FREEDOM FIGHTER
Rankin planning world titles win — and a campaign for women boxers in Africa
WHEN a journey begins by walking in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, even entering the correctional facilities in which he was held for a large stage of his life, it is only natural that achieving emancipation for others should be the end target.
Hannah Rankin’s primary focus right now is on seeing off Swedish opponent Maria Lindberg on Friday night to capture the WBA and IBO world super-welterweight titles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
However, the Scot is acutely aware that becoming a double world champion would put her in a strong position to build upon a special project she helped start 6,000 miles away in South Africa back in March.
Rankin boxed an eightrounder against local champion Kholosa Ndobayini inside Cape Town’s tough Pollsmoor Prison, where Mandela was held for six years after being transferred from Robben Island in 1982, as part of a link-up intended to make it easier for African fighters to earn a living and make a name outside their own countries.
Rankin has heard all sorts of stories of female boxers there being ripped off by managers they didn’t even know they had, coming away from shows with almost no pay at all. She sees swathes of talent given no opportunity to showcase their skills to a wider audience or use the sport to change their lives.
And the 31-year-old, raised on a farm outside the tranquil Loch Lomond-side village of Luss, knows going back there on top of the world will only give her a better platform from which to fight for the rights of her contemporaries, give them the freedom to box abroad and raise the overall profile of women in the fight game in Africa.
‘When I told my dad I was going to be fighting in a prison over there in March, he wasn’t best pleased, as you can imagine,’ smiled Rankin. ‘Inside Pollsmoor, though, there is a section where the warders and the guards have on-site housing and there is a venue for sports events.
‘That’s where the boxing was set up. At first, I was asking: “Are we going to be watched by all the inmates? This is going to be an interesting one”. However, we were in a separate area inside the prison.
‘I knew before we went that Mandela had been there, but I didn’t get the chance to do much of the cultural stuff as we were in a fight bubble because of Covid.
‘I ended up staying in Cape Town for four days extra, though, and my goal is to get back there when things are more open. I went back to the gym to hang out with the guys there and it was a great place. I’d love to go back there to fight and continue raising the profile of boxing for women in Africa. It would be even better to go back as a two-time world champion.
‘Being world champion is special. It means everything to me. As a world champion, you have responsibilities. You should aim to be an inspiration to other fighters, to young people coming through — guys and girls — and you should try to make change in the sport. You have a voice and you should use it. I take it very seriously.’
Rankin’s involvement in that 10-fight show, featuring contests involving men and women, came about through her Glasgow-based manager Sam Kynoch forging an ambitious link-up with promotions firm Fight Africa.
‘The plan is for our fighters to fight over there and theirs to come and fight here, to make a connection with Africa — because there is some amazing talent there,’ explained Rankin. ‘The problem many of them have is getting visas to leave and compete abroad. The hope is that this will give them someone here to vouch for them.
‘I jumped at Sam’s invitation to be part of that show because I thought it could also help shine a light on all the great female talent there that we never get to see.
‘I was fighting a two-time South African champion and we were fight of the night. Indeed, the promoter said that he’d be putting female fighters on his cards regularly because of it — and he has been good to his word.
‘There are a lot of female fighters in Africa, but the problem is they are not very well represented. Often, they have four managers they don’t even know about all trying to get a bit of the cake.
‘Half the time, I don’t think the girls see the money, so I was determined when I went there to ensure we knew everything about the opponent and that she had everything in place to get paid properly.
‘I’ve got a good name in the boxing world now and they were really excited to have me in South Africa, meeting other female fighters. I wanted to go back and fight again in May, but they went into a third lockdown and other opportunities came up which led to me having this world title shot on Friday.
‘If I can go back there with these belts I am fighting for, though, I am sure it would help raise the profile of the sport and the girls in it.’
Rankin was supposed to be fighting another eight-rounder in July on an outdoor show at Hamilton Accies’ Fountain of Youth Stadium. Instead, she is now competing to become world champion inside Spurs’ sensational £1billion arena.
‘The stadium is just insane,’ she beamed. ‘I have been shown around the place and, obviously, Anthony Joshua sold it out. My fans can sit in the warmth of the Banqueting Hall, though, and have a drink.’
Rankin held the IBO super-welter title in 2019, losing it to Swede Patricia Berghult on a night to forget in Malta. She is desperate to get it back, even though it does not enjoy the reputation of other
more-established belts,
The girls are ripped off by managers they didn’t even know they had
and is happy it is coming with the WBA strap, too.
‘It will shut up all those who go on about the big four. You know, the ones who sit at home and never get into a boxing ring themselves,’ said Rankin, who has previously lost WBA challenges in higher weight divisions to Claressa Shields and Alicia Napoleon.
‘The WBA is one of the big four and I want to get my hands on it, but the fact the IBO title has come up is an blessing. It is my old title and I’ll be very happy to get it back.
‘It is as viable and meaningful as the WBA, WBC, WBO or IBF titles. Anthony Joshua and Floyd Mayweather have held IBO titles. That’s not a bad roll call.’
On Friday, Rankin meets an opponent in Lindberg, aged 44, who is surely in the Last Chance Saloon, having lost a number of world-title bouts in the past. It is something not lost on the Scot.
‘I feel this is her last opportunity for a full world title and I know exactly what she’ll be bringing. It is all or nothing for her,’ said Rankin.
‘This is not going to be short of fun as a bout, but I am convinced I will be bringing those titles back to Scotland.’