Hannah Rankin ready to 'put on a show' when she puts world titles on the line

Scottish fighter Hannah Rankin says she can’t wait to show off her skills again when she defends her world titles against Terri Harper next month.

The WBA and IBO super-welterweight champion makes her second title defence on September 24 at Nottingham Arena. After the first defence saw Rankin become the first woman to headline a show at Glasgow’s Hydro, she’s thrilled to be part of another high-profile fight night.

“I’m really, really excited,” she told STV. “Defending my world titles against Terri Harper down in Nottingham, on the undercard with Leigh Woods against Mauricio Lara? I’m really good friends with Leigh so good to be sharing a bill with him, I’m buzzing about it.

“It’s massive. I’m going in there to defend my two world titles, Scotland’s world titles as far as I’m concerned. It’s also Scotland v England so it is a massive occasion.

“The stadium there is incredible and I just can’t wait to put on a show for everyone on such a massive platform.”

Rankin’s opponent was a world title holder herself at super-featherweight, and her last fight was at lightweight in March. The climb in weight for another title shot is a step too far, the champion believes.

“Personally, I think it’s a mistake for Terri to be stepping up to my weight class,” Rankin said. “She’s not just stepping up one division, she’s stepping up a few and it’s a big mistake, in my opinion.

“She’s not big but let’s see how we go.

“I’m going to put on a show so I can’t wait.”

The Scot is just concentrating on her own preparations right now and says everything is going just as it should as she looks towards fight night.

“I’m out here in Florida for two weeks and I’ve joined Claressa Shields’ training camp.” she said. “She’s preparing to defend her world titles against Savannah Marshall on September 10 back in London.

“We’ll finish up camp here together and travel to London and then I’ll finish my work back home.

“It’s been fantastic out here, fantastic sparring. I’ve brought two girls out here with me: Demi Carter and Omarah Taylor, who are going to be going into the pro ranks really soon. So we’ve had a fantastic mix of sparring and I’m feeling in amazing shape.

“It’s just exciting to know I’ve got even more time. I’m raring to go but before I get out there on fight night I’m going to be in incredible shape. I can’t wait.”

The announcement of the fight with Harper surprised some, with Rankin having seemed to be lining up a fight with WBO belt-holder Natasha Jonas. That’s still a possibility if everything goes to plan in September.

“She’s got one of the belts in the division and I would love to unify them against her,” Rankin said. “But this was a better deal that came through Matchroom.

“I’ve taken this fight and it’s on a global platform. So first of all deal with Terri and we’ll get unification with Natasha further down the line.”