Coach Frankie's Box Camp

06/19/2026

We are Rayskidz!!! What an honor it was to give the eulogy for my mentor, friend, coach, and pops the late great Raymond Michael Rinaldi.
Anything great that I accomplished and will accomplish in life I will always share how Ray played a part in that! He never left my corner since I was a hurting kid who walked his gym with a dream back in 1998!!! Thank you to all the many family and friends who were there and have always been there for Ray! His vision continues through the next generation of youth. If Ray has truly impacted your life, than you must pay it forward to the next generation! Do it the right way, the Ray Rinaldi way!
Now we have our Saint Ray looking down on us! He is the Patron Saint of Syracuse inner city youth. I love you alway pops. I’ll see you when I get there!!! Amen

06/18/2026

God is so good! Taco Tuesday was packed with youth and adults!!! So much progress in such a short time! Huge things on the rise, July is gonna be Gigantic!!! Boom

06/17/2026

My pops, my coach, my best friend, my hero!
Thank you for allowing me to join your boxing program many years ago. Thank you for believing in me and always pushing me to work harder and achieve more. I met my best friends in your program. I fell in love with my wife in your program. I learned skills, that have guided and shaped my life. As a coach for you, we built a lighthouse on the Westside and Northside that have shined so brightly for so many youth. You are truly a God send. I’ll spend the rest of my life sharing your stories, knowledge, and wisdom. What an honor it is to be Rayskidz!!! Saint Ray Thank you, for being you. You believed in me so much, I started to believe in myself.

Read the obituary of Raymond M. "Ray" Rinaldi from Syracuse, NY. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care.

06/17/2026

God is so good! Saturday’s Boxing class was so amazing, afterwards we had an our first ever Coach Frankie’s Boxcamp Summer BBQ!!! Packed house, we were able to feed the neighborhood businesses! Anyone who showed up left full! Thank you to all the
Amazing boxing members who helped out!
When I said the blessings over the food all I could think of was my pops Ray! I knew he would be so happy watching us feed all these beautiful kids and families! The Ray Rinaldi Way! I even said it in my prayer! “Do it the right way and you will never have any regrets” I love you so much papa Ray I will share your wisdom and memories forever! Rayskidz for life! Boom

06/15/2026

My second pops has gone to heaven to be with his beautiful wife Florence. I remember on my professional boxing debut getting him a card that said to my pops. I know my Nonno sent me to Ray! I know I was sent by God to Ray! I’m so lucky I walked in his gym so many years ago. I’m so lucky that he took me under his wing and never left my corner. I remember praying to God and asking for direction when I was getting out of the program. I was so scared I would fall back into trouble. I said God please open up a door for me, and then I found Ray and the rest is history.
By God’s grace for the last 30 years I can say that the friendship I have with my mentor, friend, and pops has never changed. He took a scared street kid who just returned from a reform school and taught him how to box, how to have discipline, and respect.
He opened his home and wallet and poured out his soul. His only request was that I do things the right way!!! 100+ fights, My wedding, my graduations, going to the Army. He was there for my children, and family get togethers he was there. Whenever I needed him, he was there. He hired me to coach for him back in 2004 after winning the Golden Gloves. For many years I ran the Westside gym with with my boxing brother Coach Chris. Until, he allowed me to go with Coach Gene and open my own boxing program in 2011. When there was an event or function he did all he could do to get me there. He ensured that I was successful! I owe him my life!
The greatest gift you can give a kid is to show them that you believe in them. Thats what Ray gave me!!!
I love you pops! Hey Ray we did it!!! Thank you for being You!!! 🙏♥️😢🇮🇹🇺🇸🥊

Rinaldi worked with thousands of at-risk youths in Syracuse over the last 70 years.

06/12/2026

Syracuse Development Academy is excited to welcome Vittorio Petrera to its girls coaching staff for the 2026-27 season. Vittorio’s lifetime of experience in the game from youth to professional level will bring a wealth of knowledge to our young players. After his successful playing career with the Syracuse Silver Knights and Utica City FC, Petrera’s focus is now on developing a new generation.

We’re proud to add another well known coach and member of the Syracuse soccer community to the SDA family.

06/12/2026

Thursday Hurtday put in Ladder work day! God is so good!
When you do things the right way, you can take nothing and turn it into something that stands the test of time! Then you can inspire and begin to train your replacements! 💯🙌
We are all students in God’s mighty classroom! Every day we are learning something new, and once we master it we must spread the knowledge to others. “Be a river, not a pond”! Rivers bring new ideas and let go of old ones that’s why they remain fresh! Swamps, become stagnant over time because nothing new ever comes in and the old water/ideas become out dated filled with bacteria. 🤔🇺🇸🥊 🙏💪🏼🫡