ON the Kynoch Promotions event at Paisley Lagoon, billed as “History in the Making”, due to Hannah Rankin from Luss was making a bid for the vacant IBO super-welterweight title. For many in the industry, including this publication, the IBO is not a legitimate world belt but for Rankin, who has worked so hard to get into this position, it will rightly mean the world.
Now in her more natural weight class after failed attempts for major belts at middle and super-middle, she faced off against slick Illinois boxer Sarah Curran. Rankin struggled to close down Curran in the first few rounds and the American’s movement was causing her some problems.
By the fourth Rankin was coming back into things although it was still a nip-and-tuck fight with some of the rounds being hard to score. It was all down to who wanted it more and who caught the judges’ eye over the second half of the fight.
In the end, they preferred the come-forward style of Rankin over the defensive skills of Curran. Marcus McDonnell held Rankin’s arm high as all three judges scored the contest 96-94 in her favour after a bout which could really have gone either way.
A delighted Hannah and team celebrated and they should all feel exceptionally proud. It’s been an amazing journey.
In the chief support, which proved the fight of the night, Ahmed Ibrahim was vying for the Scottish super-lightweight title against Livingston’s undefeated Martin Taylor over 10 rounds. Taylor started well but was gradually being ground down by the harder shots of Glaswegian Ibrahim. The seventh in particular was an absolute war and from there it looked like it would all depend who had more energy left. It turned out to be Ibrahim and Taylor was starting to look weary and battle-worn in the last few rounds, Mr McDonnell confirmed the result as 97-94.
Chris “Trigger” Wood was in a scheduled four at super-middleweight against the popular Lydney fighter Lewis Van Poetsch. Trigger dominated “Poochi” from the opening bell and referee Paul O’Connor had an easy job scoring this bout 40-36 in favour of the Dumfries man.
Calvin McCord and Reading’s Ibrar Riyaz went at it for six rounds in a super-lightweight clash, referee John McGuire declaring the Ayr man victorious with a score of 60-57.
Jordan McCorry geared up for a title clash next month with a tune up fight at lightweight against Belfast’s Alec Bazza over four rounds. The Cambuslang fighter didn’t want to risk getting cut so took no chances as he coasted to victory, referee O’Connor scoring 40-36.
All-action Neil McCubbin typically gave everything in a flyweight contest against Lithuanian Marius Vsniauskas. At the end of the pulsating four rounds Mr McGuire scored 40-37 for McCubbin.
Corey McCulloch went up against Atherton veteran William Warburton in a super-welterweight four-rounder. Boxing within himself, McCulloch looks capable of more but victory was confirmed for the Arbroath man at 39-37 for referee O’Connor.
Debutant Ian O’Connor won a points victory over four rounds at super-middleweight against Londoner Jordan Grannum. Referee McGuire scored the bout in favour of the Glasgow man 40-37.
Livingston’s Thomas Dickson got back to winning ways over four rounds against Glaswegian Gary McGuire as the lightweight contest was tallied 40-37 by referee O’Connor.
Dumfries heavyweight Kaseem Saleem got off to a winning pro start against Colin Goldhawk from Hoddesdon over four rounds, referee McGuire scoring the contest 40-37.
The Verdict New opportunities await Rankin at super-welterweight and one suspects we haven’t seen the last of Curran.
FULL RESULTS
Hannah Rankin (152lbs), 7-3-0 (1), w pts 10 Sarah Curran (154lbs), 4-2-1; Ahmed Ibrahim (138lbs), 10-2-1 (2), w pts 10 Martin Taylor (139lbs), 6-1; Chris Woods (167lbs), 5-0, w pts 4 Lewis Van Poetsch (169lbs) 9-104-1 (2); Calvin McCord (143lbs), 7-0 (2),w pts 4 Ibrar Riyaz (144lbs), 6-162-4 (3); Jordan McCorry (142lbs), 17-5-1, (4) w pts 4 Alec Bazza (142lbs), 0-41-3; Neil McCubbin (111lbs) 4-0 (1), w pts 4 Marius Vsniauskas (112lbs), 2-1 (1); Corey McCulloch (157lbs), 2-0, w pts 4 William Warburton (157lbs) 26-152-10 (5); Ian O’Connor (170lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Jordan Grannum (169lbs), 5-53-2; Thomas Dickson (150lbs), 9-3-0, (1) w pts 4 Gary McGuire (151lbs), 0-8; Kaseem Saleem (280lbs), 1-0, w pts 4 Colin Goldhawk (264lbs), 2-5 (1).
