Shepard Takes Foe to Cleaners : Boxing: In a gym above a laundry, he wins 139-pound novice title in Golden Gloves tourney.

It looked pretty simple on television to Robert Shepard. Just stick and move and throw a combination every now and then.

“I was watching the amateur fights on (ESPN), and I felt I could take them,” Shepard said.

Nothing to it, right Robert?

Not exactly.

Friday night at Coons Gym in the San Diego Golden Gloves tournament, Shepard learned that boxing is about 100-degree gyms above Laundromatsand awkward fighters who want nothing more than to take your head off.

Shepard of San Diego managed to escape with a split-decision victory over Charles Bennett of El Cajon in the 139-pound novice championship and earn a trip to the Southern Regionals in Los Angeles. But Shepard acknowledged, his second fight was a humbling experience.

“I’m very disappointed in myself,” said Shepard, 21, who trains out of the Bates Street Gym. “I run six hours a day and train 15 hours a week for this. I think I was in shape, but I was just too nervous. The butterflies were everywhere.”

Although, he’s only been boxing for two months, Shepard thought he was past butterflies.

“I had problems getting my punches together,” Shepard said. “He kept bobbing and weaving and that threw me off my rhythm.”

Bennett pressured Shepard early as he threw punches in flurries. By the end of the first round, Bennett had built up a sizeable lead.

“He was looking to take me out,” Shepard said. “He was looking to go to L.A.”

But apparently the stifling heat began to affect Bennett. He began to slow down, and Shepard starting landing jabs and straight right hand.

In the third round, Shepard and Bennett both looked like they had been through a 15-round brawl. Neither fighter could seem to get much on his punches, but Shepard seemed to land more of them.

“I knew I was way behind and that I’d have to come from behind,” Shepard said.

After it was over, Shepard was happy to survive the night and the heat.

“I felt like I was going to die,” said Shepard, who had to lose nine pounds Friday to reach 139. “I felt like I was waiting on Christmas. I didn’t think it was ever going to end.”

Shepard said he wouldn’t mind fighting Bennett again.

“Hopefully, it will be outside though,” he said. “Somewhere where I can breath.”

In other title bouts, Marcelo Valencia, who was unattached, decisioned Ray Brewton of Bates Gym in a 165-pound novice fight. Michael Leday of Primo boxing club decisioned Rolando Pineda of the United States Institute of Amateur Athletes Club.

Super heavyweight Ricardo Phillips of Fifth Avenue boxing club decisioned Sam Checa of Bates Gym.

Phillips started fast, ran out of gas in the second round, then came on in the third round to take a close decision.

“I came out quick because I thought I could take him out,” Phillips said. “But he was a little tougher than I thought.”