A Sheffield boxer has pledged to reignite her career after her brain tumour was found benign in an ordeal that led to her being a ‘strong beacon of light’ to carry her family through. 

Barke, originally from Luton, has joined Steel City gym in Darnall, a Yorkshire gym with championship history, in an effort to get back on track.

The tumour was found in a routine medical check and led to the Sheffield boxer losing her professional license, something which she is eager to regain. 

Barke says she is ‘’happy to be on the other end of it now’’ after feeling ‘shock’ when the initial diagnosis was made.

‘‘The biggest impact was the effect it had on my family and friends. That bit I wasn’t prepared for, that’s what was quite hard because then I didn’t know what to do.’’

Despite the setback she said that retirement never crossed her mind although momentarily she felt as though all of her hard work was ‘’about to slip away’’. 

She channelled this passion in her decision to relocate to Sheffield with complete focus on fighting again. 

If she succeeds in getting her professional boxing license back, Barke is eyeing up March 22nd as the date for her televised debut at the historic York Hall under Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.

The British Boxing Board of Control have the final say regarding professional boxing licences. 

‘’When they found it the first thing they told me was that I would have to have it surgically removed.’’

After medical examination it was found to be safer not to operate but Barke said that she may have to have surgery in a few years time.

Barke said that she looked at every boxing gym in the UK and Steel City stood out as they  ‘’had their fighters from the very beginning and took them to the top.’’

‘’Their standards are so high, the gym is filled with talent and champions and I get to learn every single day’

‘’Having moved from the South to the North, everyones so much happier in Sheffield, I love it here, it now feels like home,’’ she added.