Rest in Peace Richie Sandoval

I first read of Richie’s passing in a post by Top Rank’s Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler, who knew Richie as well as anybody. Richie fought for Top Rank through his championship professional career and Bob Arum gave him a full-time job at Top Rank on his retirement.

Sandoval, the youngest of 5 kids, followed older brothers Joseph and Alberto to a boxing gym as a young boy. He was a great amateur growing up in Pomona, California. He earned a spot on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but the United States boycotted that year, so it was time to turn pro. 

He started to punch for pay in the summer of 1983 and ran off 22 straight wins over the next 3 years. This earned him a world title shot in the spring of 1984. 

In a great highlight reel win, he stopped long-reigning champ Jeff Chandler, who was making his 10th title defense. The 15th-round KO win, earned him the WBA world bantamweight championship.

He defended the title twice and banked 4 non-title wins before making his 3rd title defense against rugged Texan Gaby Canizales on the Hagler-Mugabi undercard in the spring of 1986.

A weight-drained Sandoval was dropped 5 times in a one-sided bout that saw the champion stopped in the 7th round in a near-fatal KO. He would never fight again.

Richie retired with a very impressive record of 29-1 (17 KO’s). 

Upon his retirement, Top Rank boss Bob Arum offered Sandoval a lifetime position at Top Rank Boxing. 

Sandoval’s quiet, shy, and humble out-of-ring characteristics belied his in-ring traits as a great boxer and hard-punching warrior.

On my frequent trips to Las Vegas, I will miss visiting Richie at the Capetillo Boxing Gym where he has been a regular for the last few years. 

Heaven gained a champion and boxing lost a friend. 

Rest in peace, Richie.