From Mayo to the Middle East, 'The Bullet from Belmullet' turns pro in Dubai
An Erris native is preparing for her first professional boxing match in Dubai next week.
The fight will take place on Friday, December 1, in the SPACE Events and Sports complex, when Rachel Lally, Belmullet, will take on an Indian opponent who has seven pro wins under her belt.
However, Rachel is confident that her preparation and the 'fire in her belly' coming from Belmullet will see her through.
Rachel is daughter of Rosaleen and Michael Lally and joined Golden Gloves Boxing Club at 14. She went on to win a national title before following her dream to become a teacher.
Once qualified, Rachel taught in London for a number of years before returning home to Belmullet during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During her time teaching in St. Brendan’s College, Belmullet, she qualified as a boxing coach and returned to her beloved Golden Gloves to help coach the underage boxers.
The sport has been a huge part of Rachel's life and she is honest about how it got her through some very tough times as a teenager.
She explained: “Growing up in Erris and trying to find your place can be tough. Boxing was my go-to place when I needed to express myself, find solace and work through my challenges in life at the time.”
Rachel added that losing a few close friends to suicide had a huge impact on her teenage years. Her mental health was challenged but the support she received from her coach, Martin McIntyre, and all the team at Gloden Glove helped her focus on her personal goals and got her through those tough times.
A move to Dubai to satisfied her urge to travel and Rachel joined the Spartan Boxing Club there, where she re-found her love of boxing. When the opportunity arose earlier this year to turn professional, she grabbed it with both hands.
The support Rachel has received from her Dubai community and from friends and family at home in Ireland gives her the drive to push on and follow her dream.
The ultimate goal would be to get a professional fight at home but for now, Rachel Lally - 'The Bullet from Belmullet' – is focused on getting her first professional win in Dubai on December 1.