Mayo professional boxer to take to the ring this week
Belmullet's Rachel Lally.
Rachel Lally, who is from Belmullet, is a professional boxer based in Dubai and one of the fastest rising female athletes in global boxing.
She is the reigning UBO World Champion, UBO International Champion, and currently ranked #5 in the world by the WBA — placing her as the highest-ranked female boxer living and training in the UAE.
Lally has become a leading figure for women’s sport in the region, using her platform to empower female athletes and expand access to boxing across the Gulf. Her story has been widely covered in Irish and UAE media, highlighting her unique dual career as a professional boxer and English teacher and her mission to elevate women in combat sports.
In 2026, Lally was nominated for the UAE Golden Visa by both the Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Boxing Federation, recognising her contribution to the nation’s sporting landscape and her impact on female participation in boxing.
On June 5th, she returns to the ring at The Galleries, Meydan Avenue, where both organisations will formally acknowledge her achievements during fight night — a milestone moment for women’s boxing in the UAE.
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Alongside her world-level boxing career, Lally works full-time as an English teacher in Dubai, inspiring young people daily. She balances elite training with classroom leadership, showing her students — especially young girls — that ambition, discipline, and resilience can open extraordinary paths.
Her presence in both sport and education has made her a standout role model in the UAE, demonstrating that high performance and community impact can go hand in hand.
Lally’s next bout continues her push toward the top of the world rankings; she enters fight week as a proven champion with global momentum and strong support from both Irish and UAE sporting bodies.
