Hannah Rankin is women's world boxing champion again

The former Hermitage Academy pupil defeated Sweden's Maria Lindberg on a unanimous points decision in London on Friday night to win the vacant WBA world female super-welterweight title - and the IBO belt at the same time.

Speaking to Women In Boxing's YouTube channel after the fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 31-year-old Rankin, who previously won the IBO world title in 2019 to become Scotland's first female world boxing champion, said: "I was expecting a tough, rough fight, because Maria, she's a very experienced fighter.

Full interview with #HannahRankin live after her massive win tonight is on our YouTube channel ...https://t.co/v1Vl6RXTRo https://t.co/flJGkz5hkP pic.twitter.com/tEPXEBOy2w

— Women in Boxing 🥊❤️ (@WomeninBoxing) November 6, 2021

"She lives in the gym. She's never out of the gym, she's always in shape and boxing is her life.

"It was a great fight and I just think my boxing ability outdid her, and my bigger shots."

🥊🇬🇧 RANKIN WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN💥@Team_Rankin is the WBA and IBO Super-Welterweight World Champion after a UD points victory over Maria Lindberg at @SpursOfficial

Scotland's first female world champ in 2019, Rankin now owns two belts 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏@fightzonetv @Dennis_Hobson pic.twitter.com/Hw9jonR6lk

— Boxing-UK 🥊🇬🇧 (@Boxing_UK_) November 5, 2021

Friday night's victory, broadcast live by Fightzone TV, was the culmination of a battle of nearly two years for Rankin to become a world champion again after she lost her IBO title to Lindberg's compatriot Patricia Berghuklt in November 2019.