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Dave Sands

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Dave Sands
Personal information
NationalityAustralian
BornDavid Ritchie
(1926-02-04)4 February 1926
Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia
Died11 August 1952(1952-08-11) (aged 26)
Dungog, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
WeightMiddleweight
Light-heavyweight
Heavyweight
Boxing career
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights100
Wins87
Win by KO52
Losses10
Draws1
No contests2
Memorial to Dave Sands in Glebe, Sydney

Dave Sands (born David Ritchie; 4 February 1926 – 11 August 1952) was an Aboriginal 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.[1]

Sands was the 2009 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Veterans category.

Early life

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Sands was born at Burnt Bridge near Kempsey, New South Wales. He was the fifth of eight children of George and Mabel (née Russell) Ritchie. His parents were both Aboriginal, from the Dunghutti people, and his father worked as a rodeo-rider and timber-cutter.[1][2]

Sands' brothers also boxed and, in doing so emulated their father and their maternal great-uncle Bailey Russell, who had been a noted bare-knuckle fighter.[2]

In 1939, one of Sands' brothers Percival (Percy) went to Newcastle to train with Tom Maguire who ran the Star Gymnasium there and started going by the name 'Sands'.[3] At age 15, Sands joined Percy there and lived at the gym. Ultimately Sands, and his five brothers took on the Sands name, taken from train guard "Snowy" Sands who helped the travel, fare-free, to Newcastle.[2] They became known as "The Fighting Sands Brothers" and Sands became the most successful and the most well known.[1][4]

Career

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While training, and without Maguire's knowledge, Sands fought a four-round preliminary bout in August 1941 at Newcastle Stadium which he won in the first round. Maguire disapproved but it showed Sands skills and, by the end of 1942, he had knocked out a dozen opponents in the area and was soon boxing in twelve-round matches in front of large crowds in Brisbane and Sydney.[2][4]

In May 1946, Sands defeated Jack Kirkham for the Australian middleweight title and, three months later, knocked out Jack Johnson in four rounds to become national light-heavyweight champion. By 1948, he had beaten all his local opponents and most American 'imports' who had travelled to Australia. In February 1949, following his 'mauling' of a French fighter Tony Toniolo in less than two minutes, English promoter Jack Solomons took an interest in him.[2]

Grave of Dave Sands at Sandgate Cemetery.

In 1949 Sands travelled to London where he began a campaign for the world title, however, despite an enthusiastic reception from the British press, he had limited success. There, 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.[2]

Maguire, who had travelled with him, 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.[2]

Dave (fourth from left) with his five brothers)

Shortly after Sands triumphal return to Australia in November 1949, he 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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

Personal life

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On 11 August 1945, Sands married 18-year-old Bessie Emma Burns at St Paul's Church of England, Stockton, New South Wales.[2]

Death

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On 11 August 1952, the truck Sands was driving with 15 passengers overturned at roadworks near Dungog, New South Wales when ranked number 3 in the world.[4][5][6] He died of head and internal injuries that evening in the local hospital and was buried at Sandgate Cemetery, near Newcastle, New South Wales.[2]

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.[2]

Legacy

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On 9 December 1986 Sands was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and later, in 1998, was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.[6][1]

In May 2022 Sands' family were presented with a replica belt, in recognition of his achievements, at NSW Parliament House as he never received one in life.[4][7][8]

His portrait, by an unknown photographer, is held at the National Portrait Gallery.[1]

Professional boxing record

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100 fights 87 wins 10 losses
By knockout 52 2
By decision 34 8
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 1
No contests 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

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dave Sands, c. 1940s". National Portrait Gallery collection. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Broome, Richard, "David (Dave) Sands (1926–1952)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 1 May 2026
  3. ↑ "Tom Maguire | Monument Australia". www.monumentaustralia.org. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jackson, Melissa; Tape, Kerry-Ann (27 June 2022). "The Fighting Sands Brothers". www.sl.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "12 Aug 1952 - Dave Sands Killed In Track Accident At Dungog - Trove". Sydney Morning Herald. 12 August 1952.
  6. 1 2 "Dave Sands | Sport Australia Hall of Fame". Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  7. ↑ Rugari, Vince (12 May 2022). "'Younger generations need to know': A forgotten Indigenous sporting legend finally gets his dues". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Siossian, Emma (28 May 2022). "'Australia's greatest sporting family': Indigenous boxing legend receives long overdue recognition". ABC News. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

Sources

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Pictures held and digitised as part of the Arnold Thomas boxing collection by the National Library of Australia

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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dave_Sands&oldid=1362919451"