Dave Sands


Dave Sands was an Australian professional boxer.
The man the Americans called the "boxer with the educated left hand" received his due when he was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998 at a ceremony held in Los Angeles, recognised as one of the greatest boxers never to have won a world title.
Sands was the 2009 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Veterans category.

Early life

He was born at Burnt Bridge Mission in Kempsey, New South Wales, the fifth of eight children of George Ritchie, a rodeo-rider and timber-cutter of mixed Aboriginal and European descent, and his Aboriginal wife Mabel, née Russell.
Sands' brothers Clement, Percival, George, Alfred and Russell also boxed, emulating their father and their maternal great-uncle Bailey Russell, a noted bare-knuckle fighter. In 1939, Percy travelled to Newcastle to train with Tom Maguire. At age 15, Sands joined Percy training with Maguire and both lived at Maguire's gym. He and his five brothers took on the Sands name, taken from train guard "Snowy" Sands who helped Percy travel fare-free to fight in 1940.

Career

Without Maguire's knowledge, Dave fought a four-round preliminary bout in August 1941 at Newcastle Stadium, swinging his way to victory in the first round. Maguire disapproved, but quickly transformed him into a skilled boxer. By the end of 1942, he had knocked out a dozen opponents at Newcastle. On 11 August 1945, he married 18-year-old Bessie Emma Burns at St Paul's Church of England, Stockton, New South Wales.
Sands was soon boxing in twelve-round matches before excited crowds of up to ten thousand people in Brisbane and Sydney. In May 1946, he defeated Jack Kirkham for the Australian middleweight title. Three months later, he knocked out Jack Johnson in four rounds to become national light-heavyweight champion. The rematches were even more one-sided: Kirkham was defeated in five rounds and Johnson fell after 2½ minutes of furious punching. By 1948, Sands had beaten all his local opponents and most American 'imports'. His mauling of a French fighter Tony Toniolo in less than two minutes in February 1949 led the English promoter Jack Solomons to take an interest in him.
Despite an enthusiastic reception from the British press, Sands began his campaign for a world title disastrously. In London on 4 April 1949, while suffering from a swollen, recently vaccinated arm, he was outpointed by Tommy Yarosz. Fifteen days later Sands won, dismally, against a spoiler, Lucien Caboche. Maguire then moved him to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where friendly locals and a promoter Joe Shepherd restored his confidence. After two solid victories, he returned to London and in July thrashed the much-fancied Robert Villemain in the 'fight of the year'. On 6 September, Sands demolished Dick Turpin in 2 minutes 35 seconds for the British Empire middleweight title.
Shortly after his triumphal return to Australia in November 1949, Sands survived a serious accident when the steering on his motorcar failed, and the vehicle somersaulted into a creek. Over the next eighteen months, he contested and won nine fights, one of them a fifteen-rounder in September 1950 in which he took the Australian heavyweight championship from Alf Gallagher. Sands had become a leading contender for the world middleweight title and Maguire vainly sought to arrange a bout with the American champion Sugar Ray Robinson. In the tricky maze of international boxing promotion, his efforts were marked by a paper chase of offers and counter-offers. Sands defeated Mel Brown in London in July 1951 in a preliminary to a title fight between Robinson and another contender Randolph Turpin. Had Maguire's negotiations succeeded, Sands would have been in Turpin's place and probably would have beaten an unfit Robinson, as did Turpin.
In October 1951, Sands won two fights in the United States. Back home, he hoped for a world title-bout, but he was estranged from Maguire. A new manager Bede Kerr reopened discussions with Robinson's connections, but the chance never came.

Death

On 11 August 1952, the truck Sands was driving with 15 passengers overturned at roadworks near Dungog, New South Wales. Sands died of head and internal injuries that evening in the local hospital and was buried at Sandgate Cemetery, near Newcastle, New South Wales. His wife, and their son and two daughters survived him; their third daughter was born in November. Sands had earned about £30,000, but it went on manager's fees, travel costs, tax, family expenses and generosity to his kin. A public appeal raised more than £2500, sufficient to pay off his Stockton home and create a trust fund for his family.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes
100Win87–10–1 Jim WoodsKO4, 2:19Jul 9, 1952Wagga Wagga Stadium, Wagga Wagga, AustraliaWon vacant Australian heavyweight title
99Win86–10–1 Al BourkeKO5, 2:19May 9, 1952West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained Australasian light heavyweight title;
Retained Commonwealth middleweight title
98Win85–10–1 Chub KeithTKO14, 2:20Mar 31, 1952Sydney Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant Australasian light heavyweight title
97Win84–10–1 Ron TooheyTKO10, 2:15Feb 8, 1952West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
96Loss83–10–1 Yolande PompeyTKO7, 2:15Nov 13, 1951Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK
95Win83–9–1 Henry BrimmKO10, 0:50Oct 30, 1951Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
94Win82–9–1 Bobo OlsonUD10Oct 3, 1951Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US
93Win81–9–1 Doug MillerPTS10Aug 20, 1951Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK
92Win80–9–1 Mel BrownPTS10Jul 10, 1951Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London, England, UK
91Win79–9–1 Henry BrayTKO7 Feb 10, 1951Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
90Win78–9–1 Irvin SteenPTS12Feb 5, 1951Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
89Win77–9–1 Boy BrooksPTS12Jan 12, 1951West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
88Win76–9–1 Don MullettPTS12Dec 14, 1950Town Hall, Wellington, New Zealand
87Win75–9–1 Alf GallagherPTS15Sep 4, 1950Sydney Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant Australian heavyweight title
86Win74–9–1 Henry BrimmTKO2, 0:45Aug 8, 1950Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
85Win73–9–1 Boy BrooksUD10May 12, 1950Happy World Arena, Singapore
84Win72–9–1 Boy BrooksDQ4 Apr 21, 1950Happy World Arena, SingaporeBrooks disqualified for refusing to come out for Round 4
83Win71–9–1 Bobo OlsonPTS12Mar 20, 1950Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
82Win70–9–1 Pete MeadPTS10Oct 11, 1949Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK
81Win69–9–1 Dick TurpinKO1, 2:45Sep 6, 1949Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UKWon Commonwealth middleweight title
80Win68–9–1 Robert VillemainPTS10Jul 5, 1949Olympia, Kensington, London, England, UK
79Win67–9–1 Jan de BruinPTS10Jun 3, 1949New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
78Win66–9–1 Jackie JonesTKO1, 1:20May 16, 1949New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
77Win65–9–1 Lucien CabochePTS10Apr 19, 1949Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK
76Loss64–9–1 Tommy YaroszPTS10Apr 4, 1949Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK
75Win64–8–1 Antoine TonioloTKO1, 1:10Feb 18, 1949West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
74Win63–8–1 Tommy PrinceKO3 Dec 17, 1948Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
73Win62–8–1 Len DittmarTKO5 Oct 9, 1948West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
72Win61–8–1 Doug BrownTKO1, 2:58Sep 27, 1948Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
71Win60–8–1 Billy MeyersPTS12Aug 27, 1948Griffith Stadium, Griffith, Australia
70Win59–8–1 George AllenTKO6 Jun 26, 1948Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
69Win58–8–1 Billy MyersPTS12Jun 12, 1948Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
68NC57–8–1 Jackie MarrNC7 Apr 19, 1948Town Hall, Auckland, New ZealandReferee stopped as he felt Marr was over matched
67Win57–8–1 Don MullettPTS12Apr 10, 1948Petone Recreation Ground, Petone, New Zealand
66Win56–8–1 Jackie MarrPTS12Mar 27, 1948Petone Recreation Ground, Petone, New Zealand
65Win55–8–1 Doug RollinsonKO1 Mar 6, 1948Petone Recreation Ground, Petone, New Zealand
64Win54–8–1 Alabama KidKO4 Feb 7, 1948Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
63Win53–8–1 Alex BuxtonPTS12Nov 29, 1947Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
62Win52–8–1 George AllenTKO9 Nov 24, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
61Win51–8–1 George 'Wildcat' HenryPTS12Oct 13, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
60Win50–8–1 George 'Wildcat' HenryPTS12Sep 8, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
59Win49–8–1 George AllenKO2, 2:10Aug 5, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
58Win48–8–1 George AllenTKO1 May 31, 1947West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
5747–8–1 Emory JacksonNC7 May 3, 1947West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, AustraliaThe referee declared a no contest as Emory had not given his best
56Win47–8–1Emory JacksonPTS12Apr 14, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
55Win46–8–1Art LindTKO7 Mar 24, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
54Loss45–8–1Emory JacksonPTS12Feb 24, 1947Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
53Win45–7–1Alf GallagherKO3 Nov 30, 1946Sydney Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaRetained Australian light heavyweight title
52Draw44–7–1Jackie MarrPTS12Nov 23, 1946West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
51Win44–7Jack JohnsonTKO1 Oct 12, 1946West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained Australian light heavyweight title
50Win43–7Jack JohnsonTKO4, 2:57Aug 24, 1946Sydney Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaWon Australian light heavyweight title
49Win42–7Jack KirkhamKO5 Jun 7, 1946Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, AustraliaRetained Australian middleweight title
48Win41–7Jack KirkhamTKO12 May 11, 1946Sydney Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaWon Australian middleweight title
47Win40–7Jimmy BruntTKO1, 2:00Mar 2, 1946Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
46Win39–7Alex BuxtonPTS12Jan 26, 1946Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia
45Win38–7Tommy ColteauxRTD2 Dec 27, 1945Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, Australia
44Win37–7Al WalkerPTS12Nov 24, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
43Win36–7Max CameronTKO11 Oct 20, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, AustraliaWon vacant New South Wales State middleweight title
42Win35–7Billy MyersKO5 Aug 11, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
41Win34–7Tom LamingKO2 Jul 7, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
40Win33–7Herb BroomKO3 Jun 16, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
39Win32–7Max CameronRTD6 May 10, 1945Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, Australia
38Win31–7Al WalkerKO7 May 5, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
37Win30–7Max CameronPTS12Mar 29, 1945Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, Australia
36Win29–7Al WalkerPTS12Mar 3, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
35Win28–7Jack BranderKO2 Feb 3, 1945Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
34Win27–7Jackie MarrPTS12Dec 16, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
33Win26–7Jimmy GreyKO8, 1:00Dec 1, 1944Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
32Loss25–7Jackie MarrPTS12Nov 18, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
31Win25–6Max CameronTKO3 Oct 21, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
30Win24–6Tom LamingKO7 Sep 23, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
29Win23–6Jackie DayTKO5 Sep 2, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
28Win22–6Jimmy GreyPTS12Aug 5, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
27Win21–6Bob CoughlanPTS12Jul 15, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
26Win20–6Dal ConwayTKO4, 0:42Jun 30, 1944Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
25Win19–6Bill BaylissKO2, 2:30Jun 2, 1944Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
24Loss18–6Doug BrownPTS12May 13, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
23Loss18–5Doug BrownPTS12Apr 15, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
22Win18–4Jack MitchellTKO12 Apr 1, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
21Win17–4Jack BuchananKO2 Feb 25, 1944Theatre Royal, Kempsey, Australia
20Loss16–4Jack McNameePTS12Feb 5, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
19Win16–3Bobby ClarkeKO6 Jan 22, 1944Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
18Win15–3George CookPTS12Dec 18, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
17Loss14–3Billy MyersPTS12Nov 27, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
16Win14–2George CookPTS12Nov 20, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
15Win13–2Bobby RiversTKO9 Oct 23, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
14Win12–2Cliff BowenTKO2 Sep 11, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
13Win11–2Ken McDermottKO1 Aug 21, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
12Win10–2Ken McDermottRTD10 Aug 14, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
11Win9–2Eddie TruxelPTS6Jul 17, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
10Win8–2Bill WarrenPTS6Jul 3, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
9Win7–2Snowy StevensPTS6Jun 19, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
8Win6–2Len BakerKO1 Jun 12, 1943Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
7Loss5–2Gunner WilkinsonTKO4 Nov 25, 1941Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
6Win5–1Cec BurrKO2 Sep 23, 1941Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
5Win4–1Eddie RoebuckPTS4Sep 20, 1941Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
4Loss3–1Eddie RoebuckPTS4Sep 16, 1941Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
3Win3–0Eddie RoebuckKO4 Sep 13, 1941Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
2Win2–0Paddy ChapmanTKO4 Aug 26, 1941Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
1Win1–0Leo Con CorriganKO1 Aug 16, 1941Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia