Scottish welterweight world champion Hannah Rankin has confirmed that she is keen to tackle Natasha Jonas in an all-British unification battle later this 12 months.
Rankin, who was main a wave of success after changing into the WBA and IBO champ at 154 kilos in November, had simply earned her first belts protection – scheduled for Could 13 – she moved to the Hydro Enviornment in Glasgow on account of demand that exceeded availability on the sector. The youngest he was in was initially booked.
Assured of defeating 31-year-old Mexican Alejandra Ayala, she has her eye on a unification bout with Jonas, who grew to become the WBO champ sensationally in February after climbing into three weight divisions.
stated Rankin, who was a part of Sky Sports activities Commentary workforce on Jonas victory.
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Natasha Jonas delivered an incredible KO win to win the world title on the third try
“It was an actual shock to me I believe everybody within the boxing world has stepped as much as Tasha within the tremendous heavyweight division, however she blended all of it up rather well.
“It could be an enormous combat for ladies’s boxing — me and Tasha, the world champions, in the identical weight class, on this nation — elevating the flag actually excessive for ladies’s boxing and pushing it ahead and making an attempt to vary the game we need to see.
“Each our types are thrilling, it is going to be a really thrilling battle after we meet.”
Within the wake of Jonas’ victory over Christian Namous on the Manchester Enviornment in February, each Liverpool fighter and promoter Ben Shalom have expressed curiosity in a match with Rankin.
Jonas spoke of her “respect” for Rankin, however stated she was “assured” of defeating the Scotsman.
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Jonas needs to face England and Scotland towards Rankin
Rankin insists she is going to current a harder problem than Uruguayan Namos, which Jonas spectacularly halts inside two rounds.
“Clearly, I assist myself one hundred pc to win that combat,” Rankin stated.
“It is going to be a distinct expertise. I am a full middleweight participant and will not present up on brief discover. It is going to be a unification battle between two world champions, so it’ll have the enhance and pleasure that it is value.
“It is an thrilling combat that folks actually have to observe and individuals are speaking about.”
“I took the chance to headline at Hydro”
The truth that Rankin will make headlines towards Ayala at Glasgow’s 14,000-seat Hydro Enviornment highlights the large rise she has achieved prior to now two years.
Rankin was additionally a part of the Sky Sports activities commentary workforce for Scott’s teammate Josh Taylor for his world title protection towards Jack Caterall at Hydro in February, at which level she did not know she’d be ring-topping herself so quickly.
“Clearly I jumped in on it, as a result of I’ve at all times wished to combat there,” Rankin stated.
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Highlights of Josh Taylor’s controversial factors win over Jack Caterall
“Having been with Sky for the Josh Taylor card, and feeling the ambiance there whereas I used to be doing the commentary, it was loopy.
“I used to be simply saying I might love an opportunity to combat right here, and hopefully sometime sooner or later, and it got here quite a bit faster than I anticipated.”
Rankin insists she would not get previous Ayala, however realizes {that a} unification battle with Jonas will undoubtedly guarantee a return to one in every of Britain’s largest arenas.
“My primary focus now could be Alejandra, placing in an excellent efficiency after which we’ll see what my workforce needs me to do and we’ll see the place we’re going,” she added.
“I get a style of that at this occasion at Hydro, so there is no doubt Tasha and I are going to be in an enormous enviornment for that man placing on a present for everybody.”
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