A physiotherapist from Bradford is planning a trip to the jungles of Burma - to bare-knuckle fight.

Rachael Jones won the ITBF British Women's Thai Boxing bantamweight title last month - in

emphatic style - and will now come up against some of the best in the business.

She beat Chanel Borgan at Middleton Civic Centre to take the title, and it was a shock for Borgan who until then was unbeaten in more than 30 bouts.

Rachael, who trains at the Bradford Thai Boxing Club in Johnson Street, Laisterdyke, is currently trying to raise the sponsorship necessary to make the trip to Burma.

Her instructor Dave Croft said: "At first I did not like the idea of bare-knuckle fighting but it is not as bad as it sounds. It is not like two women

fighting in the street with anything they can get their hands on.

"There are strict rules which are enforced."

Rachael has made rapid progress since registering her first win in November 2002 when she beat Joanne Maine at a Leeds Grammar School Thai Boxing event.

Croft said: "It is a remarkable story. But I expected her to win this one - and she did, massively. She has had four straight knock-outs now.

"She has a passion to be successful. And there is nobody else in this country at her weight that she hasn't beaten. Now is the time to look abroad."

Rachael is not lacking in confidence or ambition, but she has nervous moments. "Before I go in the ring, I am really nervous, crying and all sorts - a wreck really," she said.

"But I don't really think about getting hurt, and it's not about losing. I don't know why I feel so

nervous.

"I think it is the adrenalin more than anything. I am a physiotherapist so if I break anything I can mend it," she joked.

The women fighters, like the men, do not wear any protection.

"We just wear gloves, we don't have any other padding," she said. "There are knees to the

head and things so I suppose there is a risk of injury.

"I started training properly with Dave about three years ago. I had done a little bit at university, but not very regularly."

The 25-year-old, who is based at St Luke's Hospital, added: "There are not very many women who carry on for a long period of time in this sport. I train in Thai boxing six days a week - so a lot of dedication is necessary. And then I have to run on top of that - and do my weights and everything else.

"You have to be agile and flexible at this sport. I fought this woman on my very first fight and she beat me, but there was no revenge in mind.

"This time she had fought in the world games, and was already the British champion. I didn't really have anything to prove. I was just wanting to do the best I could and I did not expect the outcome to be what it was.

"She took three standing eight counts in the first round. She couldn't have carried on - the referee had to stop the fight."

Now Rachael is looking forward to testing her skills in the bare-knuckle camps of Burma.

"The bare-knuckle fighting isn't that different except that there are fewer rules.

"There are no gloves but your hands are wrapped. But it is under Burmese boxing rules.

Head-butting is allowed and you can kick your opponent when they are on the floor.

"If you're in trouble, your corner man can tap out to stop the fight. The skill of fighting is no different really and this is a challenge. If you want to be the best, you have to be able to beat anyone under their rules."