This guy was a clever boxer with nice pop in his punches who looked like a superstar in the making. Handsome articulate kid who destroyed Jeff Chandler when Jeff was looking all but invincible with wins over Gaby Canizales and the rematch/murder of Oscar Muniz. Sandoval disected Chandler, and more impressively stopped him in the 15th round. Sandoval then defended against Edgar Roman (W 15), and Cardenlio Barria who was 27-0, with an 8th round tko. Then he had a handful of nontitle fights to build his record and profile at and around 122 where he seemed to be headed. But then he signed to fight Gaby Canizales at bantam. Struggling as hard as any fighter has to make weight, he showed up as a shell of himself and was dominated by a fighter he would have outclassed if fit. He was dropped hard in the 1st then in the 3rd, then given a holy beating until the 7th when he was dropped three times. He was forced to undergo emergency brain surgery and could never fight again. If that isn't a cautionary tale against fighters pushing too hard to make weight I don't know what is.
Good fighter, had lots of potential. but did suffer a horrible beating by Canizales. I believe on the Hearns-Hagler undercard. Any info on him nowadays?? Brother Albert "Superfly" Sandoval was also a very good fighter.
I think he worked as a talent scout for some promotional firm but I can't say for sure. I remember reading in a Ring interview from the late 90s that he had recovered quite well but was confined to a hospital bed for a week and a half and couldn't remember who we was for more than 2 monthes.
Sandoval looked for all the world like he was going to be around for a long, long time after he disposed of Chandler, but Canizales put a stop to that kind of talk. He sure looked good vs Chandler.
I always thought Richie was a good fighter, remember his fight with Harold Petty, and knew he was headed for good things.However, he did manage to catch Jeff at the right time, and took strong advantage of it.
Chandler looked disinterested in the Sandoval fight. But, Sandoval did what he had to do to beat him. I think the loss to Canizales was mostly because of the weight problem. He should have moved up to 122 and forgot that fight. It ruined him. Back then, you had to weight in the day of the fight, so you didin't have as much recovery time as you do now before the fight.
Yes i definitely know of him, as i think were long lost cousins (jK we do have share the same last name). He is also a local fighter and i followed him since he was a first turned pro and a regular fighter on Espn. He made the 1980 Olympic team but due to the boycott never wernt.,... Like anjother poster said his fights with fellow prospect Harold Petty were excellent 2 super talented Bws at the time... Fast, excellent boxing sills and decent power, i admit i was worried when he took on the great Jeff Chandler but he ended up dominating that fight... THe ko loss to Gaby Canizales was scary, he looked the way Oscar did vs Pac, just a shell and obviously shot and drained by fight time, and Canizales looked better than ever. Like a little Duran, thought they let that fight go on way too long, didnt look good at the end of the fight glad he ended up ok... I believe he was working for Top rank for quite awhile, havent really heard much about him in recent years.. Although about 10 years ago i saw him and his bro Super fly Alberto Sandoval(talented contender) at the WBHOF banquet... Would have like to see an all Pomona shootout with ALbert Davila as both from the same hometown, would have been an intresting matchup.. Davila more experienced but the taller Sandoval although young had the boxing ability of a seasoned vet.
Loved watching Richie. So talented like Superfly. It was actually Bob Arum who offered him 25K a year to work for Top Rank (decent enough money back then, I guess) if he promised never to fight again. And to be fair, I never thought he would beat Gaby Canizales. Gaby was a monster back then. Scartissue
I was just going to mention this as well. Sandoval was a hot favorite among many to win the gold medal that year, but was deprived of that chance by the boycott, and had to claw his way up the pro ranks the hard way, without a gold medal to make his name. People who weren't familiar with his amateur pedigree thought of him as just a good clubfighter heading into his fight with Chandler, and they were completely shocked at the way he outclassed him. But those who were "in the know" knew better. :yep
I saw Sandman stop a faded Chandler in 15 rds back around '84 and then he was damn near killed by Gaby Canizales in 1986 out in Vegas.... Sandman survived the KO and then worked for Top Rank / Arum for a year or two before going into limbo, never to be seen of again.... MR.BILLhat
