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07 Apr 2026
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07 Apr 2026
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Pic: Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) (Facebook)
THERE were scenes of joy in Erris and Dubai over the weekend when Belmullet native Rachel Lally captured the vacant Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) world Super Middleweight title.
The Mayo fighter known as ‘The Bullet from Belmullet’ impressively beat Tanzanian co-challenger Grace Mapesa in the Middle East on Friday evening to the utter delight of her passionate supporters.
In front of a near sell-out crowd at The Pavilion Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, Lally was on a mission and came out fast and strong from the very first bell.
Mapesa was expected to be a tough opponent for Lally having only lost to 2025 amateur world champion, and now undefeated pro, Elena Gapeshina. She came into Friday’s fight with a big reputation, but the Erris woman took charge straight away.
After being in complete command in round one, Lally went for the finish in round two, and when she got Mapesa into a corner, unleashed with everything in her arsenal, landing enough to force the referee to step in and save the out-gunned African.
It was a statement performance by fast-tracked southpaw Lally, who entered the fight as the UBO International titlist. There were scenes of celebration in Belmullet where Lally learned her sporting trade in the local Golden Gloves BC gym.
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