Boxing: Hannah Rankin says she will come back stronger

The former Hermitage Academy pupil lost out to a unanimous decision from the judges after an epic 10-round battle against reigning WBC super-middleweight champion Alicia Napoleon at the Nassau Coliseum in Colindale, New York on Saturday night.

But the 28-year-old, who was taking part in only her seventh fight since turning professional last year, says she’ll learn from the experience – and hopes to return to the Empire State to fight again in the future.

Writing on her Instagram page the morning after the bout, Rankin said: “So I didn’t get the decision last night but I’m proud of what me and my team have achieved in just seven fights.

“It was a great fight – we definitely put on a show. They say you win or you learn and that’s exactly how I feel about it.”

And the reigning champion had some warm words for her opponent too: writing on her own Instagram page after the fight, Napoleon said: “Thank you to Hannah Rankin for a hell of a fight and traveling all this way to fight for the title.

“You’re a great athlete with great sportsmanship and will be one of the many women to help the sport rise.”

According to a report on the FemaleFightFans.com website, Rankin controlled round one until her opponent landed a solid jab to the face just before the bell.

Rankin, who is also a classically-trained bassoonist and music teacher, landed a series of brutal body shots in the fifth before a plethora of hooks in the sixth kept her opponent moving towards the ropes.

And the pace didn’t let up in what remained of the contest: in fact the fight grew in intensity as the end approached, with neither combatant giving an inch with a series of non-stop strikes at each other.

Rankin added: “[I] fought my heart out away from home in New York on a massive stage and I’ll definitely be taking all I learnt away with me.

“After a rest I will be back to work on new things with the boss [coach Noel Callan] and I will come again.

“Huge thank you to all my sponsors for their support in getting me to this point, DiBella Entertainment for having me over on the show and of course to my team and family.

“Lastly to everyone in New York who made me welcome, I had an amazing time and the hospitality and support was great. I’ll definitely be back!”

Round nine was where it truly got interesting. In one of the most impressive rounds of the entire night, Napoleon and Rankin hit nonstop strikes at one another. Around the ring they went and with each step came one powerful punch after another. Forget Suplex City, this round was considered Violence City (working on the name), and it was a great setup to the tenth and final round.

Hannah hit some solid blows to the face, and Alicia returned the favor with several of her own. Alicia hit one big shot to the face before the round came to a close. The remaining fans at the Nassau Coliseum gave them a standing ovation as the final bell rang.

So I didn’t get the decision last night but I’m proud of what me and my team have achieved in just 7 fights. It was a great fight between me and @boxingnapoleon we definitely put on a show!They say you win or you learn and that’s exactly how I feel about it. Fought my heart out away from home in New York on a massive stage and I’ll definitely be taking all I learnt away with me. After a rest I will be back to work on new things with the boss @nschealthandperformance and I will come again. <01F3F4><0E0067><0E0062><0E0073><0E0063><0E0074><0E007F><01F44A><01F3FB>

Huge thank you to all my sponsors for their support in getting me to this point, @dibellaent for having me over on the show and of course to my team and family. Lastly to everyone in New York who made me welcome, I had an amazing time and the hospitality and support was great! I’ll definitely be back!

Napoleon (10-1) came out to a remix of “You Don’t Own Me”, fitting for the controversies surrounding women and the boxing world.

Rankin (5-2) was controlling round one until Alicia ended it with a solid jab to the face of the former. Round two was a fairly even one, with both women laying into one another. It wasn’t until round three where things got really exciting. Alicia and Hannah were throwing lefts and rights at one another. While a tough round, Alicia had the advantage heading into round four.

Alicia was pouring on calculating strikes in round four, and in round five she threw a very solid hook to the face of Hannah. For her part, Hannah did not let up. She took it to the champ, hitting plenty of brutal body shots to Napoleon. After coming up short the last few rounds, Rankin woke up in round six. She nailed a plethora of hooks to the body of Alicia and kept her moving to the ropes. It was a much-needed round for the 28-year-old.

Round seven through nine was everything you wanted in a fight. Headshots were the name of the game in round seven, several thrown by Alicia. Both women’s counter game was extremely valuable during these rounds, as they were very smooth on the canvas. Round eight was pretty even. Rankin had Alicia against the ropes and laid into her. Napoleon answered back with a flurry of combo punches.

Round nine was where it truly got interesting. In one of the most impressive rounds of the entire night, Napoleon and Rankin hit nonstop strikes at one another. Around the ring they went and with each step came one powerful punch after another. Forget Suplex City, this round was considered Violence City (working on the name), and it was a great setup to the tenth and final round.

Hannah hit some solid blows to the face, and Alicia returned the favor with several of her own. Alicia hit one big shot to the face before the round came to a close. The remaining fans at the Nassau Coliseum gave them a standing ovation as the final bell rang.

Although scorecards were not announced, Alicia Napoleon got the unanimous decision victory.