Bandia Rise: Rachel Lally's Female Youth Camp Lights Up Dubai

“There's been lots of eyelashes and bloody noses, but I would pay to watch this.”

Rachel Lally, UBO World Champion

That was the verdict from UBO World Champion Rachel "The Bullet" Lally as she watched four of the UAE's most promising teenage boxers trade leather on the final day of Bandia Rise, her first Female Youth Boxing Development Camp.

Held at Box IQ in Dubai from 14 to 16 October during the half-term holidays, the three-day camp brought together young female fighters from Dubai and Abu Dhabi for something rare in the region: a full fight-camp experience built entirely around girls. NXT FIGHT was ringside to cover the story.

The Woman Behind Bandia

Originally from Belmullet in Co. Mayo, Ireland, Lally first laced up at 14 at Golden Gloves Boxing Club and went on to win a national U18 title. She stepped away from the sport to train as a teacher, and it was a teaching job that first brought her to Dubai, where she rediscovered her love of boxing.

Since turning professional she has gone unbeaten, winning the UBO International and then the UBO World Super Middleweight titles. Ranked seventh in the world, she is the highest-ranked female boxer living and training in the UAE, and she still works full-time as an English teacher, fitting elite training around 5am starts and full school days.

She founded the Bandia Movement to grow female boxing in the UAE. Bandia Rise is its first big step: a camp led by a woman who has walked the road herself, aimed at the strongest teenage girls in the sport.

“My goal with this camp is to build female boxing in the UAE and lead by example.”

Rachel Lally, on the Bandia Rise camp poster

UBO World Champion Rachel "The Bullet" Lally on Building Female Boxing in the UAE 🥊 | NXT FIGHTNXT FIGHTWatch on YouTube

Rooted, Forged, Rise: More Than Boxing

Bandia Rise was billed as "more than boxing", and the programme lived up to it. Running each afternoon from 2pm to 4pm, every day carried its own theme:

• Day 1, Rooted: confidence, foundations and identity
• Day 2, Forged: discipline, resilience and sparring
• Day 3, Rise: adaptability, becoming a fighter and expression

Alongside technique and strength and conditioning, the girls worked on partner drills and communication, mindfulness and mindset, sauna and ice-bath recovery, public speaking and storytelling, and an education in how professional fight camps really work. The camp's motto summed it up: Box. Breathe. Build. Become.

Final Day: The Gloves Came Off

Everything built towards Friday. On the final day, the four girls stepped through the ropes for a sparring session that had coaches and onlookers on the edge of their seats.

There were bloody noses, lost eyelashes and plenty of grit, but what stood out was the quality. Lally was full of praise for every one of them, and her line about paying to watch was no throwaway compliment from a world champion.

For girls who often struggle to find sparring partners their own age and level, it was a chance to test themselves properly, and they grabbed it.

In Their Own Words

The four fighters, aged 14 to 16, told NXT FIGHT what the camp meant to them.

“It's been really nice training and sparring with girls from my age group and same experience, because you don't get that in many gyms here.”

Elsa May Whiteman, 16 (Arjan)

“It was so much fun getting to experience how pro fight camps are. I had the opportunity to focus on what my improvements have to be, and I've gotten to work with Rachel Lally, who is such an inspiration to me as a female figure.”

Laila Salem, 15 (Spartans DPC)

“I enjoyed the time with the girls. I had the opportunity to improve on my techniques as well. Rachel is a great coach and teacher.”

Emaan Khan, 16 (Abu Dhabi)

“It's been nice to spar with girls. There's not many of us, so any time together has helped build a community and friendships.”

Ti'jhaan Ajram, 14 (Abu Dhabi)

Eyes on Asian Games: Coach Zorik Stepanyan

Working the corner for Emaan and Ti'jhaan on sparring day was Coach Zorik Stepanyan. Speaking to NXT FIGHT, he said he was very happy to see girls finally getting the chance to spar in the UAE.

He wants more opportunities like this, so the girls can keep sparring, keep growing and go on to become champions. And he made clear what comes next: the Asian Games.

Russian Master of Sport Coach Zorik Stepanyan: "We'll Be Champions" 🥊 | NXT FIGHTNXT FIGHTWatch on YouTube

A Step Forward for Women's Boxing in the UAE

Bandia Rise was a small camp with a big message. A world-ranked professional chose to spend her half-term not resting but passing on what she knows, helping the next generation understand the sport and get to grips with the graft it demands.

Four girls left Box IQ with sharper skills, new friendships and a clearer picture of what it takes to go pro. If the final-day sparring is anything to go by, it won't be long before the rest of us are paying to watch them too.

NXT FIGHT will keep following Bandia Rise and its fighters on the road to the Asian Games.