Shepherds share dreams of gold

The Journal Sentinel staff

Colorado Springs, Colo. Teaunce and LeChaunce Shepherd take brotherhood a step further than most siblings.

The Milwaukee brothers are two of the top-rated amateur boxers in the nation, but they aren't too macho to admit they need each other. Getting them to say the L-word might be a bit too much to ask, but yes, they actually do love each other.

"We're this way because of the way we grew up," said LeChaunce, a 20-year-old sophomore who attends Carroll College on a Baby Joe Gans scholarship, an aid package named for the legendary Milwaukee boxing trainer. "It was me and (Teaunce) and my dad. My mom died when I was 7 and he was 4.

"We have other friends, but there really aren't that many outside influences in our lives. We stick together, because we know we'll be there for each other.

"I looked out for him when he was little, but I didn't have to do a lot. I knew right from wrong, and he followed me. We never got in any kind of trouble because we stayed together and did our own thing."

Doing their own thing has meant one thing boxing. LeChaunce, a lightweight, and Teaunce, a bantamweight, were both expected to be strong title contenders here at the U.S. Boxing Championships. The brothers started training with Israel Acosta a year after their mother's death. He is still their coach today.

"I've never seen two brothers who are so close," Acosta said. "They are brothers, but they are more like friends. You know with the Shepherds, you don't have anything to worry about. You know they're going to do the right thing."

The first thing one notices about the Shepherds is that they usually dress alike. Teaunce (pronounced TEE-ance) wears his hair a bit shorter than his brother's, but otherwise there is a strong family resemblance.

"It's only natural," Teaunce, a 17-year-old senior at Milwaukee Tech High School, said of his emulation of his older brother.

"We like the same everything the same music, the same food, the same TV shows and the same girls," Teaunce said with a laugh.

As you might expect, growing up in the Shepherd household on Milwaukee's north side was not an easy life. The boys' father, Lee, a factory worker, has been a strong figure in their lives, but he admits that raising two sons as a single parent has had its ups and downs.

"It was kind of difficult at first," Lee once said of raising the boys. "It was kind of trial and error, but you find a way to do it."

"I think he did a great job of raising us," LeChaunce said.

There is no disputing that the Shepherds have been raised with the self-discipline necessary to be champions. Both Shepherds plan to be members of the 1996 Olympic team and keep ideas of professional careers in the back of their minds.

The U.S. Boxing Championships are the first step toward winning a berth on the Olympic team.

LeChaunce, who was a bronze medalist here two years ago as a light welterweight (139 pounds) has improved his chances by dropping to the lightweight (132) division. He is brimming with confidence.

"I think I'm the best around, and I'm here to prove it," said LeChaunce, who has fought more than 100 amateur bouts. "I'm ready."

Last year's lightweight champion, Lupe Suazo of Tucson, Ariz., has moved up to light welterweight. But LeChaunce still will have to deal eventually with Datris Biagas of Fort Bragg, N.C., who won the Pan American Trials in January.

LeChaunce won his first bout Tuesday, but Teaunce's dream of a title got sidetracked in the tougher bantamweight (119) division. He lost his opening-round bout Tuesday to Jesus Vega in a 9-4 decision.

Whether or not LeChaunce achieves his championship goal remains to be seen, but the Shepherd brothers already have the names of a champion.

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