Fighters have always been a fickle lot. They lose a coach or a sparring partner, that could throw a whole fight, but what about losing a gym and adding new coaches? Did this affect Brandon Schneider’s training camp?
Brian Thelaner is Brandon Schneider’s sparring coach and friend and he has been there by Schneider’s side for all six of his fights. This will be his last fight with Brandon as a coach in his corner. Thelaner said the changes have only enhanced Schneider as a fighter. He is confident his fighter was able to overcome all the obstacles thrown at him, especially losing his training gym in Pahrump.
“I think Brandon is looking awesome and that this was one of his best training camps ever,”
Thelaner said. “When Brandon lost Mix It Up Academy in Pahrump we were helped by other coaches who heard that Brandon needed a place to train. So we went to someone who had a similar background to ours and thought the same way as Robert Wilson (another Schneider main coach).”
Thelaner said Schneider sought out a coach named Jon Balgame, who is real old school and is with Fight Capital Gym in Las Vegas.
“He uses a lot of old-school techniques and has similar philosophies toward our way of fighting.”
Thelaner said he has been upbeat about the training during this last camp with his fighter. He said he was not sad.
“He is a friend and I plan on helping him in other areas as much as I can,” Thelaner said. “I feel proud that I have seen him evolve into who he is and I have a lot of faith in him continuing on as a professional fighter, if that’s what he wants. Even if he doesn’t fight again he has grown and made a better life.”
-Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com