Testimonials from Our Coaches

My name is Fernando Mateo. I have been a coach for USA Boxing for approximately five years, and I have coached multiple youth champions  across several divisions. I specialize in working with young adults who  need guidance, kids and young adults who tend to react angrily or  poorly, usually because they’ve never had anyone in their corner. As a  result, they often adopt a “me vs. the world” mentality. On our team,  it’s “us vs. the world,” and alongside my coaches and leaders, our  programs help them navigate life.
         Beyond Boxing has been a blessing. Andrew’s goals align with  our own, and his program has been able to provide a much wider reach and  a much louder voice for what I’m trying to provide to our communities,  our youth, and our young adults.

I have been a part of two of Beyond Boxing's graduating classes so  far, working with nearly 30 students in total. About half of those students still show up  to our gym at least once a week. Two of them have had amateur bouts, and  four more are looking to compete in June, 2026. These athletes have shown discipline, self-control, respect, hard work, and tenacity. The list can  go on and on.
Beyond Boxing is a team effort. These kids become part of the team, and  Coach Bryan, our team leader Andrew, and I lead by example. This program  is truly one of one.

Beyond Boxing is more than just a boxing program—it’s a positive, structured environment that

helps troubled youth find discipline, focus, and direction in their lives. Led by Andrew, the Director of Beyond Boxing, and supported by dedicated coaches Coach Fernando and myself, the program goes beyond physical training to instill accountability, respect, and self-control. The coaches serve as mentors, teaching discipline and real-life lessons alongside boxing fundamentals, often reaching youth in ways traditional school settings struggle to achieve. Having personally gone through multiple programs myself, I can confidently say that if I had ever been given the opportunity to join a program like Beyond Boxing, it would have been the first one I chose. Through consistent structure, focus, and positive guidance, Beyond Boxing helps young people build confidence, mental strength, `and a sense of purpose, making it one of the most effective and impactful youth programs available.

My name is Ray Cuadrado, and I serve as President of USA Boxing Metropolitan, the local governing body for Olympic-style amateur boxing in the New York metropolitan area. I am also a coach and the pilot coach for the Beyond Boxing Program, working directly with young people enrolled in the program at the gym level. 

My overall impression of Beyond Boxing is that it is a thoughtfully designed, values-driven program

that aligns naturally with the core mission of USA Boxing. It does not simply introduce young people

to boxing—it introduces them to structure, accountability, and mentorship through a sport that is uniquely demanding of personal responsibility. USA Boxing coaches represent some of the most credible mentors at-risk youth can work with. Every registered coach is required to undergo background checks, SafeSport training, and adhere to a nationally enforced Code of Conduct. Beyond those formal requirements, most USA Boxing coaches bring years—often decades—of real-life experience working with youth in challenging environments. They understand how to balance discipline with empathy, structure with encouragement, and accountability with support.

The values reinforced daily in a USA Boxing gym discipline, respect, consistency, humility, emotional control, perseverance, and responsibility—are not theoretical concepts. They are lived experiences. Coaches hold themselves to the same standards they expect of their athletes, and that mutual accountability creates a powerful bond. Coaches see themselves in the young people they mentor and are deeply invested in seeing them emerge stronger, more confident, and more focused, both in and out of the gym.

Just as importantly, the young people enrolled in Beyond Boxing see themselves in their coaches.

They see individuals who have mastered a demanding sport through hard work and self-discipline, and they begin to aspire toward that same level of mastery. Boxing, by its nature, teaches that no one else can do the work for you. That lesson—personal responsibility—is transformative, particularly for youth who may not have had consistent role models or clear expectations in other areas of their lives. 

Beyond Boxing has had a meaningful impact on our gym community. It has reinforced a culture of

mentorship, elevated standards of behavior and commitment, and provided a clear developmental

pathway for young adults who may otherwise lack structured outlets for growth. Participants show

increased consistency, confidence, respect for rules, and pride in their progress. 

The partnership between Beyond Boxing and USA Boxing adds overwhelming value and legitimacy to the program. Through this partnership, Beyond Boxing participants benefit from USA Boxing’s established infrastructure, including comprehensive insurance coverage for clubs, coaches, and athletes; nationally recognized safety and governance standards; mandatory background screening and SafeSport education; and enforceable codes of conduct for both coaches and athletes. This framework ensures that Beyond Boxing operates in a safe, professional, and accountable environment, allowing coaches and participants to focus fully on development and growth. Ultimately, the relationship between Beyond Boxing and USA Boxing is truly symbiotic. Coaches are empowered to mentor with structure and support, while athletes are given the tools, expectations, and role models necessary to take ownership of their development. Each pushes the other forward. Together, they create an environment where young people are not just trained as boxers, but developed as disciplined, respectful, and responsible individuals.

USA Boxing Metropolitan is proud to support and partner with the Beyond Boxing Program, and I

strongly believe in its ability to create lasting, positive impact for the young adults it serves.

I have lived in the South Bronx since June 1970. I am Fernando "Ponce" Laspina, a former South Bronx gang leader, a former high school dropout who went back to school earning his GED at Elmira Correctional Facility, an Associate Degree in Arts from Eugenio de Hostos Community College in February 1980, a Bachelor of Arts from Lehman College in June 1982 and a master’s in arts and science from Buffalo State University in February, 1985. I have been running Centro Cultural Y Educativo, El Maestro, Inc. since January 2003. Centro Cultural y Educativo, El Maestro, Inc. is a non-profit organization (501 C3) whose mission is to improve the quality of life of the people of the South Bronx through athletic, cultural and educational programs.

- What are your impressions of Beyond Boxing? 

Beyond Boxing is an amazing program helping those in need that others do not even dare to work with.

- What impact has the partnership with Beyond Boxing had on El Maestro?

The impact has been great.
Not only for the financial support but also to see new members/participants interacting with the rest of our membership.

- What has the impact been on the young adults enrolled in Beyond Boxing? 

Most of the young adults from Beyond Boxing attend classes basically the whole week instead of their 2 assigned days.

They have learned very fast and are considered very important to our center.

- Additional Impressions? 

Beyond Boxing is great for  New York City. 

El Programa de Beyond Boxing es todo un éxito y necesario para nuestra comunidad.

Sincerely,

Ponce Laspina

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