Hannah Rankin hopes that her homecoming world title defence can inspire more girls to get involved with boxing.
The Luss born fighter, 31, retained her IBO and WBA super welterweight titles with a dominant victory against Mexican Alejandra Ayala at a packed Hydro last month.
She said: “It was an amazing night.
“I have to say a huge thank you to all of the fans. To headline the Hydro and have such a massive array of people from all different backgrounds coming to support me was just incredible.
“It was incredible to be involved in something like that.
“I’m really hoping that young girls will now see that there is a pathway there.
“When I was growing up there weren’t many strong female role models in boxing.
“Part of being a world champion is that you should represent your sport and represent yourself and promote the sport.”
Hannah has already had a huge influence on Irvine twins Kay-Lee and Leigha Barnes, both world record holders in boxing drills, who came home early from a dream holiday to carry her flag into the ring at the Hydro.
“The twins Kay-Lee and Leigha are absolutely boxing mad,” she said.
“They told their mum they had to come home early from Disneyland to carry my flag out.
“I don’t know any kid who would want to come home early from Disney to carry a flag out at a boxing match, but nothing was going to stop them!”
Hannah’s immediate thoughts following the fight were with Ayala however, after she required emergency surgery for injuries sustained during the bout.
And she thanked her team and medics for their support of her brave opponent, who is still recovering in a Glasgow hospital.
Hannah added: “My promotional company, Dennis Hobson Promotions, and Sam Kynoch have been in close contact with Alejandra and her parents. She’s doing very well. She’s now on the mend. It’s great that she has her parents there with her too.
“I can’t thank the hospital enough for all their care, they have been brilliant. It was a very worrying time, but I’m pleased that we have good news and that she’s on the mend.
“It is a danger that comes with the job, you just don’t ever think that it’s going to happen to you.
“I can’t thank everyone who has helped look after Alejandra and her parents whilst they are in Glasgow. It’s good to know that they’ve got all the support they need.”
After a tense opening Rankin looked to get stronger as the fight wore on, closing the seventh round with a superb flurry of punches. Ayala continued admirably despite a relentless showing from Rankin in the eighth and ninth rounds, before the bout was finally stopped in the 10th after another savage collection of punches from Rankin.
And Hannah believes her performance proved that she was in the best shape of her life.
The former Hermitage Academy pupil added: “I said in the lead up to the fight that I was in the best shape of my life, and I really was. My team is fantastic.
“My coach Noel Callan and Richard Williams working on the boxing side of things, and Andrew Usher, who is based at Abertay University, is my sports scientist.
“He’s at the forefront of research into combat performance, so I’ve been in the best possible hands. It was one of my best performances.
“In the first-half I played to her game-plan but I got stronger and stronger, which is testament to my conditioning. It was a great performance.”
