Sarah Curran hoping there will be no ‘hometown’ ruling in Paisley

Sarah Curran is dwarfed by Hannah Rankin at the weigh-in but is unfazed by the disadvantage. Picture: SNS.

Sarah Curran has travelled from Chicago with the aim of denying Rankin, from Luss, her dream of becoming Scotland’s first ever female boxing world champion.

The pair meet for the IBO super-welterweight title in Paisley’s Lagoon Leisure Centre and Curran just hopes that whoever claims the belt does so on merit. She said: “I don’t make fight predictions. Mike Tyson once said that everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face. So the fight will go however it goes.

“The only thing I will say is that in boxing a lot of judging can be one-sided if you’re in the opponent’s hometown. I’ve had that happen to me before. I won’t say that will happen in Scotland but I just hope that if Hannah wins, it’s because she was the better fighter. And the same if I end up winning. I just want the right person to get the belt. I want a fair fight with no hometown decisions.

“I’m giving up home advantage but I’ve planned for this trip. I had a sleeping schedule to adjust to UK time before I got here and I made sure my weight was on point so I didn’t have to cut weight. I don’t make fight predictions but all I know is that I can already feel the belt around my waist.”

Rankin towered over the diminutive Curran as the pair went head to head for the cameras on Wednesday but the American said that has never been a disadvantage for her.

“Being the shorter fighter is nothing new for me,” she added. “I’m only 5ft4in so everybody is taller than me. But that doesn’t make any difference once I’m in the ring. I always give as good as I get and I’ve done pretty well so far in my career. So Hannah might be taller but it’s about who is stronger and fitter on the night.

“I’m 26 years old and worked hard for this. I’m now here to fight. My only defeat was on my pro debut by someone who was 2-0 with two knockouts who was on the US Olympic team. So I’ve never shied away from a tough fight. I back myself 100 per cent on this  one, too.”

This is Curran’s first-ever trip overseas and, being comfortably inside the 154lbs weight limit, has been able to take advantage of Glasgow’s burgeoning restaurant scene.

She revealed: “Because my weight was so good beforehand I’ve been able to check out the city and have a look around without worrying about that. I’ve gone up in weight for this as I usually fight at 147bs so that’s not a problem.

“I’ve done a bit of sightseeing. I checked out the mural trail which was cool and been to quite a few little restaurants – the food here is so fresh and organic. It’s not like Chicago at all.”