DREAM HOMECOMING FOR WORLD CHAMPION HANNAH RANKIN
Scotland’s Hannah Rankin gets a dream return to her homeland on Saturday April 23 when she makes the first defence of her World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Super Welterweight Titles – with all the action broadcast LIVE and FREE on Fightzone.
Glasgow’s iconic Braehead
Arena will be the venue as Hannah gets a lively Mexican
test against Alejandra Ayala – who has won 14 of 19,
including eight KOs.
Rankin – Scotland’s first
ever female world champion – is one of Britain, and the world’s, best women
fighters. A two-time and now double world title holder, the 31-year-old
is in career best form after beating Swedish veteran Maria
Lindberg in November last year to claim the vacant belts.
Ayala, 33, is no stranger to
British fight fans, having visited the UK previously, suffering defeat to
middleweight star Savannah Marshall in 2018. More
tellingly though, she has also been the distance twice – sharing 18 rounds –
with current IBF World Super Welterweight Champ, Marie
Eve Dicaire from Canada.
Now 11-5 (2), Hannah cannot
afford any slip ups against Ayala, with some huge unification bouts seemingly
on the horizon. As well as IBF ruler Dicaire; the division is now red hot
after fellow Brit Natahsa Jonas claimed the WBO portion of the
world title with a two round KO of Uruguay’s Chris
Namus at the weekend.
Ahead of the announcement, Hannah says she is ecstatic to be
fighting in Scotland against Ayala, and believes she has the beating of
Liverpudlian Jonas if the unification fight can be made.
“I’m
really excited about fighting Ayala. I’ve always wanted to fight a
Mexican, and it’s a bit of a running joke that I fight like a Scottish-Mexican,
so it’s a great match and will be an exciting fight for the fans to
watch. She’s a good opponent to share a ring with, has lots of
experience with the people she’s fought, but she won’t have come up against
anything like me, so it’s going to be great to watch.
“This
is a good solid opponent for my first world title defence. She’s been the
distance twice with Marie Dicaire who has the IBF at 154 [lbs] and that’s a
title I’d love to get my hands on.
“It
was also a great performance from Natasha at the weekend, and I’m really happy
for her and Joe [Gallagher] that she’s finally got her hands on a world
title. I wasn’t expecting her to come up to super welterweight, but it
makes for a good mix. Chris only had two weeks notice and I don’t think
she was happy with her performance but well done to Natasha, you can’t take
anything away from her.
“It’s
exciting to have Natasha in my division and that WBO belt is another that I
want to get my hands on. I’d back myself in that fight, one hundred per
cent. I’m a big 154’er and Natsaha is coming up to the weight, but she
has that Olympic-pedigree and skill set – so it makes the fight even more
exciting. I’m more experienced as a pro, you’ve got England versus
Scotland, everybody would get into it and it would be a great fight for women’s
boxing.
“At
the moment though I’m fully focused on Ayala. To be fighting at the
Braehead Arena, you can’t ask for anything better. A homecoming for my
first defence with two titles on the line, headlining the event and a chance to
showcase my skills – what could be better! I’m helping to put Scotland on
the map, the venue is amazing, there are lots of great Scottish boxers who’ve
fought there before and I’m looking forward to getting all my fans along.
“Fightzone
are doing an absolutely fantastic job of supporting Scottish boxing, they’ve
broadcast shows from all over and this is another great chance for Scottish
boxing to really showcase itself.”
“Scottish
boxing is flying at the moment and I’m not sure it’s ever had as much coverage
as we’ve given it at Fightzone,” said Chief Operating Officer, Asif
Vali. “We’re fully backing Hannah in her career, she’s already
made history by becoming the first ever female world champion ‘North of the
Border’ and it was a great moment in November last year when the Fightzone
cameras captured her winning those two world title belts.
“We’re
delighted to be screening her first defence. The Braehead Arena is a
great venue, the atmosphere will be incredible for her homecoming, and the card
will be stacked with Scottish talent. To top it all off, all the action
can be watched absolutely free – so it really is amazing for boxing fans.”
Tickets will be available from Braehead Arena from Friday March 4th.
Sign up for FREE Fightzone coverage here: https://www.fightzone.uk/signup
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