Luss boxer Hannah Rankin has vowed to return stronger than ever as she continues her road to recovery.

In a result which surprised many observers, the fighter lost her WBA and IBO titles to Terri Harper during a bout in Nottingham in September and received a nasty cut above her left eye, for which she required eight stitches and a trip to hospital.

The experience was bruising on several fronts – but Hannah acknowledges it just wasn’t to be on the night.

The 32-year-old former Hermitage Academy pupil told the Advertiser: “It was a bad cut – and the first time I’ve been cut in one of my fights.

“It just didn’t come together. The night was disappointing, of course, as I didn’t want to lose my world titles. I felt like I was catching up in the later rounds but credit to Terri Harper, as she came in with a great plan.”

While the Terri Harper defeat was undoubtedly a setback, Hannah refuses to let it define her and is already biding her time until she can get back into the ring. She hopes to schedule another fight for early in 2023 as she aims to get more wins on her record and, in time, back in title contention.

She said: “For me now, it’s a case of one fight at a time.

“The eye is healing nicely. I’m really grateful to the medical staff at the hospital in Nottingham for the work they did on it.

“I’m in touch with my team regularly and there are things I know I want to work on for next time.”

Always grateful for the support of her friends and family, as well as her team, Hannah acknowledges that their support has been appreciated more than ever following the recent result.

She is also embracing the opportunity to catch up with people, something that becomes very tricky when she is in the midst of a gruelling, 12-week training camp in the build-up to a bout.

Hannah added: “They say it’s how you react to the losses that defines you. As a role model for young girls, it’s important to show that just because you have a loss, it doesn’t define you as a person.

“I’m a former world champion – but I need to return to being a world champion."