Art Aragon, Dies at 80; Was One of the Ring’s Golden Boys
By RICHARD GOLDSTEIN
NYTimes
Art Aragon, the lightweight and welterweight boxing contender of the 1950s known as Golden Boy for his flamboyant ring presence and love for the Hollywood life, died Tuesday in Northridge, Calif. He was 80.
The cause was the effects of a stroke, said his son Brad.
On fight nights in Los Angeles at the Olympic Auditorium, Wrigley Field and Legion Stadium in the early ’50s, the fans’ passions were at their height when Aragon, wearing gold trunks and a gold robe, entered the ring.
Aragon, a native of New Mexico who had Spanish grandparents and moved to Los Angeles as a youngster, became a villain for fans from Mexico when he twice stopped the popular Mexican boxer Enrique Bolanos in 1950 bouts at Olympic Auditorium. After that, the fight fans in Los Angeles grew accustomed to booing Aragon, but he relished the spotlight, becoming a prime gate attention.
Aragon won 89 fights (61 by knockout), lost 20 and had 6 draws, fighting until 1960, according to the International Boxing Research Organization.
He had one title bout, losing his bid for Jimmy Carter’s lightweight championship on a unanimous 15-round decision in November 1951 at Los Angeles after having beaten Carter in a non-title fight.
Time magazine wrote how Aragon “has a handsome profile, a flashy boxing style and a smashing left,” but at the end of the Carter title fight, “his left eye clamped tight, his right slashed, his lips swollen and his body a patchwork of welts, Golden Boy was a slightly tarnished matinee idol.”
Long before the boxer Oscar De La Hoya became known as the Golden Boy, Aragon got his nickname from sportswriters in a reference to the 1939 movie of that name starring William Holden as a violinist turned boxer.
Aragon fought leading boxers like Carmen Basilio, Don Jordan, Billy Graham, Chuck Davey and Chico Vejar. Basilio, a former welterweight and middleweight champion when they met, stopped him in the eighth round of their September 1958 bout.
Aragon relished the Hollywood scene. He was a friend of Marilyn Monroe, according to Brad Aragon, and he dated Mamie Van Doren.
“The Golden Boy was a perfect title for him,” Van Doren told The Los Angeles Times this week. “His smile turned everyone on. His skin was golden. His floppy hair bounced so perfectly. He was just so sexy.”
The sportswriter Jim Murray, reporting in Sports Illustrated on Aragon’s fight with Basilio, wrote: “When he met Basilio at the weighing in, Carmen asked him idly how things were going. ‘Not so good,’ groaned Art. ‘Both my wife and my girlfriend are here.’ ”
In February 1957, a Superior Court jury in Los Angeles convicted Aragon of conspiring to offer a welterweight fighter named Dick Goldstein $500 to lose their scheduled bout in San Antonio the previous December, a fight called off at the last moment when Aragon became ill. The conviction was overturned on procedural grounds.
After retiring from boxing, Aragon was a bail bondsman in the Los Angeles area. He acted in Hollywood films, including “Off Limits,” a Bob Hope boxing comedy; “To Hell and Back,” the story of the World War II hero Audie Murphy; and “Fat City,” directed by John Huston, in which he played a punchy boxing trainer. Aragon was married four times. In addition to his son Brad, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., he is survived by his son Audie, of Santa Monica, Calif.; his daughters Georgian Betita of Madera, Calif.; Mindy Aragon of Calabasas, Calif., and Nancy Henderson of Reseda, Calif.; his brothers Ambrosio, Manuel and Paul; a sister, Ruth Harrison; and six grandchildren.
During the filming of “Fat City” fight scenes in Stockton, Calif., in 1972, Aragon handed out business cards for his bail-bond service reading, “I’ll get you out if it takes 10 years.”
He took a wry look at his boxing career as well.
“When I retired,” Sports Illustrated quoted him as recalling at the time, “Jim Healy, the radio announcer in L.A., said: ‘Art Aragon cleaned up boxing in California today. He quit.’
Classic American West Coast Boxing
The sportswriter Jim Murray, reporting in Sports Illustrated on Aragon’s fight with Basilio, wrote: “When he met Basilio at the weighing in, Carmen asked him idly how things were going. ‘Not so good,’ groaned Art. ‘Both my wife and my girlfriend are here.’ ”kikibalt wrote:His first wife Georgian accused him in divorce papers of cheating on her with 46 women!!bennie wrote:Was Art good with 'the ladies', Frankie?
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Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Just for the record . . .
Somebody is editing my posts, combining them, deleting information, relating to Art Aragon, and others.
Why? Nothing is inaccurate or controversial? Non-offensive, informative copy. I will stop posting here, if this continues. Don't rewrite my copy. If there is a violation, why have I not been informed of such. Don't screw up a great thread, as other boxing sites do to successful, effective threads. Don't attempt to conceal true history, when there is so much insignifigant crap floating around thru so-called "historians" and their organizations.
We have lived the history we share, not something out of a newspaper story written by a prejudiced "reporter" eons ago, likely one on the take.
What's going on?
-Rick Farris
Is there a problem?
Somebody is editing my posts, combining them, deleting information, relating to Art Aragon, and others.
Why? Nothing is inaccurate or controversial? Non-offensive, informative copy. I will stop posting here, if this continues. Don't rewrite my copy. If there is a violation, why have I not been informed of such. Don't screw up a great thread, as other boxing sites do to successful, effective threads. Don't attempt to conceal true history, when there is so much insignifigant crap floating around thru so-called "historians" and their organizations.
We have lived the history we share, not something out of a newspaper story written by a prejudiced "reporter" eons ago, likely one on the take.
What's going on?
-Rick Farris
Is there a problem?
El Gato's fights
Dago---
What a small world that your wife is from Jiquilpan, also that you are from San Diego which is where I am (in North County).
When I fought in Jiquilpan for the first time I had just turned 15 years old and I remember my opponent was Miguel Lopez who was over 20, but that didn't bother me because my very first fight was against Javier Garcia who was 27 years old. I actually had 8 fights in Jiquilpan and won all of them by KO. It is nice to still be remembered by the local people there after so many years. I would love to go back for a visit sometime.
Scartissue---
I hope I don't offend you when I say that I laugh when I read your name. It reminds me of Al Cappone. However, regarding Ken Buchanan, I had two managers at that time-Ralph Gilbraith, who was like a father to me and Danny Villanueva, who was the L.A.Rams kicker. Ralph was the one who did the bookings. I remember one time asking him why he didn't get me a fight against Ken Buchanan and he told me he probably won't fight you. Besides he is already booked to fight Mando Ramos. I was not aware of what Jacky McCoy had said. Ralph was a great person but he couldn't get me the big fights. In fact, I didn't have any fights for more than a year, from July 1967 to October 1968 when I fought Ray Adigun.
Boxingnut---
I have a very good boxer/friend from Liverpool who was at one time my sparring partner. His name is Allan Syres and he was a good fighter of that era. Did you ever hear of him? We hadn't seen each other for 30 years until October of 2003 when he made the special trip to see me inducted into the WBHF. He now lives in California not too far from this area.
Tom---
I believe that picture of Alfonso Samora and Mando Ramos was taken at the autograph session the afternoon of the WBHF Induction Banquet of 2006. I remember I was sitting just a couple of seats from them.
Frank---
The last photo that you posted of Mando Muniz, Bobby Chacon, myself and Julian Eget was taken this past year the day of the Cinco de Mayo parade in East Los Angeles. We had a great time riding in the parade waving our hands to all the people.
Rick---
I had no idea who "Kid" Irapuato was. I was only told that I was fighting a 6 round fighter. My manager was Angel Casillas who was one of the best managers in the State of Jalisco. Irapuato was a smart fighter with alot of good moves. It was a pretty hard fight. I remember the end of the fight when I gave him a left hook to the liver and a right hand punch to the chin. He went down but got up and the referee stopped the fight. I also remember that I got about 50 pesos (about $4.00) for that fight.
El Gato
What a small world that your wife is from Jiquilpan, also that you are from San Diego which is where I am (in North County).
When I fought in Jiquilpan for the first time I had just turned 15 years old and I remember my opponent was Miguel Lopez who was over 20, but that didn't bother me because my very first fight was against Javier Garcia who was 27 years old. I actually had 8 fights in Jiquilpan and won all of them by KO. It is nice to still be remembered by the local people there after so many years. I would love to go back for a visit sometime.
Scartissue---
I hope I don't offend you when I say that I laugh when I read your name. It reminds me of Al Cappone. However, regarding Ken Buchanan, I had two managers at that time-Ralph Gilbraith, who was like a father to me and Danny Villanueva, who was the L.A.Rams kicker. Ralph was the one who did the bookings. I remember one time asking him why he didn't get me a fight against Ken Buchanan and he told me he probably won't fight you. Besides he is already booked to fight Mando Ramos. I was not aware of what Jacky McCoy had said. Ralph was a great person but he couldn't get me the big fights. In fact, I didn't have any fights for more than a year, from July 1967 to October 1968 when I fought Ray Adigun.
Boxingnut---
I have a very good boxer/friend from Liverpool who was at one time my sparring partner. His name is Allan Syres and he was a good fighter of that era. Did you ever hear of him? We hadn't seen each other for 30 years until October of 2003 when he made the special trip to see me inducted into the WBHF. He now lives in California not too far from this area.
Tom---
I believe that picture of Alfonso Samora and Mando Ramos was taken at the autograph session the afternoon of the WBHF Induction Banquet of 2006. I remember I was sitting just a couple of seats from them.
Frank---
The last photo that you posted of Mando Muniz, Bobby Chacon, myself and Julian Eget was taken this past year the day of the Cinco de Mayo parade in East Los Angeles. We had a great time riding in the parade waving our hands to all the people.
Rick---
I had no idea who "Kid" Irapuato was. I was only told that I was fighting a 6 round fighter. My manager was Angel Casillas who was one of the best managers in the State of Jalisco. Irapuato was a smart fighter with alot of good moves. It was a pretty hard fight. I remember the end of the fight when I gave him a left hook to the liver and a right hand punch to the chin. He went down but got up and the referee stopped the fight. I also remember that I got about 50 pesos (about $4.00) for that fight.
El Gato
Some predictable Jim Watt bashing emerging (which I cannot ignore). In Glasgow, NOBODY was beating Jim Watt. The unbeaten Howard Davis got pasted there (absolutely pasted), Alfredo Pitalua had his heart broken there (and Pitalua, half-brother of Rodrigo Valdez, could fight) Vasquez never landed a shot there, Sean O'Grady got butted out of the fight there (hey, it's not a tickling contest!; don't forget that Watt was boxing O'Grady's ears off)...
Finally, in London, it took the great Alexis Arguello 15 rounds to depose the incredibly strong Watt.
Believe me, Watt was a fighter who REFUSED to lose at home.
Finally, in London, it took the great Alexis Arguello 15 rounds to depose the incredibly strong Watt.
Believe me, Watt was a fighter who REFUSED to lose at home.
Last edited by bennie on 28 Mar 2008, 05:14, edited 1 time in total.
Somebody sort this out. Outrageous!Rick Farris wrote:Just for the record . . .
Somebody is editing my posts, combining them, deleting information, relating to Art Aragon, and others.
Why? Nothing is inaccurate or controversial? Non-offensive, informative copy. I will stop posting here, if this continues. Don't rewrite my copy. If there is a violation, why have I not been informed of such. Don't screw up a great thread, as other boxing sites do to successful, effective threads. Don't attempt to conceal true history, when there is so much insignifigant crap floating around thru so-called "historians" and their organizations.
We have lived the history we share, not something out of a newspaper story written by a prejudiced "reporter" eons ago, likely one on the take.
What's going on?
-Rick Farris
Is there a problem?
Dick Goldstien
In February 1957, a Superior Court jury in Los Angeles convicted Art Aragon of conspiring to offer a welterweight fighter named Dick Goldstein $500 to lose their scheduled bout in San Antonio the previous December, a fight called off at the last moment when Aragon became ill. The conviction was overturned on procedural grounds.
By Pete Thomas,
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Former Times sportswriter John Hall was once assigned to spend a training day with Art Aragon, boxing's original "Golden Boy," who died this week of cancer.
"So we went to a drive-in restaurant on Wilshire and had a soda while seeing this carhop he was romancing," Hall told The Times' Lance Pugmire. "Then we drove over to [actress] Lita Baron's home.
"She was married to [actor] Rory Calhoun at the time. He went in and did his thing, and I waited in the car. Then we went over to [radio personality] Bob Kelley's home and sat around the pool having a beer. That was my day with Art getting ready for a fight."
And fight fans wondered why Aragon never won a world title.
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Former Times sportswriter John Hall was once assigned to spend a training day with Art Aragon, boxing's original "Golden Boy," who died this week of cancer.
"So we went to a drive-in restaurant on Wilshire and had a soda while seeing this carhop he was romancing," Hall told The Times' Lance Pugmire. "Then we drove over to [actress] Lita Baron's home.
"She was married to [actor] Rory Calhoun at the time. He went in and did his thing, and I waited in the car. Then we went over to [radio personality] Bob Kelley's home and sat around the pool having a beer. That was my day with Art getting ready for a fight."
And fight fans wondered why Aragon never won a world title.
Memorial service for Art Aragon set
From a Times Staff Writer
March 28, 2008
A public memorial service for boxer Art Aragon, who died Tuesday at age 80, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park and Mortuary in the Hollywood Hills. Visitation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, also at the mortuary.
From a Times Staff Writer
March 28, 2008
A public memorial service for boxer Art Aragon, who died Tuesday at age 80, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park and Mortuary in the Hollywood Hills. Visitation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, also at the mortuary.
Re: El Gato's fights
El GatoEl Gato wrote:Dago---
Boxingnut---
I have a very good boxer/friend from Liverpool who was at one time my sparring partner. His name is Allan Syres and he was a good fighter of that era. Did you ever hear of him? We hadn't seen each other for 30 years until October of 2003 when he made the special trip to see me inducted into the WBHF. He now lives in California not too far from this area.
El Gato
First of all can I say it is an honour for me to correspond with a great former champ like yourself. I have read your great thread on CBZ many times. Allan Syres, the name rings a bell in my memory certainly. I am at work now but when I go home I will check my Mersey Fighters record books and look up Allan. Was 2003 the last time you saw him?
We do have a mutual friend though; Danny Wildhawke. Danny and me have known each other for a few years now and he is a standup guy. I know you know Danny quite well. Danny sings your praises a lot. Only problem with Danny is, he supports the wrong soccer team!! :)
Anyway Best Regards El Gato, I will look up Allan's name tonight.
Rob (aka Boxingnut)
I cannot wait sir!! You lived thru and saw up close a golden era in boxing but then again I'm sure you already know that.kikibalt wrote:Thamk nut.Boxingnut wrote:What a great thread this is. I am of the wrong age (40) and the wrong location (Liverpool, England) to remember this era of West Coast boxing but I have loved reading your memories and looking at the photos, I have learned so much. To all the guys who have contributed, please keep it coming.
We have lots more to come.
I hope you keep writing Rick, I really enjoy your stuff, I remember you on CBZ, your writing was good and insightful then and is now too.Rick Farris wrote:Just for the record . . .
Somebody is editing my posts, combining them, deleting information, relating to Art Aragon, and others.
Why? Nothing is inaccurate or controversial? Non-offensive, informative copy. I will stop posting here, if this continues. Don't rewrite my copy. If there is a violation, why have I not been informed of such. Don't screw up a great thread, as other boxing sites do to successful, effective threads. Don't attempt to conceal true history, when there is so much insignifigant crap floating around thru so-called "historians" and their organizations.
We have lived the history we share, not something out of a newspaper story written by a prejudiced "reporter" eons ago, likely one on the take.
What's going on?
-Rick Farris
Is there a problem?
Re: El Gato's fights
Allan Syres is to be inducted into the "California Boxing Hall of Fame" this June.Boxingnut wrote:El GatoEl Gato wrote:Dago---
Boxingnut---
I have a very good boxer/friend from Liverpool who was at one time my sparring partner. His name is Allan Syres and he was a good fighter of that era. Did you ever hear of him? We hadn't seen each other for 30 years until October of 2003 when he made the special trip to see me inducted into the WBHF. He now lives in California not too far from this area.
El Gato
First of all can I say it is an honour for me to correspond with a great former champ like yourself. I have read your great thread on CBZ many times. Allan Syres, the name rings a bell in my memory certainly. I am at work now but when I go home I will check my Mersey Fighters record books and look up Allan. Was 2003 the last time you saw him?
We do have a mutual friend though; Danny Wildhawke. Danny and me have known each other for a few years now and he is a standup guy. I know you know Danny quite well. Danny sings your praises a lot. Only problem with Danny is, he supports the wrong soccer team!! :)
Anyway Best Regards El Gato, I will look up Allan's name tonight.
Rob (aka Boxingnut)
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elmersalsa
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 15668
- Joined: 02 Feb 2003, 03:50
Hey Gato:
How are you doing once again. I am looking at your record and it is a very IMPRESSIVE RECORD. It tells me a lot. You were some awesome puncher and KO artist.
You won your first 35 bouts by the way of knockout and you was only 14 or 15 years old!...That is very amazing for a guy of that age fighting GROWN MEN and knocking them out. You started as a pro fighter at the age of 13. You had 19 KOs in the first round out of your 71 KO victims. You stopped 13 foes in a row from July 1961 to July 1962 and probably you was not at your very best yet. You was only 16 or 17 years old. Then, you won 25 oout of 26 fights from November 1967 to October 1973, winning along the way the WBC World Lightweight Crown and you stopped 11 in a row from February 1967 to May 1970.
With that record, today, you would have been a SUPERSTAR making Oscar De La Hoya's money. I cannot believe this record....It's amazing!!! I do not believe that De La Hoya was better than you were, but these guys today are making too much money without proving themselves. They do not have to fight lots of fights like you did back in the 60s and 70s.
I would like to ask you:
What is wrong with boxing today?
What fighters in the lightweight class would have been very good in your days as a fighter in your opinion?
When you was doing all this, you never looked back at your record and were amazed at your accomplishments?
Do you regret anything in fighting in those days, now that you see TODAY these so called "super stars" are making too much money?
I would like to ask you, tell me with Bobby Valdez? He looked like a guy that you couldn't crack in 3 straight fights. Was he that good? Did he beat you fair and square or you was not at your very best. I ask this questions because sometimes in one's life, no matter what profession you are, you lose some kind of motivation and momentum. What really happened with Bobby Valdez? Did you like to fight this guy?
And finally, your fight with hall of famer and former world champion Antonio Cervantes, how did you feel going to that fight? Tell us what happened?
It is great to talk to you, champ.
How are you doing once again. I am looking at your record and it is a very IMPRESSIVE RECORD. It tells me a lot. You were some awesome puncher and KO artist.
You won your first 35 bouts by the way of knockout and you was only 14 or 15 years old!...That is very amazing for a guy of that age fighting GROWN MEN and knocking them out. You started as a pro fighter at the age of 13. You had 19 KOs in the first round out of your 71 KO victims. You stopped 13 foes in a row from July 1961 to July 1962 and probably you was not at your very best yet. You was only 16 or 17 years old. Then, you won 25 oout of 26 fights from November 1967 to October 1973, winning along the way the WBC World Lightweight Crown and you stopped 11 in a row from February 1967 to May 1970.
With that record, today, you would have been a SUPERSTAR making Oscar De La Hoya's money. I cannot believe this record....It's amazing!!! I do not believe that De La Hoya was better than you were, but these guys today are making too much money without proving themselves. They do not have to fight lots of fights like you did back in the 60s and 70s.
I would like to ask you:
What is wrong with boxing today?
What fighters in the lightweight class would have been very good in your days as a fighter in your opinion?
When you was doing all this, you never looked back at your record and were amazed at your accomplishments?
Do you regret anything in fighting in those days, now that you see TODAY these so called "super stars" are making too much money?
I would like to ask you, tell me with Bobby Valdez? He looked like a guy that you couldn't crack in 3 straight fights. Was he that good? Did he beat you fair and square or you was not at your very best. I ask this questions because sometimes in one's life, no matter what profession you are, you lose some kind of motivation and momentum. What really happened with Bobby Valdez? Did you like to fight this guy?
And finally, your fight with hall of famer and former world champion Antonio Cervantes, how did you feel going to that fight? Tell us what happened?
It is great to talk to you, champ.
The great thing about your photos, Frankie, is that I've rarely seen them before. Leonard was always a brilliantly managed fighter. Muniz was too battle-worn to win, but he had enough left to teach Leonard a few things.kikibalt wrote:
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Mando Muniz
Last edited by bennie on 29 Mar 2008, 10:45, edited 1 time in total.
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13250
- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
I haven't see Richie in years, last time I seen him he looked a little slow in walking and talking.bennie wrote:Frankie: just thinking about Duarte yesterday also got me thinking about the man he so nearly beat: Richie Sandoval.
How is Richie?
I'll probably see him at the Calif. hall of fame in June as his bother Superfly is to be inducted, if he is there I'll be sure to take some pics of both and post'em here