Time Tunnel: Dave Sands: 1926-1952

by Tony Nobbs

09.08 - This Sunday, August 11, marks 50 years since the passing of Australia's greatest ever fighter Dave Sands. While the term "greatest" is debated by fights fans today, there is no denying that the Aboriginal from the Dhungutti people on the North Coast of NSW is this nations most unfortunate and tragic and his accomplishments cannot be paid tribute enough. At the time of his death in a truck accident age 26 at Dungog, in bushland NSW Sands was rated the # 3 Middleweight contender in the World behind Champion Sugar Ray Robinson and had scored his 97th victory (62 ko) against 10 defeats a draw and two no contests by knocking out Jim Woods in defence of his Australian Heavyweight Title in the NSW country town of Wagga Wagga. And he was broke!

In his 11 year career Sands held the Australian Middle, Lt.Heavy and Heavyweight Titles and annexed the Commonwealth Middleweight Title by knocking out Dick Turpin, brother of Randolph in one round in September 1949 at Harringay,England. He beat future Middleweight Champion and Hall of Famer, Hawaiin banger Carl (Bobo) Olson twice, first in Sydney in March 1950 and then 19 months later in Bobo's adopted hometown of Chicago, Illinois. In the first Olson bout Sands scored a knockdown in round one and then carried the American for the entire 12 rounds, a trait he performed on several occasions in order not to scare of potential rivals.

Born David Ritchie on Feb. 4 1926 at Burnt Ridge near Kempsey, he and his five brothers made the Sands name, taken of a train guard who helped Percy Ritchie, the second oldest, travel to fight fare free in 1940. Percy fought under the name "Ritchie Sands". Two of the other brothers, Russell and Alfie also held National Titles at Featherweight and Middleweight respectfully. The other two, Clem, the oldest and George competed at main event level as did Percy, or "Ritchie". According to legend their father was Puerto Rican but this is disputed by some descendents of the Ritchie clan today who say that being Puerto Rican enabled Dave to travel overseas without too much drama.

The brothers Sands, all wearing green trunks and gold band with a white star combined a record of 361 wins and 199 losses with a few draws and no contents thrown in. They were managed by Tom McGuire and Dave, the 4th oldest turned pro in 1941 scoring a 1st round ko over Leo Corrigan at Newcastle Stadium, south of Kempsey. Because of his explosive punching power, particularly with the right hand, Sands soon became popular and was moved quickly. Like most Aboriginal boxers at the time, the Sands' were poorly treated and exploited. They were not taught a great deal and because of this, at the top level Dave had trouble with fleet footed movers with a tight defence, something he would of encountered five fold in a bout with Robinson, but generally got by through natural ability, raw power and toughness.

After splitting two decisions to American Emory Jackson in 1947 (a third bout was ruled a no contest) Sands would only lose on two more occasions, a ten round decision to slick Tommy Yarosz (1949) and a seven round cut eye stoppage to West Indian Lt Heavyweight Yolande Pompey (1951) both in Harringay. Pompeye was rated # 2 in the World at 175 lb at the time and is remembered for his up and down battle with Champion Archie Moore in 1956. Besides Olson and Turpin, other names on Sands' victims list include O'Neill Bell, Alabama Kid, Robert Villemain (the Frenchmen who beat Jake LaMotta and once put Robinson on the deck), Pete Mead, Boy Brooks, Henry Brimm and Mel
Brown on the night Randoph Turpin upset Robinson, July 10, 1951 in London. Turpin was as reluctant as Robinson was to give Sands a shot, especially after what Dave had done to his sibling two years previous. When Robinson beat Turpin in a rematch, he said "There is not enough money" for him to defend against the Australian who had just stopped Brimm for the second time in Bufalo, NY. Two years before Brimm was good enough to draw and lose on points to Sugar Ray, but only managed to go two in his first encounter with Sands in Sydney but lasted until the tenth second time. around. Instead, Sands fought Pompey and returned to Australia and had four more ko wins. When Olson won the Vacant Crown in 1953 against Randolph Turpin, the balding new Champ said "This Title belongs to Dave Sands" a belief echoed throughout the boxing world.

On November15, 1952, three months after Dave's death, Bantamweight Jimmy Carruthers ambushed South Africa's Vic Toweel with 147 unanswered punches in 139 seconds to become Australia's first ever Universally recognised World Champion in Johanesburg and it was another 16 years until Lionel Rose beat Fighing Harada in Japan to win the 118 lb Belt and become the first Aboriginal to become World Champion in any sport. In the 1970's, another Aboriginal warrior from Kempsey by the name of Hector

Thompson twice challenged unsucesfuly for World Titles against Roberto Duran (Lightweight) and Antonio Cervantes (Jnr. Welter) both in Panama City. Then in the 80's, there was a new member of the Sands family who burst on the scene and carried the name with success. Russell, son of Alfie, turned pro in 182 with no amateur exerience and captured the Australian Welterweight Title in April 1984 at the age of 19, outpointing WBC rated Frank Ropis. Russell compiled a solid record of 24-8-2, with 11 ko's and was due to face Japanese based American serviceman Carlos Elliot for the
OPBF Super Welterweight Title when he was burnt to death in a car crash in 1987. Hopefully this tribute has done Dave Sands justice.