Boxing in Syracuse

By Ginger Whitaker, NCC News.

Syracuse Tradition

In Syracuse, the name "Rinaldi" is synonymous with boxing and has been for decades. Three generations of the Rinaldi's work in family-owned boxing gyms. Over the years, getting young kids into the boxing gym has become a priority.
Damian Rinaldi, the North Side gym's head coach, has trained lots of its kids. According to Damian, keeping kids committed to training is often a challenge. "A lot of kids come and go. Not a lot of kids stay because it is tough...but the ones that do stay excel and they do very well," he said.

Making Bonds

Despite the challenging nature of training for boxing, many teenagers find it to be life-changing. Ken Layton, a junior at Liverpool High School, has been boxing for six months. "It requires a lot of discipline on everyone's part, even people coaching you," said Layton. According to him, the bonds made in the gym are strong. Damian agrees and said win or lose, they're a team. "To work for months and training and training and to lose is a horrible feeling and it's tough on everybody as a team. We train as a team, we go to fights as a team," he said. There are many kids on this team. There's barely room enough at Rinaldi's other gym on the West Side for kids to move around the ring.

Academic Training

Training at the Rinaldi gyms is not limited to the physical, but also includes the academic. Currently, three classrooms are being built at the West Side Gym so kids can get in more study time before and after boxing classes. Trainer Frank Alagna said he'll sometimes check report cards to ensure kids stay on track. He understands. As a young teen Alagna was sent away to reform school but later on, it was Rinaldi's boxing gym that saved him, he said.

"Ray's Kids"

Alagna calls himself one of "Ray's kids" and says Ray encouraged him to go to college - something he's also encouraging his young boxers to do. "I know where they're coming from...when they look at me, they see a reflection of themselves. Where I go, they can go. Where I am, they can be," said Alagna.

Having young kids learning to box is something that brings a smile to Ray Rinaldi's face. "We don't make boxers out of these kids, we make good, normal citizens," he said. Ray said the more kids come in, the more they improve. He also said their success does nothing but make him proud.