# Dave Sands

Dave Sands (born David Ritchie; 4 February 1926 – 11 August 1952) 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

| 100 fights | 87 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 52 | 2 |
| By decision | 34 | 8 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
| 100 | Win | 87–10–1 (2) | Jim Woods | KO | 4 (15), 2:19 | Jul 9, 1952 | 26 years, 156 days | Wagga Wagga Stadium, Wagga Wagga, Australia | Won vacant Australian heavyweight title |
| 99 | Win | 86–10–1 (2) | Al Bourke | KO | 5 (15), 2:19 | May 9, 1952 | 26 years, 95 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | Retained Australasian light heavyweight title; Retained Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 98 | Win | 85–10–1 (2) | Chub Keith | TKO | 14 (15), 2:20 | Mar 31, 1952 | 26 years, 56 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Won vacant Australasian light heavyweight title |
| 97 | Win | 84–10–1 (2) | Ron Toohey | TKO | 10 (12), 2:15 | Feb 8, 1952 | 26 years, 4 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 96 | Loss | 83–10–1 (2) | Yolande Pompey | TKO | 7 (10), 2:15 | Nov 13, 1951 | 25 years, 282 days | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK | |
| 95 | Win | 83–9–1 (2) | Henry Brimm | KO | 10 (10), 0:50 | Oct 30, 1951 | 25 years, 268 days | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US | |
| 94 | Win | 82–9–1 (2) | Bobo Olson | UD | 10 | Oct 3, 1951 | 25 years, 241 days | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 93 | Win | 81–9–1 (2) | Doug Miller | PTS | 10 | Aug 20, 1951 | 25 years, 197 days | Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK | |
| 92 | Win | 80–9–1 (2) | Mel Brown | PTS | 10 | Jul 10, 1951 | 25 years, 156 days | Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London, England, UK | |
| 91 | Win | 79–9–1 (2) | Henry Bray | TKO | 7 (12) | Feb 10, 1951 | 25 years, 6 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 90 | Win | 78–9–1 (2) | Irvin Steen | PTS | 12 | Feb 5, 1951 | 25 years, 1 day | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 89 | Win | 77–9–1 (2) | Boy Brooks | PTS | 12 | Jan 12, 1951 | 24 years, 342 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 88 | Win | 76–9–1 (2) | Don Mullett | PTS | 12 | Dec 14, 1950 | 24 years, 313 days | Town Hall, Wellington, New Zealand | |
| 87 | Win | 75–9–1 (2) | Alf Gallagher | PTS | 15 | Sep 4, 1950 | 24 years, 212 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Won vacant Australian heavyweight title |
| 86 | Win | 74–9–1 (2) | Henry Brimm | TKO | 2 (12), 0:45 | Aug 8, 1950 | 24 years, 185 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 85 | Win | 73–9–1 (2) | Boy Brooks | UD | 10 | May 12, 1950 | 24 years, 97 days | Happy World Arena, Singapore | |
| 84 | Win | 72–9–1 (2) | Boy Brooks | DQ | 4 (10) | Apr 21, 1950 | 24 years, 76 days | Happy World Arena, Singapore | Brooks disqualified for refusing to come out for Round 4 |
| 83 | Win | 71–9–1 (2) | Bobo Olson | PTS | 12 | Mar 20, 1950 | 24 years, 44 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 82 | Win | 70–9–1 (2) | Pete Mead | PTS | 10 | Oct 11, 1949 | 23 years, 249 days | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK | |
| 81 | Win | 69–9–1 (2) | Dick Turpin | KO | 1 (15), 2:45 | Sep 6, 1949 | 23 years, 214 days | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK | Won Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 80 | Win | 68–9–1 (2) | Robert Villemain | PTS | 10 | Jul 5, 1949 | 23 years, 151 days | Olympia, Kensington, London, England, UK | |
| 79 | Win | 67–9–1 (2) | Jan de Bruin | PTS | 10 | Jun 3, 1949 | 23 years, 119 days | New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 78 | Win | 66–9–1 (2) | Jackie Jones | TKO | 1 (10), 1:20 | May 16, 1949 | 23 years, 101 days | New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, England, UK | |
| 77 | Win | 65–9–1 (2) | Lucien Caboche | PTS | 10 | Apr 19, 1949 | 23 years, 74 days | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK | |
| 76 | Loss | 64–9–1 (2) | Tommy Yarosz | PTS | 10 | Apr 4, 1949 | 23 years, 59 days | Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, UK | |
| 75 | Win | 64–8–1 (2) | Antoine Toniolo | TKO | 1 (12), 1:10 | Feb 18, 1949 | 23 years, 14 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 74 | Win | 63–8–1 (2) | Tommy Prince | KO | 3 (12) | Dec 17, 1948 | 22 years, 317 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 73 | Win | 62–8–1 (2) | Len Dittmar | TKO | 5 (12) | Oct 9, 1948 | 22 years, 248 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 72 | Win | 61–8–1 (2) | Doug Brown | TKO | 1 (12), 2:58 | Sep 27, 1948 | 22 years, 236 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 71 | Win | 60–8–1 (2) | Billy Meyers | PTS | 12 | Aug 27, 1948 | 22 years, 205 days | Griffith Stadium, Griffith, Australia | |
| 70 | Win | 59–8–1 (2) | George Allen | TKO | 6 (12) | Jun 26, 1948 | 22 years, 143 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 69 | Win | 58–8–1 (2) | Billy Myers | PTS | 12 | Jun 12, 1948 | 22 years, 129 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 68 | NC | 57–8–1 (2) | Jackie Marr | NC | 7 (12) | Apr 19, 1948 | 22 years, 75 days | Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand | Referee stopped as he felt Marr was over matched |
| 67 | Win | 57–8–1 (1) | Don Mullett | PTS | 12 | Apr 10, 1948 | 22 years, 66 days | Petone Recreation Ground, Petone, New Zealand | |
| 66 | Win | 56–8–1 (1) | Jackie Marr | PTS | 12 | Mar 27, 1948 | 22 years, 52 days | Petone Recreation Ground, Petone, New Zealand | |
| 65 | Win | 55–8–1 (1) | Doug Rollinson | KO | 1 (12) | Mar 6, 1948 | 22 years, 31 days | Petone Recreation Ground, Petone, New Zealand | |
| 64 | Win | 54–8–1 (1) | Alabama Kid | KO | 4 (12) | Feb 7, 1948 | 22 years, 3 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 63 | Win | 53–8–1 (1) | Alex Buxton | PTS | 12 | Nov 29, 1947 | 21 years, 298 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 62 | Win | 52–8–1 (1) | George Allen | TKO | 9 (12) | Nov 24, 1947 | 21 years, 293 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 61 | Win | 51–8–1 (1) | George 'Wildcat' Henry | PTS | 12 | Oct 13, 1947 | 21 years, 251 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 60 | Win | 50–8–1 (1) | George 'Wildcat' Henry | PTS | 12 | Sep 8, 1947 | 21 years, 216 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 59 | Win | 49–8–1 (1) | George Allen | KO | 2 (12), 2:10 | Aug 5, 1947 | 21 years, 182 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 58 | Win | 48–8–1 (1) | George Allen | TKO | 1 (12) | May 31, 1947 | 21 years, 116 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 57 | NC | 47–8–1 (1) | Emory Jackson | NC | 7 (12) | May 3, 1947 | 21 years, 88 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | The referee declared a no contest as Emory had not given his best |
| 56 | Win | 47–8–1 | Emory Jackson | PTS | 12 | Apr 14, 1947 | 21 years, 69 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 55 | Win | 46–8–1 | Art Lind | TKO | 7 (12) | Mar 24, 1947 | 21 years, 48 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 54 | Loss | 45–8–1 | Emory Jackson | PTS | 12 | Feb 24, 1947 | 21 years, 20 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 53 | Win | 45–7–1 | Alf Gallagher | KO | 3 (15) | Nov 30, 1946 | 20 years, 299 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Retained Australian light heavyweight title |
| 52 | Draw | 44–7–1 | Jackie Marr | PTS | 12 | Nov 23, 1946 | 20 years, 292 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | |
| 51 | Win | 44–7 | Jack Johnson | TKO | 1 (15) | Oct 12, 1946 | 20 years, 250 days | West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | Retained Australian light heavyweight title |
| 50 | Win | 43–7 | Jack Johnson | TKO | 4 (15), 2:57 | Aug 24, 1946 | 20 years, 201 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Won Australian light heavyweight title |
| 49 | Win | 42–7 | Jack Kirkham | KO | 5 (15) | Jun 7, 1946 | 20 years, 123 days | Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | Retained Australian middleweight title |
| 48 | Win | 41–7 | Jack Kirkham | TKO | 12 (15) | May 11, 1946 | 20 years, 96 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | Won Australian middleweight title |
| 47 | Win | 40–7 | Jimmy Brunt | TKO | 1 (12), 2:00 | Mar 2, 1946 | 20 years, 26 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 46 | Win | 39–7 | Alex Buxton | PTS | 12 | Jan 26, 1946 | 19 years, 356 days | Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 45 | Win | 38–7 | Tommy Colteaux | RTD | 2 (12) | Dec 27, 1945 | 19 years, 326 days | Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 44 | Win | 37–7 | Al Walker | PTS | 12 | Nov 24, 1945 | 19 years, 293 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 43 | Win | 36–7 | Max Cameron | TKO | 11 (15) | Oct 20, 1945 | 19 years, 258 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | Won vacant New South Wales State middleweight title |
| 42 | Win | 35–7 | Billy Myers | KO | 5 (12) | Aug 11, 1945 | 19 years, 188 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 41 | Win | 34–7 | Tom Laming | KO | 2 (12) | Jul 7, 1945 | 19 years, 153 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 40 | Win | 33–7 | Herb Broom | KO | 3 (12) | Jun 16, 1945 | 19 years, 132 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 39 | Win | 32–7 | Max Cameron | RTD | 6 (12) | May 10, 1945 | 19 years, 95 days | Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 38 | Win | 31–7 | Al Walker | KO | 7 (12) | May 5, 1945 | 19 years, 90 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 37 | Win | 30–7 | Max Cameron | PTS | 12 | Mar 29, 1945 | 19 years, 53 days | Leichhardt Stadium, Sydney, Australia | |
| 36 | Win | 29–7 | Al Walker | PTS | 12 | Mar 3, 1945 | 19 years, 27 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 35 | Win | 28–7 | Jack Brander | KO | 2 (12) | Feb 3, 1945 | 18 years, 365 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 34 | Win | 27–7 | Jackie Marr | PTS | 12 | Dec 16, 1944 | 18 years, 316 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 33 | Win | 26–7 | Jimmy Grey | KO | 8 (12), 1:00 | Dec 1, 1944 | 18 years, 301 days | Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 32 | Loss | 25–7 | Jackie Marr | PTS | 12 | Nov 18, 1944 | 18 years, 288 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 31 | Win | 25–6 | Max Cameron | TKO | 3 (12) | Oct 21, 1944 | 18 years, 260 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 30 | Win | 24–6 | Tom Laming | KO | 7 (12) | Sep 23, 1944 | 18 years, 232 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 29 | Win | 23–6 | Jackie Day | TKO | 5 (12) | Sep 2, 1944 | 18 years, 211 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 28 | Win | 22–6 | Jimmy Grey | PTS | 12 | Aug 5, 1944 | 18 years, 183 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 27 | Win | 21–6 | Bob Coughlan | PTS | 12 | Jul 15, 1944 | 18 years, 162 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 26 | Win | 20–6 | Dal Conway | TKO | 4 (12), 0:42 | Jun 30, 1944 | 18 years, 147 days | Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 25 | Win | 19–6 | Bill Bayliss | KO | 2 (12), 2:30 | Jun 2, 1944 | 18 years, 119 days | Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia | |
| 24 | Loss | 18–6 | Doug Brown | PTS | 12 | May 13, 1944 | 18 years, 99 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 23 | Loss | 18–5 | Doug Brown | PTS | 12 | Apr 15, 1944 | 18 years, 71 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 22 | Win | 18–4 | Jack Mitchell | TKO | 12 (12) | Apr 1, 1944 | 18 years, 57 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 21 | Win | 17–4 | Jack Buchanan | KO | 2 (6) | Feb 25, 1944 | 18 years, 21 days | Theatre Royal, Kempsey, Australia | |
| 20 | Loss | 16–4 | Jack McNamee | PTS | 12 | Feb 5, 1944 | 18 years, 1 day | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 19 | Win | 16–3 | Bobby Clarke | KO | 6 (12) | Jan 22, 1944 | 17 years, 352 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 18 | Win | 15–3 | George Cook | PTS | 12 | Dec 18, 1943 | 17 years, 317 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 17 | Loss | 14–3 | Billy Myers | PTS | 12 | Nov 27, 1943 | 17 years, 296 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 16 | Win | 14–2 | George Cook | PTS | 12 | Nov 20, 1943 | 17 years, 289 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 15 | Win | 13–2 | Bobby Rivers | TKO | 9 (12) | Oct 23, 1943 | 17 years, 261 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 14 | Win | 12–2 | Cliff Bowen | TKO | 2 (12) | Sep 11, 1943 | 17 years, 219 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 13 | Win | 11–2 | Ken McDermott | KO | 1 (12) | Aug 21, 1943 | 17 years, 198 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 12 | Win | 10–2 | Ken McDermott | RTD | 10 (12) | Aug 14, 1943 | 17 years, 191 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 11 | Win | 9–2 | Eddie Truxel | PTS | 6 | Jul 17, 1943 | 17 years, 163 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 10 | Win | 8–2 | Bill Warren | PTS | 6 | Jul 3, 1943 | 17 years, 149 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 9 | Win | 7–2 | Snowy Stevens | PTS | 6 | Jun 19, 1943 | 17 years, 135 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 8 | Win | 6–2 | Len Baker | KO | 1 (4) | Jun 12, 1943 | 17 years, 128 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 7 | Loss | 5–2 | Gunner Wilkinson | TKO | 4 (4) | Nov 25, 1941 | 15 years, 294 days | Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Cec Burr | KO | 2 (4) | Sep 23, 1941 | 15 years, 231 days | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Eddie Roebuck | PTS | 4 | Sep 20, 1941 | 15 years, 228 days | Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 4 | Loss | 3–1 | Eddie Roebuck | PTS | 4 | Sep 16, 1941 | 15 years, 224 days | Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Eddie Roebuck | KO | 4 (4) | Sep 13, 1941 | 15 years, 221 days | Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Paddy Chapman | TKO | 4 (4) | Aug 26, 1941 | 15 years, 203 days | Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Leo Con Corrigan | KO | 1 (4) | Aug 16, 1941 | 15 years, 193 days | Greater Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | |

## Titles

| Preceded byJack Johnson | Australian heavyweight Championship 1950–52 | Succeeded byKen Brady |
| Preceded byDick Turpin | Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight 1949–52 | Succeeded byRandolph Turpin |
| Preceded byJack Johnson | Australian Light Heavyweight Championship 1946–52 | Succeeded byCarlo Marchini |
| Preceded byJack Kirkham | Australian Middleweight Championship 1946–52 | Succeeded byAl Bourke |