Dave Sands vs Carl "Bobo" Olson II

[TheGreatA]

The great Australian middleweight who tragically died in his prime:



Uploaded by My2Sense.

[NChristo]

Thanks for this, Sands was an animal, one of the forgotten greats.

Shame he died so early, would of loved to see a fight between say him and Robinson or LaMotta.

[BennyST]

Thanks for this, Sands was an animal, one of the forgotten greats.

Shame he died so early, would of loved to see a fight between say him and Robinson or LaMotta.

He would have beaten Robinson if they had ended up fighting at the time. It was getting close to being made with Robinson just holding out for monetary reasons. I think it was after Sands plastered **** Turpin in one round that they really started trying to make the fight.

Such a pity. Bloody Aussies. Always dying in their primes.

[sonnyboyx2]

He would have beaten Robinson if they had ended up fighting at the time. It was getting close to being made with Robinson just holding out for monetary reasons. I think it was after Sands plastered **** Turpin in one round that they really started trying to make the fight.

Such a pity. Bloody Aussies. Always dying in their primes.

Your day dreaming just a little there claiming Sands would have beaten SRR back in 1952 Robinson was on a different level to Sands at that time.

[BennyST]

Your day dreaming just a little there claiming Sands would have beaten SRR back in 1952 Robinson was on a different level to Sands at that time.

Really? Even though many consider that Sands was the best MW at the time in the world, and Robinson had just been beaten by Turpin and Maxim, I'm daydreaming that Sands would have been just a bit too active, slick, big and hard a puncher to have given Robinson what would have probably been his toughest fight to that point and probably won?

As always, triangle theory doesn't work but it can give you a good idea of the skill levels of fighters at a certain time. Robinson had a tough fight with Bobo Olson right after Sands had pounded him around the ring in every round bar the very last and won a much easier, wider decision than Robinson did later on. At the least, that shows you how good Sands was at the time. Why would Robinson have hassled for so much money consistently for a fight against the top contender in Sands? Because they didn't really want it and knew it would be much tougher.

I think he would have been too much at that point. It was just when Robinson was slowing down enough that a guy like Sands, tricky, hard to hit, hit very hard himself, was non stop and didn't give any rest and was a great, accurate counter puncher could have beaten him. His only loss in many years at that time was to Yolande Pompey (Po0mpey was the number two rated LHW and would go on to famously give Moore hell in a back and forth brawl) on a bad cut when he was leading the fight easily and one much earlier decision loss to Tommy Yarosz in a close fight.

Apart from that, Sands was coming off big wins over guys like Bobo Olson, **** Turpin (KO in 1), Robert Villemain, Alabama Kid, George Henry (had just come off big fights with Holman Williams and Lloyd Marshall, Sands beat him better than both) Jan De Bruin, etc etc.

How was he on another level? Another guy Ray fought, Henry Brimm had a two fight series with Ray, losing one close decision and getting a draw in the rematch. Sands blasted him out in two rounds. Just like Robinson and Lamotta, Sands knocked out O'Neill Bell in two rounds. Bell of course famously beat Tommy Yarosz, Fritzie Zivic, Jackie Wilson and other top fighters.

[mickey malone]

Really? Even though many consider that Sands was the best MW at the time in the world, and Robinson had just been beaten by Turpin and Maxim, I'm daydreaming that Sands would have been just a bit too active, slick, big and hard a puncher to have given Robinson what would have probably been his toughest fight to that point and probably won?

As always, triangle theory doesn't work but it can give you a good idea of the skill levels of fighters at a certain time. Robinson had a tough fight with Bobo Olson right after Sands had pounded him around the ring in every round bar the very last and won a much easier, wider decision than Robinson did later on. At the least, that shows you how good Sands was at the time. Why would Robinson have hassled for so much money consistently for a fight against the top contender in Sands? Because they didn't really want it and knew it would be much tougher.

I think he would have been too much at that point. It was just when Robinson was slowing down enough that a guy like Sands, tricky, hard to hit, hit very hard himself, was non stop and didn't give any rest and was a great, accurate counter puncher could have beaten him. His only loss in many years at that time was to Yolande Pompey (Po0mpey was the number two rated LHW and would go on to famously give Moore hell in a back and forth brawl) on a bad cut when he was leading the fight easily and one much earlier decision loss to Tommy Yarosz in a close fight.

Apart from that, Sands was coming off big wins over guys like Bobo Olson, **** Turpin (KO in 1), Robert Villemain, Alabama Kid, George Henry (had just come off big fights with Holman Williams and Lloyd Marshall, Sands beat him better than both) Jan De Bruin, etc etc.

How was he on another level? Another guy Ray fought, Henry Brimm had a two fight series with Ray, losing one close decision and getting a draw in the rematch. Sands blasted him out in two rounds. Just like Robinson and Lamotta, Sands knocked out O'Neill Bell in two rounds. Bell of course famously beat Tommy Yarosz, Fritzie Zivic, Jackie Wilson and other top fighters.

Great Post!..

When Olson took the title from Randy Turpin, he made a ring announcement dedicating the win to Sands, calling him "The Real Champ." and in his opinion would've put it on that version of Robinson too.

Dave Sands was one helluva fighter and you're right to point out that SRR wasn't exactly in the richest vein of form when Sands was on the scene.

[sonnyboyx2]

Really? Even though many consider that Sands was the best MW at the time in the world, and Robinson had just been beaten by Turpin and Maxim, I'm daydreaming that Sands would have been just a bit too active, slick, big and hard a puncher to have given Robinson what would have probably been his toughest fight to that point and probably won?

As always, triangle theory doesn't work but it can give you a good idea of the skill levels of fighters at a certain time. Robinson had a tough fight with Bobo Olson right after Sands had pounded him around the ring in every round bar the very last and won a much easier, wider decision than Robinson did later on. At the least, that shows you how good Sands was at the time. Why would Robinson have hassled for so much money consistently for a fight against the top contender in Sands? Because they didn't really want it and knew it would be much tougher.

I think he would have been too much at that point. It was just when Robinson was slowing down enough that a guy like Sands, tricky, hard to hit, hit very hard himself, was non stop and didn't give any rest and was a great, accurate counter puncher could have beaten him. His only loss in many years at that time was to Yolande Pompey (Po0mpey was the number two rated LHW and would go on to famously give Moore hell in a back and forth brawl) on a bad cut when he was leading the fight easily and one much earlier decision loss to Tommy Yarosz in a close fight.

Apart from that, Sands was coming off big wins over guys like Bobo Olson, **** Turpin (KO in 1), Robert Villemain, Alabama Kid, George Henry (had just come off big fights with Holman Williams and Lloyd Marshall, Sands beat him better than both) Jan De Bruin, etc etc.

How was he on another level? Another guy Ray fought, Henry Brimm had a two fight series with Ray, losing one close decision and getting a draw in the rematch. Sands blasted him out in two rounds. Just like Robinson and Lamotta, Sands knocked out O'Neill Bell in two rounds. Bell of course famously beat Tommy Yarosz, Fritzie Zivic, Jackie Wilson and other top fighters.

So say's another Aussie... Your triangle theory is rather flawed as well as misleading, i have 3 full fights of Sands and yes he was a very good fighter but you are exaggerating a little by claiming he pounded Olsen around the ring, Olsen more than held his own in most rounds. The one word you used which i cannot go along with is "SLICK" claiming Sands to be too Slick for Robinson?.. Sands was simply "Not Slick Enough" for Robinson and Robinson carried dynamite in both fists. Sands never beat the calibre of opponents who Robinson beat and back in 1952 Robinson was still at the top of his game as he moved up to 175 and dished-out a boxing lesson to the highly regarded Joey Maxim who himself was at the top of his game fighting future Hall of Fame Fighters and going on to challenge for the Heavyweight Title down the line, Robinson succumbed to heat exhaustion (114*) when miles ahead on all scorecards after the first referee had collapsed 6rds earlier due to the heat. from what i have seen of Dave Sands he was a tremendous fighter but not good enough to beat Sugar Ray Robinson.

[GJC]

Not inconceivable that Sands could have won. He was being lined up to defend his empire title against Turpin but Solomans got wind that Robinson was coming to Europe and set the Turpin Robinson match. Now I was a huge fan of Turpin but i'd put my money on Sands over him. If Turpin could beat SRR and Graziano could drop SRR then Sands would certainly have a great chance. Maybe not slick in the truest sense of the word but Sands was a smart boxer and an accurate puncher, his chin was good too.
Yep he would have had one hell of a chance

[BennyST]

So say's another Aussie... Your triangle theory is rather flawed as well as misleading, i have 3 full fights of Sands and yes he was a very good fighter but you are exaggerating a little by claiming he pounded Olsen around the ring, Olsen more than held his own in most rounds. The one word you used which i cannot go along with is "SLICK" claiming Sands to be too Slick for Robinson?.. Sands was simply "Not Slick Enough" for Robinson and Robinson carried dynamite in both fists. Sands never beat the calibre of opponents who Robinson beat and back in 1952 Robinson was still at the top of his game as he moved up to 175 and dished-out a boxing lesson to the highly regarded Joey Maxim who himself was at the top of his game fighting future Hall of Fame Fighters and going on to challenge for the Heavyweight Title down the line, Robinson succumbed to heat exhaustion (114*) when miles ahead on all scorecards after the first referee had collapsed 6rds earlier due to the heat. from what i have seen of Dave Sands he was a tremendous fighter but not good enough to beat Sugar Ray Robinson.

I didn't say he was too slick for Robinson. I said a slick fighter; and no Sands wasn't slick in the Whitaker/Locche vein, but he was a solid defensive fighter and was slick enough to give Robinson trouble in the way that Lamotta, Graziano, Gavilan etc couldn't. He wasn't a walk in, face first brawler.

He was a counter puncher/boxer with a high activity level with a very solid skill level too. You're right though in that he wasn't some super slick dude with silky skills, but that's not at all what I meant. I meant he was slick enough to give Ray problems at the time along with his other attributes.

Considering who beat Robinson at the time, and the other guys that gave him problems were very arguably not on the same level as Sands, and that he was also arguably the best MW in the world at the time he died, it's not inconceivable in the slightest to think he would have won.

I'm not saying he definitely would have. No one has a definite chance of beating Robinson, but I think there was a very good chance that he would have won. At the very least (and the most likely scenario), I think he would have won a first match and lost the rematch.

He had just the perfect style to give Robinson trouble at the time and with Robinson slowing down and Sands in his prime, I think it would have happened. But hey, we'll never know now will we?

[McGoorty]

Really? Even though many consider that Sands was the best MW at the time in the world, and Robinson had just been beaten by Turpin and Maxim, I'm daydreaming that Sands would have been just a bit too active, slick, big and hard a puncher to have given Robinson what would have probably been his toughest fight to that point and probably won?

As always, triangle theory doesn't work but it can give you a good idea of the skill levels of fighters at a certain time. Robinson had a tough fight with Bobo Olson right after Sands had pounded him around the ring in every round bar the very last and won a much easier, wider decision than Robinson did later on. At the least, that shows you how good Sands was at the time. Why would Robinson have hassled for so much money consistently for a fight against the top contender in Sands? Because they didn't really want it and knew it would be much tougher.

I think he would have been too much at that point. It was just when Robinson was slowing down enough that a guy like Sands, tricky, hard to hit, hit very hard himself, was non stop and didn't give any rest and was a great, accurate counter puncher could have beaten him. His only loss in many years at that time was to Yolande Pompey (Po0mpey was the number two rated LHW and would go on to famously give Moore hell in a back and forth brawl) on a bad cut when he was leading the fight easily and one much earlier decision loss to Tommy Yarosz in a close fight.

Apart from that, Sands was coming off big wins over guys like Bobo Olson, **** Turpin (KO in 1), Robert Villemain, Alabama Kid, George Henry (had just come off big fights with Holman Williams and Lloyd Marshall, Sands beat him better than both) Jan De Bruin, etc etc.

How was he on another level? Another guy Ray fought, Henry Brimm had a two fight series with Ray, losing one close decision and getting a draw in the rematch. Sands blasted him out in two rounds. Just like Robinson and Lamotta, Sands knocked out O'Neill Bell in two rounds. Bell of course famously beat Tommy Yarosz, Fritzie Zivic, Jackie Wilson and other top fighters.

Good post, I believe that Sands could have beaten Robinson,... well 50-50 anyway. Robinson himself said that he thought Sands far and away his most dangerous opponent out there. You have a guy here saying that you are only saying this because you may be an Aussie...... what narrow minded thinking. It is a fact that the Americans had always put massive obstacles in the way of Australian fighters,,.... and particularly the Aboriginals, the colour bar was even pulled on the great Aboriginal puncher from hell, Elley Bennett in 1950. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Sands would have maybe dominated the MW division during the middle years of the 50's...... great post, GREEN K given.