{"id":623,"date":"2022-10-18T00:00:22","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T04:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/?page_id=623"},"modified":"2022-10-18T17:00:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T21:00:26","slug":"gerard-rinaldis-florida-boxing-hall-of-fame-induction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/?page_id=623","title":{"rendered":"Gerard Rinaldi – Boxing Hall of Famer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"EPSON<\/a>Gerard Rinaldi<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

\u00a0Story of a Hall of Famer<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi ringside at Madison Square Garden<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Gerard Rinaldi\u00a0was a\u00a0native of Gardiner, NY, Stuart, Florida, and Jefferson Township, NJ. He later attended Jefferson Township High School where he excelled in all sports.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Larry<\/a>

Alex, Gerard, and John Rinaldi conducting their first interview for The USA Boxing News<\/em> with Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes two weeks after Holmes knocked out top contender Gerry Cooney in June 1982.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"John<\/a>

John and Gerard Rinaldi in Florida in 1982.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

By the time he was a senior, he was\u00a0a terrific athlete\u00a0and\u00a0champion wrestler in the 101 lb. class. Gerard Rinaldi eventually became one of the top wrestlers in the state, placing in the Districts as well as wi<\/span><\/strong>nning, among <\/span><\/strong>other top awards, the coveted Tri-County Christmas Tournament Trophy.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hall<\/a>

Hall of Famer Gerard Rinaldi (R) with a young Joseph Rinaldi.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Gerard was also voted First Team All Conference. He is still considered the greatest 101 pound wrestler in Jefferson Township history, where his records still stand.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi in his championship wrestling prime (CLICK ON PHOTO TO VIEW HIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

After graduating Jefferson High School, Gerard attended Florida Southern College, and then later transferred to Rutgers University, where he graduated with honors in journalism and history in 1986. While at Rutgers, he was a reporter for the Rutgers Targum, as well as\u00a0\u00a0member of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity\u00a0where he\u00a0became one of the most popular fraternity brothers of his generation.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi (L) with John Rinaldi, former Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton, and Alex Rinaldi in 1992.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Upon his college graduation, Gerard eventually found his true calling and became a boxing writer. Beginning with the Record<\/em>, then the Daily Advance<\/em>, the Trends<\/em>, to eventually The National<\/em> and the The USA Boxing News<\/em>, Gerard Rinaldi became one of the most prolific and important writers of his era.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"2012<\/a>

2012 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Program<\/a>\u00a0(<\/span><\/span>CLICK PHOTO TO VIEW INDUCTION VIDEO)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

An award-winning\u00a0writer for The USA Boxing News, <\/em>Gerard traveled around the world covering championship boxing events and interviewing legendary boxing champions such as Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Billy Conn, Bob Montgomery, Alexis Arguello, Aaron Pryor, Terry Norris, George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya, Wladimir Klitschko, Felix Trinidad, Vinny Pazienza, Macho Camacho, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Bernard Hopkins, Evander Holyfield, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Manny Pacquiao.\u00a0 He was\u00a0also a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame and the Boxing Writers Association.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard

Gerard Rinaldi standing outside the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

Gerard grew interested in the sport of boxing after his father and brothers, along with a Ford LTD station wagon full of friends attended the Muhammad Ali – Joe Frazier III bout \u2013 the famous Thrilla in Manila,<\/em> at a drive-in movie theater in Morris Plains, New Jersey. It was one of the most exciting events of his young life and one that he would never forget. Every time a fighter landed a big punch, which there was many, a horn would honk and the place would erupt in a glorious boxing celebration.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi winning first place in 1980.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

The next turning point of his life was after the Larry Holmes \u2013 Gerry Cooney bout when Gerard met the \u201cEaston Assassin\u201d Larry Holmes for the first time at his gym in Easton, Pennsylvania, only three weeks after the fighter\u2019s immortal win against Cooney. Holmes was shadow boxing in his gym when Gerard and his brothers arrived.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sal Giglia, Alex, John, and Gerard Rinaldi on September 10, 1993 at the Julio C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez – Pernell Whitaker fight for the WBC welterweight title that ended in a draw before 67,000 fans at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The great champion Holmes was not only friendly to the Rinaldi boys, but he described in detail the thrilling moments of his bout with Cooney and what led to the incredible knockout of the challenger.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Roberto<\/a>

Roberto Duran surrounded by Alex, Gerard, and John Rinaldi in 1982<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Throwing punches to the air, Holmes was gregarious, friendly, outgoing and managed to touch the psyche of the future boxing writer. They soon developed a friendship with Holmes, who later introduced them to their boyhood hero Roberto Duran who happened to be training at Holmes\u2019 gym in 1982. These meetings with Holmes and Duran would, in effect, change the course of Gerard\u2019s life.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Alex, Gerard, and John Rinaldi at the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Once he became a writer, he covered such great fights at New York\u2019s famed Madison Square Garden such as Azumah Nelson-Salvador Sanchez, Roberto Duran- Davey Moore, Buddy McGirt \u2013 Pernell Whitaker, Lennox Lewis \u2013 Michael Grant, Felix Trinidad \u2013 Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield \u2013 Lennox Lewis, Bernard Hopkins \u2013 Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto \u2013 Zab Judah, Felix Trinidad \u2013 Ricardo Mayorga, Miguel Cotto- Sugar Shane Mosley, Wladimir Klitschko \u2013 Calvin Brock, Miguel Cotto \u2013 Zab Judah, Felix Trinidad \u2013 Roy Jones Jr., and Wladimir Klitschko \u2013 Sultan Ibragimov, to name just a small few.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Future<\/a>

Future Boxing Hall of Famers John, Alex, and Gerard Rinaldi relaxing near their house in Stuart, Florida in 1980.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The Roberto Duran – Davey Moore bout was especially memorable for Gerard since it took place ten days after Gerard turned 21 years old.\u00a0 Roberto Duran was his favorite fighter and Madison Square Garden was packed to the rafters, with most on hand rooting for the Panamanian slugger Duran. The Garden was supposed to have also opened its 5000-seat theater next door, then known as the Felt Forum, to air the fight via close-circuit. Unfortunately, since ticket sales appeared to be going slow, promoter Bob Arum in one of the most ill-advised and stupid moves in the history of fight promotions, decided not to rent out the theater and refused to air the fight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi (R) with former WBC Middleweight, IBF Super Middleweight, and WBA Light heavyweight champion Iran \u201cThe Blade\u201d Barkely (L).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Well, as Duran fans often do, crowds jammed 34th street in Manhattan, and over fifteen people had to be turned away since the Main Garden was sold-out and the Felt forum was closed! Still, it was one of Duran’s greatest performances and the whole event left a lasting impression on the young Gerard Rinaldi.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cake<\/a>

Cake Celebrating\u00a0 2012 Inductees<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The KIitschko-Ibragimov fight was Gerard at his best, for he was the only reporter who wrote that when Klitschko was booed at the press conference he actually cursed the group at hand. \u00a0Known for his no-holds bar interviewing,\u00a0along with\u00a0his innate ability to get the answers from those he queried, he was also the only writer willing to ask Klitschko the tough questions that other reporters were hesitant to ask.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"bi29\"<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi on Podium to the right in 1980.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

It was also Gerard who formed the first relationship between Vinny Pazienza (now known as Vinny Paz) and\u00a0THE USA BOXING NEWS.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi’s Florida Boxing Hall of Fame Induction in 2012.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span>
(<\/span>Press Photo for Video<\/span>)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Gerard attended the fight at the Civic Center in Rhode Island on <\/b><\/span>October 1, <\/b>1991, <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>and<\/b><\/span><\/span>\u00a0witnessed Pazienza winning the WBA junior middleweight title over Gilbert Dele. Gerard was so impressed with Vinny\u2019s performance that he soon developed a professional friendship, which exists with <\/b><\/span>The USA Boxing News<\/em> to this day.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi in his wrestling prime.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard squaring off with a statue of Carmen Basilio at the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Gerard was also a member of the American Legion, where he was\u00a0a highly respected World War II historian and enthusiast,\u00a0as well as\u00a0had an extensive collection of original G.I. Joe action figures and accessories.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"img605x\"<\/a>

Gerard with former WBA and WBC welterweight champion Marlon Starling<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

On account of his history background, and his countless hours in support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Gerard became a Honorary Lifetime Member of the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, as well as was presented with a brick at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/a>

Alex Rinaldi (L) and Gerard Rinaldi (R) in 1984.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

He had an encyclopedia-type knowledge of all types of history. He knew everything about American and World History, especially all the wars that were fought from the Revolutionary war onward.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Alex, John, and Gerard Rinaldi in 1980.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Because of his extraordinary knowledge and background, Gerard Rinaldi was also a sought after guest lecturer at Veteran’s organizations and Military bases across the world. It was common to see him provide lectures during Memorial Day celebrations and the annual commemorative date of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Gerard and Alex in 1981.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

He also had an extensive knowledge of sports, especially boxing, and even knew more than noted experts about the various genres of popular music.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard

Gerard Rinaldi – the champion wrestler and one of the greatest 101 pounders ever in the state of New Jersey in 1980.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Possessing a brain and memory that retained virtually everything he ever read, heard, or saw, Gerard was able to converse with some of the greatest minds of the 20th Century.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi manning the basketball stand at Bertrand’s Island Amusement Park in 1981.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

There was just something so warm and personable about Gerard who had that natural\u00a0ability and charm to put fighters at ease and make them comfortable in his presence. It may be possibly due to his working at an Amusement Park called Bertrand\u2019s Island back in the early 1980\u2019s.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gerard<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi in 1980 at beginning of his boxing writing career.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Oftentimes people look at their young adult life and try to point out that one summer where the stars aligned and created something magical. For Gerard it was probably the summer of 1981 at a place called Bertrand\u2019s Island.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Gerard Rinaldi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gerard was so well liked that he worked at virtually every level and job at the Park, including food stands, game stands, rides, concession stands, and even the parking lot.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Alex,<\/a>

Alex, Gerard, and John Rinaldi outside the Comic Strip in New York City in 1982.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\"img586\"<\/a>

Gerard (far left) with Alex and John Rinaldi (seated) and Al Giglia, boxing writer Sal Alaimo, and Sal Giglia in 1985.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

But the most interesting job Gerard worked at there occurred in the waning days of the summer when Gerard could be found wearing a gypsy bandana and hawking fortunes for the gypsies.\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong>It was the greatest summer of his life as well as the lives of his brothers and their Cousin Al, who all worked with him there. It was the closest they would ever be and ever be again.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Gerard, Alex, and John Rinaldi in 1988.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The thing was everyone liked having Gerard around. Someone always found a place for him \u2013 even the gypsies.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On account of his vast boxing background and his <\/b><\/span>award-winning<\/b><\/span><\/span> boxing style, <\/b><\/span><\/span>Gerard Rinaldi was inducted posthumously into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012 along with former legendary champions Roberto Duran and Aaron Pryor.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Because I could not stop for Death\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

By Emily Dickinson<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Because I could not stop for Death\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nHe kindly stopped for me\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe Carriage held but just Ourselves\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nAnd Immortality.<\/span><\/p>\n

We slowly drove\u00a0\u2013\u00a0He knew no haste<\/span>
\nAnd I had put away<\/span>
\nMy labor and my leisure too,<\/span>
\nFor His Civility\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We passed the School, where Children strove<\/span>
\nAt Recess\u00a0\u2013\u00a0in the Ring\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nWe passed the Fields of Gazing Grain\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nWe passed the Setting Sun\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Or rather\u00a0\u2013\u00a0He passed us\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe Dews drew quivering and chill\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nFor only Gossamer, my Gown\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nMy Tippet\u00a0\u2013\u00a0only Tulle\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We paused before a House that seemed<\/span>
\nA Swelling of the Ground\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe Roof was scarcely visible\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>
\nThe Cornice\u00a0\u2013\u00a0in the Ground\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then\u00a0\u2013\u00a0’tis Centuries\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and yet<\/span>
\nFeels shorter than the Day<\/span>
\nI first surmised the Horses’ Heads<\/span>
\nWere toward Eternity\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gerard Rinaldi \u00a0Story of a Hall of Famer Gerard Rinaldi\u00a0was a\u00a0native of Gardiner, NY, Stuart, Florida, and Jefferson Township, NJ. He later attended Jefferson Township High School where he excelled in all sports. By the time he was a senior, he was\u00a0a terrific athlete\u00a0and\u00a0champion wrestler in the 101 lb. class. Gerard Rinaldi eventually became one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-623","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/623\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theusaboxingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}