Dave Sands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dave Sands
Statistics
Real name	David Ritchie
Rated at	Middleweight Light-heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	5' 10½″ / 179 cm
Nationality	Australian
Born	(1926-02-04)4 February 1926 Burnt Bridge, Kempsey, New South Wales
Died	11 August 1952(1952-08-11) (aged 26) Dungog, New South Wales, Australia
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	100
Wins	87
Wins by KO	52
Losses	10
Draws	1
No contests	2

Memorial to Dave Sands in Glebe, Sydney, Australia

Dave Sands (born David Ritchie; 4 February 1926 – 11 August 1952) was an amazing Indigenous Australian boxer. Many people called him the "boxer with the educated left hand" because of his skill.

He is known as one of the greatest boxers who never won a world title. In 1998, he was honored by being added to the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Later, in 2009, he joined the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in the Veterans category.

Growing Up: Dave Sands' Early Life

Dave Sands was born David Ritchie on February 4, 1926. He grew up in Burnt Bridge Mission, Kempsey, New South Wales. He was the fifth of eight children.

His father, George Ritchie, was a rodeo rider and timber-cutter. His mother, Mabel, was Aboriginal. Dave came from a family of fighters. His father and his great-uncle, Bailey Russell, were known for boxing.

How the Sands Name Came to Be

Five of Dave's brothers also became boxers. Their names were Clement, Percival, George, Alfred, and Russell. In 1939, his brother Percy went to Newcastle to train with a coach named Tom Maguire.

When Dave was 15, he joined Percy and trained with Maguire too. They both lived at Maguire's gym. Dave and his five brothers all started using the last name "Sands." This name came from a train guard, "Snowy" Sands, who helped Percy travel for free to his fights.

Dave Sands' Boxing Journey

Dave started boxing without his coach Tom Maguire knowing. In August 1941, he fought a short four-round match in Newcastle. He won quickly in the first round!

Maguire was not happy at first, but he soon helped Dave become a very skilled boxer. By the end of 1942, Dave had knocked out many opponents in Newcastle. On August 11, 1945, he married Bessie Emma Burns. She was 18 years old.

Becoming a Champion in Australia

Soon, Dave was fighting in big matches that lasted twelve rounds. Crowds of up to ten thousand people came to watch him in Brisbane and Sydney. In May 1946, he beat Jack Kirkham to win the Australian middleweight title.

Just three months later, he knocked out Jack Johnson. This made him the national light-heavyweight champion. Dave easily won rematches against both Kirkham and Johnson. By 1948, he had defeated all the best boxers in Australia. He also beat most of the American boxers who came to fight there.

Grave of Dave Sands at Sandgate Cemetery.

Fighting for a World Title in England

In February 1949, Dave quickly defeated a French fighter named Tony Toniolo. This caught the attention of a British boxing promoter, Jack Solomons. Dave traveled to London to try for a world title.

His first fight in London was tough. He lost to Tommy Yarosz in April 1949. Dave was also recovering from a swollen arm from a recent vaccination. Fifteen days later, he won a difficult fight against Lucien Caboche.

His coach, Maguire, then moved him to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There, friendly people and a new promoter, Joe Shepherd, helped Dave regain his confidence. After two strong wins, he went back to London. In July, he won a huge fight against Robert Villemain. This was called the 'fight of the year'. On September 6, Dave quickly defeated Dick Turpin. This made him the British Empire middleweight champion.

Chasing the World Middleweight Title

Dave returned to Australia in November 1949 as a hero. Soon after, he was in a car accident, but he survived. Over the next year and a half, he won nine more fights. One of these was in September 1950, when he won the Australian heavyweight championship from Alf Gallagher.

Dave Sands was now a top contender for the world middleweight title. His coach, Maguire, tried hard to arrange a fight with the American champion, Sugar Ray Robinson. But it was hard to make the fight happen.

In July 1951, Dave won a fight against Mel Brown in London. This fight was before a title match between Robinson and another boxer, Randolph Turpin. If Maguire's plans had worked, Dave would have fought Robinson instead of Turpin. Many believe Dave would have won, just like Turpin did.

In October 1951, Dave won two fights in the United States. He still hoped for a world title fight back home. But he and Maguire had some disagreements. A new manager, Bede Kerr, tried to set up a fight with Robinson. Sadly, the chance never came.

Dave Sands' Tragic Death

On August 11, 1952, Dave Sands was driving a truck with 15 passengers. The truck overturned near Dungog, New South Wales. Dave suffered serious head and internal injuries. He passed away that evening in the local hospital.

He was buried at Sandgate Cemetery, near Newcastle, New South Wales. Dave left behind his wife, a son, and two daughters. His third daughter was born after his death.

Dave had earned a lot of money from boxing, but most of it went to his managers, travel, taxes, and helping his family. After his death, people raised money to help his family. They collected over £2500, which paid off his home and created a trust fund for his children.

Dave Sands' Boxing Record Summary

Dave Sands had an impressive boxing career.

Titles Dave Sands Won