Art Aragon after getting the win vs Jimmy Carter I with trainer Benny Conyers.
A young Jimmy Lennon Sr. on the left.
I was at the Olympic for that fight...
Frank, At this time, I would imagine your boys were not born yet, were you actively involved with boxing as a trainer, second or promoter at this time ?
Or were you attending matches as a spectator at this time ?
Charlie, I was only 14 years old at the time of the first Aragon/Carter fight, turned 15 at the end of' that year, '51, so no; my boys were not born yet... I was boxing in smokers at the time and I would go to the fights as a spectator with my dad and uncles. At times I would go with some friends without any money so we would have to sneak in, which wasn't all that hard to do....
The boys: never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that my sons would some day fight in that storied arena, much less headline the show. At times I have a hard time believing that they actually did, looking back it all seems like a dream....But they are part of the Olympic's boxing history....
Art Aragon after getting the win vs Jimmy Carter I with trainer Benny Conyers.
A young Jimmy Lennon Sr. on the left.
I was at the Olympic for that fight...
Frank, They say Aragon caught fire when he saw blood streaming from Carter's left eyebrow as the eighth round got under way. It had been opened in the last minute of the previous round. Referee Abe Roth said it was a clean left-hook but Carter claimed he was butted. In any event , Artie turned tiger in the eighth and ninth and apparently caught the eye of the officials. They also say it was a dandy scrap and the excitement of the capacity crowd was terrific..
Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Benny Black, Hollywood Stadium May 20 1949,
If Art Aragon could have caught up with Benny Black and made him hold still until Art could park one solid punch on Benny's chin-Aragon would still be "Atomic Art" of Hollywood Stadium. But Black is fast, cagey and apparently unaccommodating, so Aragon had to be content with the ten round decision, garnered at much embarrassment, due to considerable missing in the early rounds and complete exhaustion at the finish. Aragon cornered Black in the sixth and belabored him with both fists, but Benny's bicycle came to the rescue. Although tired, Art decked Black for a nine-count in the eighth, but was so weary at the end of the round that Benny was able to jab out an edge in the final two heats. Black, a despised 10-to-1 underdog, was cheered by the crowd for his "moral victory." Aragon weighed 139, Black 146.
Cholo wrote:
Frank, Ever thought about writing a book?..
No, not really. Though I have been writing some of my memories down for my kids, grand-kids and great grand-kid, et. al, to read long after I am gone....
Art Aragon after getting the win vs Jimmy Carter I with trainer Benny Conyers.
A young Jimmy Lennon Sr. on the left.
I was at the Olympic for that fight...
Frank, They say Aragon caught fire when he saw blood streaming from Carter's left eyebrow as the eighth round got under way. It had been opened in the last minute of the previous round. Referee Abe Roth said it was a clean left-hook but Carter claimed he was butted. In any event , Artie turned tiger in the eighth and ninth and apparently caught the eye of the officials. They also say it was a dandy scrap and the excitement of the capacity crowd was terrific..
Paul, this was very close fight, a fight that could have gone either way. I thought and still do think that Art won, but of course I am bias. I was one of the few Mexican-American's that liked Art, most Mexican-American's hated Art. That was because he would go on radio and denial he was one of us... They would fill up the joint hoping to see him get an ass kiking, but he would get the last laugh as he would go crying all the way to the bank..... ....Art to Lauro Salas: " F*cking Mexican", that's why they got into that bar fight....
Art Aragon after getting the win vs Jimmy Carter I with trainer Benny Conyers.
A young Jimmy Lennon Sr. on the left.
I was at the Olympic for that fight...
Frank, They say Aragon caught fire when he saw blood streaming from Carter's left eyebrow as the eighth round got under way. It had been opened in the last minute of the previous round. Referee Abe Roth said it was a clean left-hook but Carter claimed he was butted. In any event , Artie turned tiger in the eighth and ninth and apparently caught the eye of the officials. They also say it was a dandy scrap and the excitement of the capacity crowd was terrific..
Paul, this was very close fight, a fight that could have gone either way. I thought and still do think that Art won, but of course I am bias. I was one of the few Mexican-American's that liked Art, most Mexican-American's hated Art. That was because he would go on radio and denial he was one of us... They would fill up the joint hoping to see him get an ass kiking, but he would get the last laugh as he would go crying all the way to the bank..... ....Art to Lauro Salas: " F*cking Mexican", that's why they got into that bar fight....
Didn't he used to claim he was of Greek descent? I seem to recall reading that years ago.
Danny Nardico, former boxer from Tampa, dies at 85
(The Tampa Tribune Published: December 03, 2010)
In his 85 years, Daniel R. "Danny" Nardico had seen the horrors of war and stared down a raging bull in the boxing ring. The former U.S. Marine veteran who won the Silver Star for valor in Okinawa during World War II and professional fighter who boxed out of Tampa in the early 1950s, died on Nov. 22 in California.
He is credited with being the only fighter to legitimately knock out Jake LaMotta, the brash middleweight and light-heavyweight champion from the Bronx. The fight was in Coral Gables on New Year's Eve 1952 and was the first professional boxing match fought in Florida televised to a national audience. At the time, Nardico was ranked fifth in the world in the light-heavyweight division.
The match was part of a 67-fight career for Nardico which included 50 wins, 35 by knockout, 13 losses and four draws over five years ending in 1954.
A career in pugilism was no big deal, Nardico said after moving to Tampa to launch his life in the ring.
"After World War II," he was quoted as saying, "everything in life is a cakewalk."
According to BoxRec.com, an online boxing encyclopedia, Nardico used a right hook to deck LaMotta in the seventh round of the 10-round light-heavyweight bout. The bout is available on YouTube and shows Nardico pummeling LaMotta after the knockdown, as LaMotta held on to the ropes to keep his balance. LaMotta left his guard down for clear shots to the head. Still, he did not go down again before the bell.
LaMotta's corner stopped the fight before the eighth round began.
LaMotta was the subject of a Martin Scorsese movie, "The Raging Bull", but there was no mention of Nardico's knockdown, which made Nardico furious, BoxRec.com said.
Nardico's daughter, Danella Plum, who lives in California, said her father died Nov. 22.
"I remember my father as being as strong as an ox, just strong but tenderhearted," she said. "He also was a godly man with a strong faith. He had a hard exterior but inside, he was as soft as a marshmallow.
"Everybody loved him," she said. "Through the years, he made a lot of friends. He was fortunate to be surrounded by so many people that loved him."
She has fond memories growing up in Tampa with a father who was a professional fighter.
"As a little girl," she said, "I recalled my dad faithfully working out to stay fit and sometimes when he had exhausted all the weights, he'd actually use me instead.
"I remember the neighborhood kids peering in under the garage door as my dad would lift me above his head over and over again."
"I remember when he got his cauliflower ear from a hard fight and his manager bringing him home, laying him on the sofa," she said, "and letting loose a whole jar full of colorful leeches to suck out some of the excessive fluids."
Plum said that while his boxing career brought him some measure of fame, it was his actions in World War II and later Korea that defined his life.
"His bravery began much earlier when he entered the U.S. Marines and fought in the Korean War, winning two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star at the age of 18 for his, 'brave actions while serving as a squad leader in a Marine rifle platoon on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands on May 2, 1945.' "
She said Nardico moved his family from California to Tampa five years later and launched his boxing career under the management of Willie Pep, himself a former boxing champion.
During his boxing career, Nardico twice fought Charley Norkus, a top-ranked heavyweight who outweighed Nardico by nearly 20 pounds. Norkus won both fights, the first by a TKO in the ninth round. "The fight," according to BoxRec.com, "was a thriller with eight knockdowns."
The fight was so bloody, Plum said, that two months later, when the two boxed again, ringside spectators brought newspapers to protect themselves from being splattered by blood. Norkus won that bout by decision.
Plum said her father was honored in 1996 by the Veteran Boxers Association which called him a "great competitor, a dynamic puncher, a credit to the boxing game and yet a very mild-mannered gentleman."
After his boxing career, he served as the recreational director of the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City for 13 years.
When Nardico retired, he and his wife Rachael of 42 years moved to Cool, Calif.
Plum said his last few years of his life, her father suffered from Alzheimer's disease, believed to have stemmed from the hard blows to the head accumulated throughout his short boxing career.
Frank, I found this piece, Art talking,
"They say Gorgeous George started it, but I started it," I was the one to find out you could make more money being the villain then the hero. When I beat Bolanos, the fans booed me, I thumbed my nose at them. That was the real St. Valentine's day massacre. They got us back together in a few months and I flattened him in three this time and thumbed my nose at the fans again. I got a bad mouth and I started to shoot it off, I was the original Ali. From then on, they paid to see me get beat. But I didn't get beat much in those days. So they kept coming out. They kept hoping; they kept booing; and I made a bundle..
Art Aragon was a native of Belen, New Mexico, but grew up in East Los Angeles. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II hero turned Western star Audie Murphy. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Cholo wrote:
Frank, They say Aragon caught fire when he saw blood streaming from Carter's left eyebrow as the eighth round got under way. It had been opened in the last minute of the previous round. Referee Abe Roth said it was a clean left-hook but Carter claimed he was butted. In any event , Artie turned tiger in the eighth and ninth and apparently caught the eye of the officials. They also say it was a dandy scrap and the excitement of the capacity crowd was terrific..
Paul, this was very close fight, a fight that could have gone either way. I thought and still do think that Art won, but of course I am bias. I was one of the few Mexican-American's that liked Art, most Mexican-American's hated Art. That was because he would go on radio and denial he was one of us... They would fill up the joint hoping to see him get an ass kiking, but he would get the last laugh as he would go crying all the way to the bank..... ....Art to Lauro Salas: " F*cking Mexican", that's why they got into that bar fight....
Didn't he used to claim he was of Greek descent? I seem to recall reading that years ago.
Never heard that Tom...He did at times claim to be part Italian and part Spanish....Been from New Mexico and the fact he was light complexion makes me think he was more Spanish than Indian. Most Mexican's/Mexican-American's are a mixture of Spanish and Indian. But In New Mexico there is some people from Spanish descent that didn't mixed with the Indians, he could have been one of those Spaniard. My son James ex-wife is one of those Spaniard from New Mexico.
Cholo wrote:Frank, I found this piece, Art talking,
"They say Gorgeous George started it, but I started it," I was the one to find out you could make more money being the villain then the hero. When I beat Bolanos, the fans booed me, I thumbed my nose at them. That was the real St. Valentine's day massacre. They got us back together in a few months and I flattened him in three this time and thumbed my nose at the fans again. I got a bad mouth and I started to shoot it off, I was the original Ali. From then on, they paid to see me get beat. But I didn't get beat much in those days. So they kept coming out. They kept hoping; they kept booing; and I made a bundle..
Art Aragon was a native of Belen, New Mexico, but grew up in East Los Angeles. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II hero turned Western star Audie Murphy. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Frank, Artie had a colorful life, Monroe and Mansfield, lucky "Golden Boy"..
Art Aragon was a native of Belen, New Mexico, but grew up in East Los Angeles. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II hero turned Western star Audie Murphy. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Frank, Artie had a colorful life, Monroe and Mansfield, lucky "Golden Boy"..
I don't think he missed a Hollywood starlet Paul...
Art Aragon was a native of Belen, New Mexico, but grew up in East Los Angeles. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II hero turned Western star Audie Murphy. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Frank, Artie had a colorful life, Monroe and Mansfield, lucky "Golden Boy"..
I don't think he missed a Hollywood starlet Paul...
The stories that Audie hs shared with me about his dad's love life are pretty interesting.
He was tight with the Rat Pack and Audie says his dad told him their parties were like orgies.
The most beautiful starlets, models, etc. all there for the boys.
Art was as popular as the stars, in some cases more so.
Art Aragon was a native of Belen, New Mexico, but grew up in East Los Angeles. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II hero turned Western star Audie Murphy. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Art's buried at Mount Sinai, right next to Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills.
Cholo wrote:Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Benny Black, Hollywood Stadium May 20 1949,
If Art Aragon could have caught up with Benny Black and made him hold still until Art could park one solid punch on Benny's chin-Aragon would still be "Atomic Art" of Hollywood Stadium. But Black is fast, cagey and apparently unaccommodating, so Aragon had to be content with the ten round decision, garnered at much embarrassment, due to considerable missing in the early rounds and complete exhaustion at the finish. Aragon cornered Black in the sixth and belabored him with both fists, but Benny's bicycle came to the rescue. Although tired, Art decked Black for a nine-count in the eighth, but was so weary at the end of the round that Benny was able to jab out an edge in the final two heats. Black, a despised 10-to-1 underdog, was cheered by the crowd for his "moral victory." Aragon weighed 139, Black 146.
Behind the Scenes . . .
The Benny Black that Aragon fought at the Legion was a Mexican kid whose real name was Blas Blancarte.
He was a real cutie, hard to nail, elusive and with great footwork and escape routes.
When Baron Stumme made the match he asked Hap Navarro what he thought.
Hap told him, "Benny will either stink out the place or make Artie look bad until he got nailed, if he ever did in ten rounds."
That's just what happened.
Cholo wrote:Art's life story would make an awesome documentary..
A Golden Boy Film . . .
One day I hope to produce a documentary on LA boxing, and naturally Art Aragon's history would be an important part of such a production. But I would never attempt a documentary based soley on the life of Art. You are right, Paul. A documentary on Art Aragon would be fantastic and could be done so well. But I can't for the life of me think of one person who can or will do it today. If somebody in the distant future were to attempt such a film, there is generic history available. But what is needed are the words of just a handful of people still living to tell them. My goal is to get something on tape that can be used by someone who will tackle that Aragon docu. I'll support it, I'll provide whatever I have to contribute. I'm big on sharing info, real history, not rumors or questionable tales. My sources on Aragon, which include Frank as a ringside observer, Hap Navarro who knew Art, publicized Art, matched & promoted Art, was a friend of the family, an Aragon confident, etc. And of course, Don Fraser. Don and Hap were family close to the Golden Boy. Hap still posesses a sympathy card that Art & Georgia sent him after the death of his mother sixty years ago. And of course, there are others. I help Audie learn things about his dad by forwarding stories shared by Hap and you on this thread. Audie shares his personal memories of his father. I grew up in a house with a father who was an art Aragon fan, as was my uncle. I see Art thru the eyes of many people, including family, friends and those who were a part of his career. Even so, I'm not the guy to do Art's film. I'm a guy who can write with confidence about Mando Ramos, or Jerry Quarry , or Danny lopez, Chacon, Olivares, etc. They were my era. But I wil share anything I know, or have filmed with another film maker. I hope that one day a film on the life of Art Aragon (a documentary) is produced. It's not something that I'm interested in doing, but I'd be interested in watching.
Last edited by Rick Farris on 30 Jul 2011, 20:04, edited 1 time in total.
Cholo wrote:Art's life story would make an awesome documentary..
A Golden Boy Film . . .
One day I hope to produce a documentary on LA boxing, and naturally Art Aragon's history would be an important part of such a production. But I would never attempt a documentary based soley on the life of Art. You are right, Paul. A documentary on Art Aragon would be fantastic and could be done so well. But I can't for the life of me think of one person who can or will do it today. If somebody in the distant future were to attempt such a film, there is generic history available. But what is needed are the words of just a handful of people still living to tell them. My goal is to get something on tape that can be used by someone who will tackle that Aragon docu. I'll support it, I'll provide whatever I have to contribute. I'm big on sharing info, real history, not rumors or questionable tales. My sources on Aragon, which include Frank as a ringside observer, Hap Navarro who knew Art, publicized Art, matched & promoted Art, was a friend of the family, an Aragon confident, etc. And of course, Don Fraser. Don and Hap were family close to the Golden Boy. Hap still posesses a sympathy card that Art & Georgia sent him after the death of his mother sixty years ago. And of course, there are others. I help Audie learn things about his dad by forwarding stories shared by Hap and you on this thread. Audie shares his personal memories of his father. I grew up in a house with a father who was an art Aragon fan, as was my uncle. I see Art thru the eyes of many people, including family, friends and those who were a part of his career. Even so, I'm not the guy to do Art's film. I'm a guy who can write with confidence about Mando Ramos, or Jerry Quarry , or Danny lopez, Chacon, Olivares, etc. They were my era. But I wil share anything I know, or have filmed with another film maker. I hope that one day a film on the life of Art Aragon (a documentary) is produced. It's not something that I'm interested in doing, but I'd be interested in watching.
Rick, that was a very humble and honest self analysis. I would look forard to anything you write or produce on the fighters you knew.
Monica and I saw it tonight. Not bad, but I'm just not into effects & computor animation. I've a lot of friends who worked on this in New Mexico.
Of the recent films I've seen, "Midnight In Paris" was the best. Great story.
"Larry Crowne" with Tom Hanks and Julie Roberts was also a good one.
"Super-8" was good, but again a lot of effects and computor generation. Kinda like ET meets Close Encounters.
"Horrible Bosses" with Jennifer Aniston could have been titled, "Horrible Waste of Film".
Cholo wrote:Art's life story would make an awesome documentary..
A Golden Boy Film . . .
One day I hope to produce a documentary on LA boxing, and naturally Art Aragon's history would be an important part of such a production. But I would never attempt a documentary based soley on the life of Art. You are right, Paul. A documentary on Art Aragon would be fantastic and could be done so well. But I can't for the life of me think of one person who can or will do it today. If somebody in the distant future were to attempt such a film, there is generic history available. But what is needed are the words of just a handful of people still living to tell them. My goal is to get something on tape that can be used by someone who will tackle that Aragon docu. I'll support it, I'll provide whatever I have to contribute. I'm big on sharing info, real history, not rumors or questionable tales. My sources on Aragon, which include Frank as a ringside observer, Hap Navarro who knew Art, publicized Art, matched & promoted Art, was a friend of the family, an Aragon confident, etc. And of course, Don Fraser. Don and Hap were family close to the Golden Boy. Hap still posesses a sympathy card that Art & Georgia sent him after the death of his mother sixty years ago. And of course, there are others. I help Audie learn things about his dad by forwarding stories shared by Hap and you on this thread. Audie shares his personal memories of his father. I grew up in a house with a father who was an art Aragon fan, as was my uncle. I see Art thru the eyes of many people, including family, friends and those who were a part of his career. Even so, I'm not the guy to do Art's film. I'm a guy who can write with confidence about Mando Ramos, or Jerry Quarry , or Danny lopez, Chacon, Olivares, etc. They were my era. But I wil share anything I know, or have filmed with another film maker. I hope that one day a film on the life of Art Aragon (a documentary) is produced. It's not something that I'm interested in doing, but I'd be interested in watching.
Rick, Lets hope someone will do a documentary on the Golden Boy..
Art Aragon was a native of Belen, New Mexico, but grew up in East Los Angeles. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II hero turned Western star Audie Murphy. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Frank, Artie had a colorful life, Monroe and Mansfield, lucky "Golden Boy"..
I don't think he missed a Hollywood starlet Paul...
Frank, Mamie Van Doren was another starlet Art had a good time with, so I've read...
Olympic Auditorium Official Programe Art Aragon/Phil Kim Oct 16 1952
ART ARAGON
California's number one box office attraction faces one of the stiffest tests of his career when he tangles with Phil "Wildcat" Kim, Hawaii's welterweight champion. A terrific puncher in his own right, Art will be facing one of the hardest belters in the 147 pound class. Big money matches with Kid Gavilan and Chuck Davey are in the making for the Golden Boy-but he must first get by this tireless performer from Honolulu.
PHIL KIM
Now ranked ninth among the worlds welterweights, Phil "Wildcat" Kim hopes a win over Art Aragon will lead to his goal-a shot at Kid Gavilan's title. The Pineapple Puncher has stopped six out of seven foes since invading the mainland. Kim carries dynamite in both hands and takes a good punch himself. Win, lose or draw, Phil Kim will give the fans their money's worth.
I was boxing in smokers at the time and I would go to the fights as a spectator with my dad and uncles. At times I would go with some friends without any money so we would have to sneak in, which wasn't all that hard to do....
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