A mouth-watering all-British clash has been added to the undercard of Hannah Rankin’s double world title defence at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena on May 13, with all the action broadcast LIVE by Fightzone.
On the historic night – the first major boxing show in Scotland to be headed by a woman – Rankin will put her WBA and IBO World Super Welterweight belts on the line in a guaranteed thriller against tough Mexican, Alejandra Ayala.
Rankin is one of the world’s premier women fighters. A two-time and now double world title holder, the 31-year-old is in career best form after beating Sweden’s Maria Lindberg in November last year to claim the vacant super welterweight belts.
Ayala has won 14 of 19, with eight KOs and will bring to the ring an aggressive, come-forward Mexican style. This will be the North American’s first attempt at claiming world honours and the 33-year-old will be determined to cause an upset in front of Hannah’s home crowd.
It can now be announced that the night will also host a fantastic clash between Wales’ Jacob Robinson and Scotland’s Nathaniel ‘The Nightmare’ Collins – with the home fighter’s Commonwealth Flyweight Title up for grabs.
“This is going to be a really good fight,” said champion Collins. “Our styles will gel and it’ll turn into a great one. I’ve seen his last fight when he won the Welsh Title so know a bit about what he does and doesn’t like.
“It’ll end up a bit of a war between us with me chasing him, but when it gets to the later rounds it’ll be a fight. He’s not going to be able to box for the whole 12 rounds and I’ll catch up with him.
“I fought a Scottish boy in my fifth fight but since then it’s been all overseas fighters, so it’ll be great to fight another domestic fighter and it’s a step up. If I win then I’ll hopefully be in for a British Title shot, but he’ll be thinking the same. If I can’t beat this guy then I’m not going to win the British, so it’s all to play for.”
Collins looks like a bona fide star in the making. The Bearsden man has been absolutely punch-perfect in moving to 10-0, with five KOs, which included claiming the Commonwealth crown in just his eighth pro outing.
Despite all the plaudits, Nathaniel will have to be at his very best to come through the Robinson test. The Cardiff man has also looked awesome since turning over in 2017. Jacob has yet to taste defeat at 9-0 and became the Welsh Flyweight king in his last fight.
On what is already a huge night of Scottish boxing, this match has all the makings of something pretty special.
“It’s early days but already this card is stacking up to be one of the best shows that Scotland will have seen and demand for tickets has been phenomenal,” said Asif Vali, Chief Operating Officer at Fightzone.
“Hannah’s fight with Ayala is going to be a real war because both are always in exciting fights. And to be able to confirm this Scotland versus Wales battle between Nathaniel and Jacob for the prestigious Commonwealth belt is fantastic news for Scottish fight fans. Someone’s ‘0’ has got to go and it could be the headline fight all on its own!”