[3] During his thirteen and-a-half-year professional career from 1957 to 1970, Rinaldi compiled a record of 44–16–5, with 13 knockouts.

He won the Italian light heavyweight title in 1960, and defeated Archie Moore in a non-title bout the same year.

In June 1961, Rinaldi lost a 15-round decision in a rematch with Moore for the NYSAC World Light Heavyweight title.

He then went undefeated in ten consecutive fights, and went on to decision 34–0–4 Erich Schoppner over 15 rounds to win the European Light Heavyweight title in 1963.

He lost the EBU title by ninth round disqualification to Gustav Sholtz in 1964.