ANYONE FOR PUNCH?
Boxer Rankin on her amazing journey from serving drinks at SECC to headline act at Hydro
HANNAH RANKIN admits it’s been a heck of a journey to get to headlining the Hydro – even if it’s only actually been a couple of hundred yards.
The Scottish super welterweight queen is preparing to lay her WBO and IBO titles on the line against Mexican ace Alejandra Ayala on Friday as she becomes the first female fighter to top a major bill in the iconic venue.
And it will be extra special for Rankin, 31, who revealed she used to pull pints in the bars when the big gigs were in the SECC next door.
She worked just a hop and skip away during her student days when she was training to be a classical bassoon player.
Back then Rankin would never have dreamed for a second she would be appearing on the biggest stage – especially not as a boxer.
But her whirlwind rise to the top of the fight game has taken her on an incredible journey and into the record books this week. Rankin will walk out in front of 5000 fans on Friday and she admits it will be a moment to pinch herself.
The champion said: “It’s a dream come true.
“It’s a bit surreal and if you’d said to me six years ago when I was starting out I’d headline a female world title fight at the Hydro I’d have thought you were having a laugh.
“People don’t know this but when I was studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland I actually had a part-time job at the SECC.
“I worked in the bars for the concerts, with bands like the Arctic Monkeys and so on. I’d have been pouring out the stale beer at the end of the night.
“To go from that to headlining the Hydro next door is insane. It’s been a mad journey and I would never have thought it at the time.
“I was still studying for my musical career but to go there as a world boxing champion is crazy.”
Rankin is determined the Hydro show is not a oneoff – she aims to make the boxing bear pit her own back yard.
And the two-weight world champion said: “The dream is to make this my home now.
“I love Glasgow, this is my city. I love being home. I’ve boxed all around the world but this is special.
“Scottish fight fans are something else and to make this venue my home would just be incredible.”
Rankin has been blown away by the public response to her fight – with very few tickets now remaining.
And she admitted she’s determined to reward the punters by putting on a show this week.
Rankin said: “Women’s boxing has had an astronomical rise in recent years.
“It became apparent to me at the public workout, I was overwhelmed with the support I got and it was great to see so many people supporting Scottish boxing.
“I have little girls asking for my autograph and telling me they have my poster on their walls. That’s just amazing and it means the world to me.
“This is what I use as fuel. This why I work so hard.”
The huge interest also brings added expectation.
But Rankin is refusing to take her eyes off the big prizes as she’s out to deal with Ayala and then take over the entire super welterweight division.
The dream is to make this my home venue now HANNAH RANKIN
Rankin said: “There’s always pressure. But I always say pressure is a privilege – you wouldn’t feel that if you hadn’t worked hard to get to this situation.
“I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m ready to showcase it all – and put Scotland on the map.
“There are so many huge fights to be made in this division. There is Natasha Jones in an all-UK unification fight but there are plenty of other exciting fights out there.
“But I am super focused on Friday and that’s all I can think about right now.”