Young Parkinson's patients fight back with boxing WBAL's Andrew Tanielian reports. A trio of young Texans are beating back the symptoms of their early-onset Parkinson's disease, reports NBC affiliate station WBAL. Gary Schmitz, who was diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago, says that the boxing workout, coupled with a new diet, have helped him to quiet his symptoms. "I have cut my medication in half of what I used to take last year," he says. Their trainer is Paulie Ayala, a former boxer and two-time world champion. "They're fighting two battles, I mean, they're learning to box and then they're fighting the Parkinson's," Ayala says. They're gaining confidence (in) themselves.