AJ and Jennifer Boddie are with their daughter, Sane’t, in the workout yard of the new Boddie Family Boxing Academy in Rio Linda.

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - A new community-based boxing academy has opened on Front Street in Rio Linda. The nonprofit boxing academy is co-operated by the husband-and-wife team, AJ and Jennifer Boddie. 

Boddie Family Boxing Academy is also the home gym for the Boddie’s 9-year-old daughter, Sane’t. Training since she was six and starting in official sanctioned boxing competition at eight, Sane’t has already risen to the top of youth boxing nationally.

Sane’t Boddie is currently No. 1 in the nation in her age group for girls’ boxing. Sane’t has an impressive 2024 national championship belt that was the product of boxing match wins in Napa, Los Angles and then the championship matches in Kansas City, Missouri.

The newly-opened boxing academy operates as a nonprofit organization. A donation of $80 per student helps support the academy and provide scholarships to those who are not able to donate. 

“We don’t turn anyone away. Anyone who comes to get trained, we can figure it out,” AJ Boddie said. “We have students that help with yard and clean-up needs at the academy. We want this to be a place where kids can hang out on Fridays.”

Sane’t Boddie has her 2024 National Championship belt on display.

Jennifer Boddie, a Rio Linda native and a former cage fighter, identified “neighborhood and community” as the driving force behind their endeavor. 

In describing the duo’s motivation for starting a boxing academy Jennier Boddie said, “For girls especially, it is super important for them to develop confidence and to be able to stick up for themselves”

Jennifer Boddie went on to describe some of the benefits of the academy. 

“If you know you can, you don’t, and if they know you can, they won’t,” she said. “A lot of our kids come here because they are being bullied. They don’t want to fight, just know how to protect themselves.”

Academy student Josslin Jennings explained her motivation for training. 

“I love getting all the aggression out because school can be overwhelming. I also just love the community and having time to spend with people that are not from school. And to get that energy out. I love boxing,” Jennings said.

AJ and Jennifer Boddie opened the nonprofit Boddie Family Boxing Academy on Front Street in Rio Linda.

AJ Boddie continued the benefits discussion.

“The training brings confidence. Every day brings different challenges and boxing training helps a person keep moving forward,” AJ Boddie said. “Boxing can be a little more scary than other sports like basketball or football. On the basketball court or football field, you can disappear. You can hide somewhere and not be noticed as much. But in the ring, it is just you.”

Open since Jan. 13, the Boddie Family Boxing Academy is in its soft opening phase. An official grand opening is scheduled for April 13. The grand opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, sparring demonstrations, food, bounce houses and a disc jockey providing entertainment, 

Jennifer Boddie described some of the challenges in getting the academy open and permitted through Sacramento County. Through all the challenges and red tape, she described the overall goal that remained clear. 

“There is not much in town for the kids to do. So this was a solution,” Jennifer Boddie said. “Even if kids visit to socialize and make friends, we are here to do that. If a kid is here to exercise and do something different, we are here to do that. If they want to competitively box, we are here for that too.” 

In April, the academy will partner with Twin Rivers Unified School District to provide programming for youth over spring break, according to the couple, to help keep youth active over the break.

Boddie Family Boxing Academy is located at 6808 Front St. Currently, the academy is open from 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for youth training. The academy also has a women’s class on Thursdays and a senior class is under development.

For more information on the Boddie Family Boxing Academy call 916-897-1968.