Contender, Week 2 – Fight Two Again To Blue
Barbara Pinnella
 
The second week of The Contender saw the Blue Team really take control with their second victory in as many tries. But before their win, they already held all the power, as they got to choose who they would send to the ring next, and who the opponent from the Gold Team would be. Team Gold was trying to figure out who might be chosen, and they decided it would probably be between Tim Flamos and Jon Schneider.
 
Meanwhile, the ‘Blue Boys’ were disagreeing among themselves as to who would be the best man to put out second. Alfredo Escalera, Jr. said he was ready, but some of his teammates had some doubts as to whether or not he needed more time in the gym.  When it came down to Alfredo or Mike Alexander, the scientific coin toss method came into play. Escalera won by the toss, and he stepped up to the line and picked out Schneider. Jon, AKA, The fighting Marine, was the least experienced fighter of the group, and Team Blue wanted to capitalize on that fact.
 
Alfredo came from a boxing background. His father was a Lightweight champion, and Escalera, Jr. wants to march in his footsteps. Prior to boxing, Schneider was a wrestler. He turned to boxing when he came out of the Marine Corps. “I started liking it, and saw the possibility there to one day make some money. That was like a dream. I didn’t really think that I was going to turn pro. But I totally shifted my focus to boxing, and then when I wrestled it was just for fun.”
 
This fight was not as exciting as the first one we saw last week. Even though the rounds are shortened for television, something I normally don’t care for at all, this particular fight was sloppy enough that I really didn’t mind. Schneider spent most of the time holding and hugging, even though he did occasionally land some pretty strong blows. But he grabbed more than he hit, and for that reason it didn’t appear that Escalera was able to get off a lot of punches. As the rounds ticked by however, Jon’s face told a different story. Battered and bruised, it became evident that those punches that Alfredo drove home were delivered with a lot of power. With a big mouse under his right eye and bruises and little cuts on his left, Schneider showed he was able to take a beating, and even Alfredo said that Jon surprised him with his chin.
 
In the end the judges all saw the fight the same way. The scores were 49-45, 50-44, and 49-45, all for the winner, Alfredo Escalera, Jr.
 
Most of the men stayed in Singapore, because if someone got injured one of those that had lost their fight could be brought back to fight again.. That would not have been the case for Jon however, since his cuts would not have healed in time to let him fight again – the fights occurred every other day over there, not the once a week time frame that we are watching now.
 
Jon said that he learned 10 times as much from losing a fight than from winning one, and I asked him what he learned from this one. “Well, I learned more from watching it last night then I did from thinking about it, because I could actually see things I was doing wrong.  I started off really slow and I didn’t get warmed up until the third round, which is way too late in a five round fight. I think I need to warm up better before I come out for the fight, and definitely start off quicker.”
 
Alfredo did not do anything that Jon did not expect. “I just didn’t perform to my expectations. That’s what the problem was.”
 
Schneider thought that if the fight had been longer he would have had a better chance of winning. “I gave the first two rounds away, but I was picking it up in the third round,” he told me. “I wasn’t busy enough at first like I was in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.” 
 
Jon felt that his Contender experience helped him. “It bettered me as a fighter, and mentally – primarily mentally. I picked up a few little tricks I can put in my arsenal, but mostly mentally and in helping me mature as a fighter – things like learning to relax in the ring. That only comes with experience. I’ve had 15 fights in my life, so I’m getting some on the job training.”
 
And speaking of training, Tommy Brooks said what might be the best quote of the season; “I can teach you to beat anybody, but when that bell goes ding I walk down the steps and you’re in there by yourself. You better know what you’re doing.” Hopefully for him, his team listens to him and learns what to do soon.
 
So, two for Blue, and it’s a good thing. During sparring, Ryan Coyne was cut and needed a couple of stitches, and the members of the other team smelled blood. Coyne needed at least five days to let the cut heal. As long as Gold doesn’t get control, Ryan is safe. Otherwise, he will have a large bull’s eye painted on his left eye.
 
And finally, by winning the first fight, Felix Cora, Jr. had the opportunity to put his name in any position he would like for round two fights.. He chose the very first slot, indicating that he is ready to fight right now. It will be interesting to see who picks the slot under his name.
 
I would like to thank Jon for taking time to speak with me today.
 
Be safe and God Bless,
 
Viva La Raza,
 
Barb.