Bandula Rathnapala
Bandula Rathnapala's passion for boxing began in Sri Lanka, where he quickly distinguished himself as a talented fighter. Educated at St. Mary's College, Dehiwala, he honed his skills early and went on to represent the Sri Lanka Navy Boxing Club. These formative years instilled in him discipline, resilience, and a deep love for the sport-qualities that would define his career both at home and abroad.
After relocating to the United States, Rathnapala committed himself to coaching and developing boxing talent at both amateur and professional levels. He founded the Straight Jab Boxing Academy in Passaic, New Jersey, a premier training hub that has produced numerous professional fighters, including Glen Tapia, Jowel Flores, Eric Perez, My Mangu, and Victor Pelon. At Straight Jab Boxing, Rathnapala trains hundreds of athletes, many from challenging backgrounds, focusing not only on physical conditioning but also on personal development. He believes boxing is a vehicle to teach discipline, respect, and life skills-preparing his fighters to succeed both inside and outside the ring.
Despite Sri Lanka's strong tradition in amateur boxing, professional boxing remains underdeveloped. Rathnapala has long envisioned a sustainable professional boxing structure in his homeland. Over the years, he engaged with sports authorities and former ministers, including Navin Dissanayake and Dayasiri Jayasekara, to establish coaching frameworks, pro licensing, and knowledge transfer. While early efforts saw limited progress, he now collaborates with the current Minister of Sports, Hon. Sunil Gamage, reporting several constructive discussions aimed at developing professional boxing in Sri Lanka. Rathnapala firmly believes that professional boxing can create not only champions but also economic opportunities and pathways for youth to avoid negative influences.
- Recognition: Honored by the Ceylon Boxing Federation as a “Living Boxing Legend” for his global contributions.
- Promoting Pro Fights: Instrumental in organizing professional events in Dubai and Colombo, including guiding the professional debut of Tharindu Madusanka (“Iron Mike Tarzan”) in Dubai.
- Mentorship: Continues to mentor Sri Lankan boxers, offering technical guidance, motivation, and international exposure.
- Professional Collaborations: Worked with DJMC, Mr. Dunston Rozairo, and former Sri Lanka Boxing icon and ex-president Dian Gomes to revive professional boxing, targeting a major launch in 2026.
Rathnapala's coaching philosophy revolves around two timeless principles -discipline and respect. For him, boxing is not just about winning fights, it is about shaping resilient, responsible, and confident individuals. His fighters emerge not only as skilled athletes but also as well-rounded, principled human beings. Through decades of dedication, Bandula Rathnapala continues to bridge Sri Lanka and the international boxing world, leaving a lasting legacy that inspires the next generation of fighters.