually have two fighters in the same division in this country.
‘Obviously I want to fight at home in front of my fans. I want to make the Hydro my home, as any Scottish boxer would.
‘It’s a fantastic arena and a brilliant place to box. But I’ve fought all over the world, so wherever it is, put the ring up and we’ll go.
‘I don’t want that to be a one-off at the Hydro. The energy you get from that is incredible.
‘I’ve got two of the belts and want all five of them. That’s my long-term goal. But I’ll enjoy this moment, a history-making moment.’