It’s no secret that the judges’ scorecards can present considerably more danger to a professional boxer than the gloves of their opponent - something that Luss boxer Hannah Rankin found out to her cost on a disappointing night for Scotland’s most successful female fighter.

Having lost her IBO and WBA titles in defeat to Terri Harper last September, the former Hermitage Academy pupil was aiming to once again have the privilege of calling herself world champion when she went up against Slovenia’s Ema Kozin on Saturday for the vacant WBC and WBO super-welterweight titles, with the Luss native aiming to become Scotland's first-ever unified world champion. 

Kozin had struggled to make weight on Friday, needing two visits to the scales to dip below the 11 stone weight limit. 

But from the very first bell at the Manchester Arena, it was clear that 27-year-old Kozin meant business, with little sign of the lethargy that can often plague fighters who have had to put considerable effort into making weight.

The opening rounds of the ten-round bout were even, but in Rankin’s desperation to impose herself on the fight, and on her opponent, she was leaving herself open to Kozin’s left hand.

As the fight progressed, it became apparent that Rankin was struggling to deal with facing a southpaw for the first time in a competitive outing, with Kozin landing several shots.

The halfway point of the fight came and went, with Kozin appearing to deal comfortably with Rankin’s attempts to attack but by the seventh round, the Scot, 33, was starting to read her opponent’s shots and looked to be taking the upper hand.

In the penultimate round, however, Kozin found a new lease of life and began moving better than she had at any point in the fight and by the tenth and final round, both women were going all-out for the win.

At the final bell, neither fighter dared celebrate, with the result clearly on a knife-edge and in the end, the Slovenian was awarded the win and both world titles in a split decision.

One judge gave the result to Rankin 96-94, the second gave Kozin the win by the same score - but most bafflingly, the third awarded Kozin the win 98-92, a scorecard that left most trying to workout where such a margin of victory came from.

It remains to be seen what’s next for Rankin, with a rematch against Kozin almost certain to be mooted.