Bandula

Bandula Rathnapala is a passionate and accomplished boxing coach, mentor, and athletic consultant with over five decades of dedication to the sport. Based in the United States, he serves as a USA Boxing-certified Green Level Coach and is the visionary founder of the Straight Jab Boxing Club in Passaic, New Jersey. His lifelong mission has been to elevate boxing talent from the grassroots to the professional level through a philosophy rooted in discipline, technical mastery, and mental strength.

Throughout his career, Bandula has guided and inspired young athletes to achieve national and regional recognition in both Sri Lanka and the United States. His influence extends beyond coaching, having collaborated with DJMC Promotions and acted as a consultant for the Sri Lanka National Boxing Association, bridging international boxing relations with professionalism and integrity.

Before emerging as a respected coach, Bandula built his foundation as an athlete, representing the St. Mary’s College Boxing Team and later the Sri Lanka Navy Boxing Team. Between 1976 and 1980, he also served as a Navigation Trainee under the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation’s Apprenticeship Board, highlighting his dedication to personal growth and discipline.

Today, Bandula continues to shape future generations of boxers with his holistic, human-centered approach—emphasizing not only physical excellence but also character, confidence, and resilience. His legacy stands as a testament to the transformative power of mentorship, passion, and lifelong commitment to the sport of boxing.