Richard Sandoval was an American professional boxer and Lineal and WBA Bantamweight Champion.
19 Facts About Richie Sandoval
1.
2.
Richie Sandoval was a silver medalist at the 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico and was a US Olympian during his amateur career.
3.
Richie Sandoval was the younger brother of title contender Alberto Sandoval.
4.
Richie Sandoval who was of Mexican descent was born in Pomona, California, a city famous in pugilistic circles as a hotbed for young boxing prospects, including Shane Mosley.
5.
Richie Sandoval's brother Alberto Richie Sandoval was a popular bantamweight of the 1970s, who unsuccessfully challenged Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor for the world title.
6.
The young Richie Sandoval met another future world champion, Alberto Davila, at Pomona boxing gyms.
7.
Richie Sandoval was a two-time National Golden Gloves Champion and from 1979 to 1980, Richie Sandoval went on to win the National AAU Championship at Light Flyweight and then in the Flyweight division.
8.
Richie Sandoval made his professional boxing debut on 5 November 1980, beating Gerardo Pedroza in Las Vegas, Nevada by a knockout in two rounds.
9.
Richie Sandoval won his first ten fights by knockout, including two over fringe contender Javier Barajas.
10.
Richie Sandoval had five wins in 1983, the year in which his friend Davila won the WBC Bantamweight title by knocking out Kiko Bejines, who died days later.
11.
Richie Sandoval outpointed the top ranked and well known Edgar Roman over fifteen rounds on the undercard of Donald Curry's sixth-round knockout win over Nino LaRocca.
12.
Richie Sandoval scored three ten-round decisions that year and one in 1986, including wins over Frankie Duarte and Diego Avila.
13.
Richie Sandoval chose to defend it, despite his problems making the weight.
14.
On 3 March 1986, Richie Sandoval defended his title against Gaby Canizales, as part of a super-undercard organized by promoter Bob Arum, which included the Hearns versus Shuler and Hagler versus Mugabi encounters.
15.
Richie Sandoval reportedly had to lose around twelve pounds in three days in order to be able to fight that night, staying off any solid foods and surviving only on water.
16.
Richie Sandoval fell unconscious a few minutes after the fight, stopping breathing for an estimated three minutes.
17.
Richie Sandoval was rushed to hospital by local on-site paramedics, but he remained in critical condition for the next few nights.
18.
Richie Sandoval had life-saving brain surgery, but the inevitable consequence was that Sandoval was obliged to retire.
19.
Richie Sandoval later went touring across the United States with Davila, as each had been through both sides of a tragic boxing bout.