Undefeated Mayo pro boxer set for title tilt this weekend

Mayo boxing star Rachel Lally is set to square off in the biggest fight of her professional career, with her record on the line as she jousts for title glory.

Lally, also known as ‘The Bullet from Belmullet’, will take to the ring at Lock Stock and Barrel in Dubai to duke it out with Tanzanian puncher Leila Yusuph Macho for the vacant UBO International Super Middleweight Title.

Lally, who honed her craft at Golden Gloves Boxing Club in her native Belmullet, has had plenty of success before turning pro, including her 2012 Under-18 National title.

However, she has rapidly ascended the ranks since moving to Dubai as a teacher.

Twelve months ago, in Lally’s pro debut, she earned a hard-fought draw against Georgia’s Elene Sikmashvili, but since then, she hasn't stopped winning.

Her first victory came against Cameroonian and African silver medallist Marie Tsimi, and was an impressive one via a unanimous decision.

Up next for the talented southpaw was another face-off at The SPACE, Dubai. This time, Egyptian Ganat Sayeed looked as though she was set to provide a sterner test of the proud Mayo woman’s credentials, given her title of UAE National Amateur Champion.

However, midway through the second round, Lally put paid to such notions in unleashing a flurry of blows which forced the referee to award a TKO in a victory which saw Lally move into the top five rankings of her division.

Now, though, a real challenge looks to be coming down the tracks in the form of Leila Yusuph Macho.

Macho has been putting in impressive showings in her native Tanzania, having won three of her four pro bouts by unanimous decision and the other by TKO.

She will provide a wily opponent when the pair lock horns with the belt on the line.

The tie gets underway at 2pm on Sunday Irish time (6pm local time), with those wishing to tune in from afar able to do so on IFL TV. The fight is being promoted by Grassroots Boxing.