Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Rush hour in Ireland

[bennie]

Darren Barker looks likely to challenge for the vacant European middleweight title in the spring against Italian 'sleeper' Domenico Spada, after a proposed domestic superfight between Barker and Matt Macklin fell through with Macklin's surprise recent move to the States.
The unbeaten Barker, a Londoner, is probably lacking in motivation right now but needs to stay alert against Spada, 32-3 (19), a seasoned, slippery, iron-jawed campaigner who has lost every time he stepped up, and every time he left Italy, but only to excellent men in 12-rounders. Make no mistake bout it, Spada knows how to look after himself and is hardly over the hill at 30, two years older than the champion. Plus, he fights regularly, whereas Barker has been out since last April.
This is something of a no-win affair for Barker, 22-0 (14), a fight he is expected to control in the manner of previous showings but which could turn into a real struggle. Spada has never been stopped in 11 years as a pro and will battle all the way as the sharp, elusive Barker boxes clever and eventually comes through on a hard-earned decision.
However, "Dazzling" Darren may well fail to sparkle.

[telboy66]

Not to long ago,someone asked me to list some NY gyms to visit if in town.

I came across this website that might have an interest to all here:

http://WWW.Boxinghelp.com
click on "gym directory"

I cant speak for the other states- but as far as NY goes, its looks fairly up-to-date.
Since hard times are hitting some gyms,some fold as others open.

If in NY I can recommend by Boros:

Bronx- Worldwide boxing Gym

Also, Juan Laporte's gym.(goes by same name as his).

BKLY- Atlas NYC on Foster Ave. (Teddy is assoc. with this place, whether he is there are not depends on his schedule on the road).

Of course Gleasons Gym- probably your best bet out of them all. Easy to get to from anywhere.

Starrett City- located near housing projects the gym is named after. Mark Breland is there often I am told.

In Manhattan (New York County), Kingsway Intl Boxing. (used to be on 8th Ave for years now relocated. Duran trained there as well as Gleasons when it moved to Manhattan.

Downtown Manhattan: Church Street Boxing.

Queens NY: Irish Ropes Boxing. Was Duddy's new spot, but who knows now.

As usual, please call ahead to find out if gym is still open, and who's in training if there is.
Until mid-March- NY Golden Gloves are currently active and each club has a full slate of young kids training now.

Thanks charlie it was me that asked, we are hoping to get over in June to NY & your list will certainly some of the leg work, Maybe if we do make the trip we can get together & I can buy you a pint or two

[kikibalt]

Coffee is on the camp fire...

[kikibalt]

Raul Rojas, Art Aragon & Jim Healy

[kikibalt]

Phil Kim

[kikibalt]

Baltazar Returns, Defeats Solorio on a Knockout
April 26, 1991|STEVE KRESAL

IRVINE — Frank Baltazar, fighting for the first time in more than two years, scored an eighth-round knockout of Mario Solorio in the junior welterweight main event in front of about 800 Thursday at the Irvine Marriott.

Baltazar (40-3-1), who last fought in March of 1989, looked slow at the outset. He had stopped fighting to take a job with an insurance company, but, once he was done training for the job, began to train to box again.

His punches became more crisp as the fight continued and about a minute into the eighth round, he popped Solorio (10-4) on the chin with a hard left.

Baltazar then pinned Solorio in the corner with a pair of combinations. Solorio escaped but Baltazar followed him and landed again, and the bout was stopped.

"I just turned 33 two weeks ago," Baltazar said. "I realized I have maybe a year or two left, so I had to get started."

On the undercard:

Joey Martin of Anaheim improved to 5-0 with a fourth-round knockout of Ricardo Cruz of Colton.

Martin, who fights out of the La Habra Boxing Club, started slowly, but became more active in the second record. He landed two solid combinations in the third that slowed Cruz.

In the fourth, Martin was coming off the ropes and threw a right to Cruz's midsection. Martin followed with a left hook to the chin that dropped Cruz.

[Panzerfaust]

Phil Kim

Judging by the photo alone, Phil Kim looks like one of those life and death battlers that would go out on his shield. A crowd pleaser....
Its one of those photos that really fires up my imagination and curiosity...

How was he Frank?

[Panzerfaust]

boxer: Philip Kim
Global ID 12656
sex male
birth date 1926-01-26
death date 1958-10-02
division welterweight
alias Wildcat Kim
country United States
residence Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
won 43 (KO 31) + lost 15 (KO 7) + drawn 3 = 61
rounds boxed 376 KO% 50.82
biography





bouts
Lb St Kg | ↑date↓ | ratings off on | print

date Lb opponent Lb W-L-D last 6 location
1956-12-15 141½ Carlos Ortiz 139½ 17-0-0
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L TKO 9 10
time: 1:33 | referee: Charley Randolph 71-80

1956-10-04 144 Carlos Chavez 137 69-34-10
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W SD 10 10
referee: Reggie Gilmore 95-96 | judge: George Latka 97-93 | judge: Tommy Herman 98-95

1956-07-28 144 Mickey Northrup 143 21-9-2
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W PTS 10 10
1956-03-29 146 Dave Johnson 146 15-2-4
Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, United States L TKO 6 10
Kim was stopped on a cut left eye.

1955-07-09 148 Ramon Tiscareno 146 45-10-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States L UD 10 10
1955-06-07 143 Al Villafarra 145 18-3-1
Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Frank Kercheval 3-5 | judge: Lucien Joubert 2-5 | judge: Phil Gaffney 2-7

1955-04-21 144½ Johnny Lombardo 151 32-13-2
Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States L TKO 8 10
1955-03-12 145½ Dickie Wong 143 14-1-0
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 2
1954-02-02 143¾ Frankie Fernandez 143¾ 26-4-1
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L TKO 6 10
1953-12-05 141 Carmine Fiore 143 43-15-5
Uline Arena, Washington, District of Columbia, United States L TKO 9 10
time: 0:34 | referee: Eddie La Fond
The bout was stopped after Kim rose unsteady from a knockdown.

1953-11-09 140½ Ralph Dupas 138½ 44-4-3
Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States D PTS 8 8
1953-10-03 142 Arthur Persley 139 41-4-2
Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, United States L TKO 6 10
Bout was stopped on a cut eye suffered by Kim.

1953-08-29 141½ Virgil Akins 141½ 23-11-0
Rainbo Arena, Chicago, Illinois, United States W TKO 10 10
Akins was knocked down twice in the 10th.

1953-08-17 143¼ Baby Ike 145 37-19-3
Arena, South Gate, California, United States W TKO 5 10
referee: Charley Randolph
The bout was stopped when Baby Ike suffered a broken thumb.

1953-08-04 143 Elmer Beltz 143¾ 28-6-2
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States W TKO 1 10
time: 2:25 | referee: Charley Randolph
Beltz was knocked down for a nine-count, prior to the stoppage.

1953-07-14 140½ Carlos Chavez 138 58-21-9
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Abe Roth 53-57 | judge: Mushy Callahan 54-56 | judge: Lee Grossman 54½-55½

1953-06-06 141 Emil Barao 140 31-40-11
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W KO 2 10
1953-05-09 142 Louis Williams 138½ 13-14-3
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 2 10
time: 2:32
Williams was knocked down five times.

1952-10-16 140½ Art Aragon 142½ 54-12-5
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States L RTD 8 10
referee: Mushy Callahan 41-49
Kim took such a beating in the eighth round that he could not answer the bell for the ninth.

1952-09-27 142¼ Bobby Terrance 142½ 31-25-19
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W UD 10 10
referee: Frankie Van 58-52 | judge: Tommy Herman 58-52 | judge: Jimmy Wallace 58-52
Terrance was knocked down for a eight-count in the 9th round.

1952-08-16 142½ Freddie Herman 141 37-26-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 3 10
time: 2:05 | referee: Mushy Callahan
According to the Los Angeles Times, a cut and heavy swelling around Herman's left eye, led to the stoppage.

1952-07-26 140 Manny Madrid 140½ 28-7-4
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W RTD 7 10
referee: Frankie Van 35½-31½
Madrid retired in his corner after the 7th round, due to cuts.

1952-07-17 142½ Joe Gilmer 142½ 11-7-3
Auditorium, Oakland, California, United States W KO 7 10
referee: Fred Apostoli
Gilmer was knocked down twice in the 7th round.

1952-06-14 Ernie Greer 18-13-9
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 10 10
time: 1:25 | referee: Joe Stone 48½-40½

1952-05-31 141 Chu Chu Jiminez 141 25-12-7
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 3 10
time: 2:50 | referee: Mushy Callahan

1952-05-10 142½ Glen Hendershot 145¾ 34-18-6
Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States W TKO 2 10
time: 0:20 | referee: Mushy Callahan
Hendershot was knocked down twice in the first round.

1952-04-22 141 James Perry 148 5-2-1
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W TKO 5 10
1951-09-18 Henry Davis 38-4-5
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L PTS 10 10
1951-06-26 142½ Emil Barao 139¼ 31-35-10
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W SD 10 10
1951-03-06 144 John L Davis 138 35-16-2
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L UD 10 10
referee: Walter Cho 12-17 | judge: Albert Botelho 12-26 | judge: Louis Freitas 13-19

1951-02-20 146 Ernie Greer 142½ 11-7-4
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 3
time: 2:42

1950-10-03 142¾ Beau Jack 141 86-17-4
Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L PTS 10 10
It was "a slugging match all the way. They fought on even terms till the ninth. Jack finished the stronger". (New York Times)

1950-09-19 144½ Baby Ike 144 24-9-3
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 3
1950-07-18 142¾ Mario Trigo 138½ 42-23-7
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L UD 10 10
1950-05-29 143 Robert Takeshita 145 34-4-1
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 3
Takeshita retired after this fight

1950-04-11 141¾ Robert Takeshita 145½ 34-3-1
Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 5 10
1950-03-14 142 Benny Walker 144 15-6-6
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 10 10
1950-01-24 144 Rafael Gutierrez 144½ 21-3-3
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W TKO 5 10
1949-11-23 Freddie Herman 23-6-3
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States D PTS 10 10
1949-11-15 143 Johnny Gonsalves 139 13-1-1
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 10 10
1949-10-11 142 Arturo Barron 144 29-18-2
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 1
time: 2:06

1949-09-13 142 Mario Trigo 137½ 39-19-6
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 1 10
1949-07-05 Freddie Herman 22-5-2
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States L PTS 10 10
1949-06-03 Freddie Herman 22-4-2
Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 8 8
1949-04-12 143 Chester Slider 147 42-27-16
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 10 10
Slider was knocked down twice in the 10th round.

1949-02-15 141½ Archie Whitewater 136 21-4-1
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 8 10
1949-02-08 141¾ Chuchu Ruiz 142½ 13-8-2
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W TKO 7 10
1949-01-25 Chuck Cureton 23-5-4
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 8
1948-12-28 Bob Burgess 12-10-13
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States D PTS 8 8
1948-08-17 Johnny Ledesma 12-3-0
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 4 8
1948-07-13 142¼ Freddie Garcia 142¾ 8-10-5
Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 2 6
1948-05-18 Llewellyn Strohlin 11-7-3
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 6 6
1948-04-13 Llewellyn Strohlin 11-6-3
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 6 6
1948-03-30 Battling Leno 0-2-0
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 2
1948-03-03 142¾ Ray Camacho 141¾ 6-3-0
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 1
1948-02-10 Russell Leasure 9-15-8
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 6 6
1948-01-27 144¼ Louis Valentine 140½
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 1 4
1948-01-13 140 James Kalei 136 0-0-2
Civic Auditorium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W TKO 3 4
1947-11-24 Eddie Mara 8-15-0
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 1
1947-09-09 Eddie Salazar 12-26-4
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W PTS 4 4
1947-08-05 Eddie Morrow 0-1-0
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States W KO 1


...........................................

[kikibalt]

El Monte Legion Stadium

http://elmontelegionstadium.com/history.html

[CNorkusJr]

Not to long ago,someone asked me to list some NY gyms to visit if in town.

I came across this website that might have an interest to all here:

http://WWW.Boxinghelp.com
click on "gym directory"

I cant speak for the other states- but as far as NY goes, its looks fairly up-to-date.
Since hard times are hitting some gyms,some fold as others open.

If in NY I can recommend by Boros:

Bronx- Worldwide boxing Gym

Also, Juan Laporte's gym.(goes by same name as his).

BKLY- Atlas NYC on Foster Ave. (Teddy is assoc. with this place, whether he is there are not depends on his schedule on the road).

Of course Gleasons Gym- probably your best bet out of them all. Easy to get to from anywhere.

Starrett City- located near housing projects the gym is named after. Mark Breland is there often I am told.

In Manhattan (New York County), Kingsway Intl Boxing. (used to be on 8th Ave for years now relocated. Duran trained there as well as Gleasons when it moved to Manhattan.

Downtown Manhattan: Church Street Boxing.

Queens NY: Irish Ropes Boxing. Was Duddy's new spot, but who knows now.

As usual, please call ahead to find out if gym is still open, and who's in training if there is.
Until mid-March- NY Golden Gloves are currently active and each club has a full slate of young kids training now.

Thanks charlie it was me that asked, we are hoping to get over in June to NY & your list will certainly some of the leg work, Maybe if we do make the trip we can get together & I can buy you a pint or two

Or three .Only kidding. Would like to hoist a few with you though. Let me know,if you can, when you are coming ahead of time and maybe there is something on the schedule we can attend. (fights,meetings,etc etc).

I also want to add to the list above a great place to visit if you are in Manhattan's Time Square area. Famed boxing trainer and former owner of the 42st Street Gym in NYC (now defunct) is Jimmy Glenn. He trained Monte Barrett and a host of others.
Jimmy owns a bar- "Jimmy's Corner" on 44th Street between 6th Ave and Broadway a block off of Times Square. It's not an overly large place and no food is served but the place is festooned with Boxing pictures and things, and is most definetly a "Boxing" bar. Jimmy's usually in at night after 8 pm unless he's out of town working in a corner.He now trains down at the Gramercy Park Gym by day. I'll get the address for that place . Its not on the list. The man has a huge career behind him and has a treasure trove of stories.Great place for those pints.

[kikibalt]

Phil Kim

Judging by the photo alone, Phil Kim looks like one of those life and death battlers that would go out on his shield. A crowd pleaser....
Its one of those photos that really fires up my imagination and curiosity...

How was he Frank?

You said it all Ram. That's how he was....

[telboy66]

Not to long ago,someone asked me to list some NY gyms to visit if in town.

I came across this website that might have an interest to all here:

http://WWW.Boxinghelp.com
click on "gym directory"

I cant speak for the other states- but as far as NY goes, its looks fairly up-to-date.
Since hard times are hitting some gyms,some fold as others open.

If in NY I can recommend by Boros:

Bronx- Worldwide boxing Gym

Also, Juan Laporte's gym.(goes by same name as his).

BKLY- Atlas NYC on Foster Ave. (Teddy is assoc. with this place, whether he is there are not depends on his schedule on the road).

Of course Gleasons Gym- probably your best bet out of them all. Easy to get to from anywhere.

Starrett City- located near housing projects the gym is named after. Mark Breland is there often I am told.

In Manhattan (New York County), Kingsway Intl Boxing. (used to be on 8th Ave for years now relocated. Duran trained there as well as Gleasons when it moved to Manhattan.

Downtown Manhattan: Church Street Boxing.

Queens NY: Irish Ropes Boxing. Was Duddy's new spot, but who knows now.

As usual, please call ahead to find out if gym is still open, and who's in training if there is.
Until mid-March- NY Golden Gloves are currently active and each club has a full slate of young kids training now.

Thanks charlie it was me that asked, we are hoping to get over in June to NY & your list will certainly some of the leg work, Maybe if we do make the trip we can get together & I can buy you a pint or two

Or three .Only kidding. Would like to hoist a few with you though. Let me know,if you can, when you are coming ahead of time and maybe there is something on the schedule we can attend. (fights,meetings,etc etc).

I also want to add to the list above a great place to visit if you are in Manhattan's Time Square area. Famed boxing trainer and former owner of the 42st Street Gym in NYC (now defunct) is Jimmy Glenn. He trained Monte Barrett and a host of others.
Jimmy owns a bar- "Jimmy's Corner" on 44th Street between 6th Ave and Broadway a block off of Times Square. It's not an overly large place and no food is served but the place is festooned with Boxing pictures and things, and is most definetly a "Boxing" bar. Jimmy's usually in at night after 8 pm unless he's out of town working in a corner.He now trains down at the Gramercy Park Gym by day. I'll get the address for that place . Its not on the list. The man has a huge career behind him and has a treasure trove of stories.Great place for those pints.

I would love that Charlie I will let you know as soon as we get our date fixed

[Panzerfaust]

I found this of Phil Kim on youtube. This guy was as tough as they come!!

Carmine Fiore vs Phil Kim round 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-6Pt_tTmSY

[kikibalt]

I found this of Phil Kim on youtube. This guy was as tough as they come!!

Carmine Fiore vs Phil Kim round 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-6Pt_tTmSY

Kim was beatable, but you had to work your ass off to beat him....

I was at the Olympic for his fight with Art Aragon....

[Panzerfaust]

I was at the Olympic for his fight with Art Aragon....

You lucky, lucky guy

[Panzerfaust]

I took a test they had in the newspaper today..... where if you answered yes to two or more questions you were at risk of getting alzheimers.... i had it yes on 7 out of 8 Im 24 godammit!!!!

[kikibalt]

Me in Ireland a few years ago.

Great photos Bennie, thanks for sharing....

[kikibalt]

Art & Audie Aragon . . .

Art Aragon's oldest son, Audie, and I have been friends for more than thirty years.
Audie was named after Art's best friend, WW2 hero Audie Murphy. Murphy was decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Art had a role in the feature film on Murphy's life, "To Hell & Back", in the early 50's
Audie is a grip in the film industry and occasionally we will work together on a major feature film.
We are currently working together on the fourth Spider Man feature.
Audie wanted me to thank Frank for posting the recent pics of his dad, and he mentioned that the photos Frank posted were ones that he had not yet seen.
Audie has several huge scrap books of his father's career, and his mother recently gave him a bag that was filled with Art's boxing gloves, the ones he wore in some of his most memorable fights, such as the Jimmy Carter title bout, Carmen Basileo, etc.
Audie said that shortly before his father's death, he had his dad autograph each pair of gloves with a special gold marker. They were signed, "The Golden Boy, Art Aragon".
Audie has promised to share photos of his dads memorabelia, including one of Art's Pacific Coast Championship belt.
When we speak of Classic American West Coast Boxing legends, none is bigger than Art Aragon.
Audie may also post on this site himself, and he has a lot of great memories of his legendary father, and I told him he has a great audience here fro anything he might wish to share.


-Rick Farris

When I visited San Francisco in late 1980's, my wife at the time and I were taking in all the tourist sites the city had to offer. We worked our way over to city hall area and I was astonished to see the old SF City Auditorium that housed my fathers bouts as well as countless others. I didnt do any previous check to see if it was still standing prior to visit.
When we walked over to the entrance doors, I found a pair that were unlocked and walked in. The place was clean and used for events at the time, but not that particular week.
There was nobody around. No guard or employee around. I figured maybe a maintenance man was in the actual auditorium (we were in the lobby) and walked over to check it out.
Basically, thats all I wanted to do there anyway-take a look inside.
I did the same thing only a few years ago at the Miami Beach auditorium.
All of the interior doors were locked in SF Aud.
Just then a suited man walked in and asked us what are business was there.I told him I just wanted to see the interior and mentioned my fathers career briefly.
He said " Oh-you want to see the boxing museum on the second floor" and pointed up some stairs at the end of lobby. I was in shock. We thanked the man and quickly found ourselves on the 2nd floor. A very nice display of California Boxing history.Mostly pictures with descriptions, it did contain some boxing gloves,speed bags and shoes and a bell. but only 1 or 2 items of each. No plaques or such. It was sparse, but a very legit collection. It had Jeffries, Moore, a few things on Powell and others I did not connect with until I started coming here to CAWCB.

Frank, I did not note any Baltazar photos,as most of the items were pre 1960 or so. No Chacon either. I dont know when the SF Aud was used last as a boxing venue but I imagine the items were from that early time period. Did your boys ever fight in San Francisco, Frank ?

But far and away from all the items, Art Aragon pieces and pictures were the featured lot. I remember noting that Art Aragon was possibly 50% to 60 % of the museum. I was familiar with Mr Aragon as my father told me about him and his movie career as well. Well worth the time to visit though dont expect a tidal wave of items. If it exists at all. I did notice that the Auditorium in recent years has changed to Bill Graham (rock music promoter) Theatre.
The Miami Bch. Auditorium is now known as "The Jackie Gleason Theatre at the Miami Bch Auditorium". <full name used. There is no boxing items there and the seating area is totally rehabbed to a concert only venue.

No, Charlie, the boys never fought in S.F., by the time Frankie and Tony started their pro careers boxing was dead in S.F. Frankie had most of his fights in the L.A. area, he did fight once in Miami and had a few fights in Las Vegas. Tony too fought mostly in L.A, though, he did fight a few fights in Las Vegas and one in Reno, one in New Mexico and three back East, Atlantic City, up state New York (Swan Lake) and Philly.

[kikibalt]

I was at the Olympic for his fight with Art Aragon....

You lucky, lucky guy

[kikibalt]

I took a test they had in the newspaper today..... where if you answered yes to two or more questions you were at risk of getting alzheimers.... i had it yes on 7 out of 8 Im 24 godammit!!!!

:( :(

[kikibalt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWciWehL9Bg
L C Morgan vs Ludwig Lightburn

[kikibalt]

d

[Panzerfaust]

A short anecdote from my visit to Hollywood :

I walked between my hotel on North highland and Wildcard on Vine str about 3-4 times a day. after the first couple of days i grew tired of the normal route i walked so i tried to find new ones. Walking back from the gym one night after they closed i was walking by a closed down hotel ,Tom Sawyers i think it was called . Suddenly i was approached by 4 or 5 black guys dressed like they came straight out of a rap video . Me being a country boy not accustomed to the big city's thought '' crapp there goes my last dollars'' and my heart started pumping. As they approached me one of them called out ''yo,where you buy your shirt?'' We had a quite nice little chat about the shirt before i went on back to my hotel.. I guess things aint as bad as they show on tv

[Rick Farris]

Art & Audie Aragon . . .

Art Aragon's oldest son, Audie, and I have been friends for more than thirty years.
Audie was named after Art's best friend, WW2 hero Audie Murphy. Murphy was decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Art had a role in the feature film on Murphy's life, "To Hell & Back", in the early 50's
Audie is a grip in the film industry and occasionally we will work together on a major feature film.
We are currently working together on the fourth Spider Man feature.
Audie wanted me to thank Frank for posting the recent pics of his dad, and he mentioned that the photos Frank posted were ones that he had not yet seen.
Audie has several huge scrap books of his father's career, and his mother recently gave him a bag that was filled with Art's boxing gloves, the ones he wore in some of his most memorable fights, such as the Jimmy Carter title bout, Carmen Basileo, etc.
Audie said that shortly before his father's death, he had his dad autograph each pair of gloves with a special gold marker. They were signed, "The Golden Boy, Art Aragon".
Audie has promised to share photos of his dads memorabelia, including one of Art's Pacific Coast Championship belt.
When we speak of Classic American West Coast Boxing legends, none is bigger than Art Aragon.
Audie may also post on this site himself, and he has a lot of great memories of his legendary father, and I told him he has a great audience here fro anything he might wish to share.


-Rick Farris

Any chance you could twist his arm to bring those scrapbooks to the CBHOF banquet? I know you and I will be buying tables, so there will certainly be a spot there for him!

That's a good idea,Tom.
Three years ago, shortly after Art's death, the WBHOF honored his memory at a function we put on.
I didn't know that Audie had been invited to speak on his dad's behalf, thus we saw each other again for the first time since we'd worked on the movie, "Poseiden" in 2005.
Audie has known Don Fraser all of his life. Don and Art's mother had worked together in a downtown L.A. bank when both were teenagers, before Art had met and her. Before Art passed, an 80th birthday party for the for the Golden Boy was held at his favorite restaurant in the Valley, and Audie said Don was there. He's a longtime family friend.
As for the scrapbooks, Audie says there are several, and his mother had all of the pages laminated, to assure them not deteriorating.
I don't know if it would be conveniant for him to lug around all of that memorabelia at the luncheon, but just having him present would be great.
I will definitly invite him, and I bet he'll come if he's able.