Russell Sands (1980s)

Name: Russell Sands
Birth Name: Russell Mervyn Ritchie
Hometown: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died: 1987-10-23 (Age:23)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 173cm
Pro Boxer: Record

The son of Alfie Sands who had some claim to the Australian middleweight title vacated by the death of his brother, Dave, in 1952, Russell won Australian titles at two weights. In addition to his uncle Dave, another uncle by the same name, Russell, won the Australian featherweight title. The Sands family, an Australian aboriginal family whose real name was Ritchie is the most famous family in Australian boxing history with six brothers fighting at a main event level.Russell started as a professional after his friend and jnr middleweight boxer Tony Campbell, took him to Ray Wheatley's St Marys gym. Russell started his professional career with a four round points decision over Roy Alexander. After ten bouts under Wheatley - Russell step father Fred " Boots" Stanley became his trainer.

Died in a car accident