LUSS boxer Hannah Rankin is hoping to become Scotland's first female world champion after Kynoch Boxing Promotions announced she will face Sarah Curran in June for the vacant IBO Super-Welterweight title.

The former Hermitage Academy pupil dropped back to her natural weight this year after losing out on a points decision to two-time Olympic Champion and unified World Champion Claressa Shields in Kansas in November.

Praised by Shields and boxing commentators in the aftermath of that fight, the 28-year-old will draw on that experience when she takes on America’s Curran at Paisley Lagoon Centre on Saturday, June 15.

Two years Rankin’s junior, Sarah 'Savage' Curran boasts a 4-1-1 record and is the current ABF USA welterweight champion.

Fight promoter and Rankin’s manager, Sam Kynoch said: “Hannah has made phenomenal strides in professional boxing in a relatively short period of time, considering her lack of an amateur background and so being effectively less than two years in the sport.

“This fight is the right one for her at the right time – with the chance to make history as Scotland’s first female boxing world champion.

"Sarah Curran is an extremely strong contender in her own right, so it’s all shaping up to be another historic night of professional boxing in Scotland in June.”

There was cause for celebration for Rankin on Thursday night when she was in Glasgow to collect an Amazing Women Award from No.1 Magazine in the category of Amazing Sporting Achievement (professional).

Reacting to news of her first title fight on home soil, Rankin commented: “‘I’m absolutely delighted and buzzing to be fighting for my first world title at my actual weight, the super welterweight limit, and I’d like to thank my manager Sam Kynoch for the opportunity to do this at home in Scotland.

“I know my opponent will bring her A game and I know she will be tough but like Scottish athlete Laura Muir showed recently, us Scottish girls won’t be beaten especially on our own show, in our own city, in our own country.

"I will be Scotland’s first female boxing world champion.”