Hannah Rankin may not have left the ring in Kansas with the world title she hoped for on Saturday night – but the Luss boxer says she’s gained much from her showdown with reigning IBF and WBA middleweight champion Claressa Shields.

Many in the boxing world and all major bookmakers gave Rankin little chance of victory against the two-time Olympic champion and unified world champion – but it was far from the easy night’s work that the American predicted for herself.

Shields promised to stop Rankin within four rounds but was taken the distance and forced to work hard for the win.

Afterwards, Shields praised Rankin’s ability and stated that the difference between them was her greater experience.

Rankin was also praised by the Sky Sports commentary team on the night and has gained many fans both in the UK and throughout the world on the back of her gutsy performance against the self-proclaimed “GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time)”.

The former Hermitage Academy pupil told the Advertiser: “I was really pleased I went the distance – Claressa was saying before the fight that she was going to knock me out in four rounds, but I was determined that was never going to happen.

“We had a chat about things afterwards and I went away with things to work on, but it was a great experience and I’m really pleased with how I fought.”

Hannah is now looking forward to a rest from boxing, and to spending time with her family in Scotland over Christmas, before a return to the ring, at her natural level of super-welterweight, hopefully in February or March.

Reflecting on how far she’s come in the 18 short months since turning pro, she added: “If you’d said two years ago that I’d be fighting for a unified world title in the States, on live TV and on a Matchroom bill, I’d have thought you were a bit nuts to be honest.

“But it just shows you what perseverance, belief and hard work can do.”

Hannah’s manager Sam Kynoch, of Kynoch Boxing, added: “Hannah was the first boxer to challenge for a world title under my Kynoch Boxing banner and she put in a great performance.

“Without having an extensive amateur career, it is remarkable that she is already competing at this elite level.

“The experience gained by this fight – both in terms of dealing with the “fight week” build-up to a big fight Stateside and also in terms of going the distance with a pound-for-pound ranked boxer – is invaluable.”

“Hannah is going to enjoy some well-earned rest before returning to action in early 2019, when she will drop down to her natural class of super-welterweight, where she will be a force to be reckoned with.”