Despite that, Gallagher – who took up the sport at the age of 10, around the same time she was diagnosed with ADHD – acknowledges that Ms Cleary, the grandmother of her seven-year-old daughter, is never far from her thoughts.
“It’s been very hard to deal with and the only thing that’s helped me get through is boxing,” she said.
“There’s been days when I didn’t want to get out of bed, I could quite easily have locked my door and shut off the world and if it wasn’t for my coaches expecting me to turn up every day, I wouldn’t have.
“I’m grateful I’ve got good people like that that actually get me out of bed in the mornings and remind me what I’ve got to go and do.
“I’ve got to go and do it for my mother-in-law, that’s just in the back of my head constantly, every day, every training session, every run, every hardship, I’m doing it for her because I know how proud she’d be.”
Gallagher said victory over Hellewell would “mean the world” and her daughter will be there to watch the fight.
“When I’m in the ring, in the gym, obviously I’m a fighter, I’ve got my fight head on – but it’s a great balance, it really keeps me really grounded.
“When I’m with her I’m a normal mum. It’s a good distraction as well, it’s not all just fight, fight, fight. I need a mix of both.”
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