BoxRec

Boxer Aragon - original 'Golden Boy' - dies
By Robert Morales, Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily news


Don Fraser of Toluca Lake probably knew Art Aragon as well as anybody in Los Angeles.

While 17-year-old Aragon was fighting Bert White at the Hollywood Legion Stadium in February 1945, Fraser was in the stands watching. Both were still in high school.

Aragon lost to White on points, but Fraser knew then that Aragon could make an indelible mark on the sport of boxing. He did that by becoming a world-class fighter who captured the hearts of Los Angeles fans as well as Hollywood celebrities.

Aragon went 90-20-6 with 61 knockouts as a lightweight and welterweight from 1944-60, with rougly 90 percent of his 116 fights taking place in the L.A. area.

Aragon died Tuesday from complications from a stroke suffered at his Northridge home March 15. He was 80. His services are scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

Aragon was born in New Mexico, but graduated from Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights.

Fraser, 81, has been a promoter, matchmaker and public relations man over 50 years and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Fraser said Aragon - the original "Golden Boy" - was ultra popular for many reasons.

"One, he could fight," Fraser said. "Man, he could fight. Enrique Bolanos, even after he lost to (lightweight champion) Ike Williams (in 1949), he was still considered a top fighter and Aragon beat the crap out of him in two fights (in 1950). The Mexicans from Mexico, they hated Aragon for that."
Fraser said the two victories over Mexico's Bolanos, as well as rumors Aragon was not of Mexican ancestry, but rather Italian or Spanish, made it so Aragon was more popular with the street-savvy Mexican Americans of the day known as pachucos.

Fraser said that Aragon did not speak perfect Spanish during his fighting days, and that did not help his case with Mexican nationals.

But overall, Aragon was as popular as a fighter could be in a given area.

"Plus, he was good-looking and always getting into scrapes," Fraser said. "He and Lauro Salas had a street fight in an Echo Park bar and the Olympic Auditorium immediately matched them together. Aragon was much bigger than Salas and he won the decision (in March 1952)."

Fraser also said that Aragon, who was married four times, was known as a playboy and had good connections with the Hollywood crowd of that day, many of whom were big fight fans.

"I saw him out with Mamie Van Doren," Fraser said. "He had that charisma. Somewhat like (Oscar) De La Hoya has now. He was just a fantastic fighter. Plus he could speak well. Quick with the ad libs."

Brad Aragon, 45, is one of Aragon's three surviving children. He and his father, a bail bondsman for nearly 50 years, had worked in the same bail bonds business the past 19years. Asked Wednesday his most treasured memory of his father, Brad Aragon did not provide a surprising answer.

"That he loved to make people laugh," Brad Aragon said from his Van Nuys office. He said that his father was in rare form in the days leading to his stroke, after which he did not regain consciousness.

"He was making jokes, doing his magic tricks," Brad Aragon said.

In the ring, Aragon was no joke. Aside from the two wins over Bolanos, he defeated other world-class fighters such as Don Jordan, Chuck Davey, Mario Trigo and Jimmy Carter. Aragon beat Carter twice. But the time he lost to him - in November 1951 at Olympic Auditorium - was for Carter's world lightweight title. It was Aragon's only shot at a major championship.

kikibalt wrote:Its October 1951 and Art aragon and Jimmy Carter're to fight a rematch of their August 28 fight on November 14, this time Carter' lightweight title is on the line.

Keeny Teran is also fighting on the card, a 6 rounder

I was at their first fight won by Aragon and I wanted to go to this one too, so I ask my dad "Pops can I heve 5 buck to go to the fight?", he in turn tells me "Mijo there is no money, what with Christmas coming and all", a few days later he came home with two tickets, my uncle also bought tickets.

Its fight nite November 14, we get together with my uncle Tony, Ray and John, two more uncles were to meet us there, which they did, we get to the Olympic and we can't fine parking, finely we fine parking 4 blocks from the Olympic, now my uncle John is on a wheelchair, had been all his life, at this point in time he was about 33-34 years old, since I'm the youngest of the group my dad and uncles tell me I had to push uncle John and push I did, I would push him as fast as I could and then let him go, he was so mad that I thought he was going to jump of the wheelchair and come after me.

Once we got inside the Olympic I push John as close as I could to ringside, then I had to go to the balcony, all the seat were reserved, our's were all the way back, up against the wall, did I care? no!.

Aragon comes into the ring first, as soon as I seen Aragon I turn around and told my dad and uncles that Aragon was going to lose, they ask me "why?" I told them that Aragon was so pale from making weight that he looked like Gaspar the friendly ghost, he lost.

And now its time for Keeny's fight and since many people left after the Aragon-Carter fight, I was able to go down to ringside for that fight, Keeny boxed beautiful and won a 6 round decision.

What a great nite for a 15 year old boy!!

Great story, Frank. Your memories connect with mine from the next era. Your excitment over watching Aragon enter the ring at the Olympic was similar to mine watching Mando Ramos. I put NOBODY in L.A. boxing over Art Aragon, for pure fan appeal & excitement, however, in latter days, Mando Ramos would come close. The rest? Such as Oscar DeLaHoya . . . forget about it. The rest may "come from L.A., but Aragon defined Los Angeles boxing.

-Rick Farris

Chuck1052 wrote:It is very sad to learn that Art Aragon, possibly the most
colorful boxer and greatest drawing card in Los Angeles
boxing history, has passed away. I hope that Art's
family, friends and fans accept my condolences.

- Chuck Johnston

Glad to see you here, Chuck!

-Rick Farris

kikibalt wrote:
Luis Magana, did Spanish p.r. for the Olympic Auditorium.
Died last week.

Magana, 97, longtime boxing publicist

Former longtime Olympic Auditorium publicist Luis Magana died Sunday at 97. A Mass for Magana, also a television commentator on local wrestling broadcasts, will be conducted at noon Friday at Resurrection Church, 3324 Opal St., in East Los Angeles.

kikibalt wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Luis Magana, did Spanish p.r. for the Olympic Auditorium.
Died last week.

Magana, 97, longtime boxing publicist

Former longtime Olympic Auditorium publicist Luis Magana died Sunday at 97. A Mass for Magana, also a television commentator on local wrestling broadcasts, will be conducted at noon Friday at Resurrection Church, 3324 Opal St., in East Los Angeles.

I remember when Luis Magana handled all the Spanish publicity for the Olympic Auditorium. Frank, I believe we both have a photo given to us by Hap Navarro, that shows the former Hollywood Legion promoter with Luis Magana & Enrique Bolanos, taken back in the early 50's.

-Rick Farris

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Luis Magana, did Spanish p.r. for the Olympic Auditorium.
Died last week.

Magana, 97, longtime boxing publicist

Former longtime Olympic Auditorium publicist Luis Magana died Sunday at 97. A Mass for Magana, also a television commentator on local wrestling broadcasts, will be conducted at noon Friday at Resurrection Church, 3324 Opal St., in East Los Angeles.

I remember when Luis Magana handled all the Spanish publicity for the Olympic Auditorium. Frank, I believe we both have a photo given to us by Hap Navarro, that shows the former Hollywood Legion promoter with Luis Magana & Enrique Bolanos, taken back in the early 50's.

-Rick Farris

Rick,

I think I posted this pic. already, but here it is again.

Luis Magana, Enrique Bolanos and Hap Navarro

Alfonso Zamora and Mando Ramos

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.

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.

Thamk nut.

We have lots more to come.

Well, to me is the best thread of all-time

Hey Frank Sr.

I thought that your son, Frankie Jr, fought Jim Watt for the WBC Lightweight Title in Glasgow, Scotland. But you said your son did not. I thought I did, but you are RIGHT and I was WRONG. I do not know if you rememer that conversation years ago here in boxrec.com forum.

My apologies. I confused your son with Robert Vazquez of San Antonio, TX. Did you ever seen this kid fight? He lost to Watt by TKO in 9 rounds. Did you ever seen this fight?

Keep up the good thread.

In my opinion, Jim Watt couldn't have stopped Frankie Baltazar on Watt's best night (and I don't think Watt could have beaten Frankie on Watt's best night, either).

kikibalt wrote:
Alfonso Zamora and Mando Ramos

Hi Frank. How recent is that photo? With his bad back, I hope Mando hasn't started putting on more pounds again.

elmersalsa wrote:Well, to me is the best thread of all-time

Hey Frank Sr.

I thought that your son, Frankie Jr, fought Jim Watt for the WBC Lightweight Title in Glasgow, Scotland. But you said your son did not. I thought I did, but you are RIGHT and I was WRONG. I do not know if you rememer that conversation years ago here in boxrec.com forum.

My apologies. I confused your son with Robert Vazquez of San Antonio, TX. Did you ever seen this kid fight? He lost to Watt by TKO in 9 rounds. Did you ever seen this fight?

Keep up the good thread.

Yeah, Frankie never did fight Watt, at the time Watt was champion Frankie was fighting as a JLW.

No, never did see Robert Vasquez fight.

raylawpc wrote:In my opinion, Jim Watt couldn't have stopped Frankie Baltazar on Watt's best night (and I don't think Watt could have beaten Frankie on Watt's best night, either).

I have to agree with you on that Tom.

raylawpc wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Alfonso Zamora and Mando Ramos

Hi Frank. How recent is that photo? With his bad back, I hope Mando hasn't started putting on more pounds again.

Tom,

Don't know when that pic was taken, it was send to me by one of the guys here.

I think I already stated here, or on another forum that lighter weight boxing in the middle to late 1960s through the early to middle 1980s was one of the most competitive and exciting era's in the history of the sport. I mean just look at the overall talent of fighters from this era...Jesus Pimentel, Ruben Olivares, Danny Lopez, Rafael Herrera, Bobby Chacon, Carlos Zarate, Zamora, Jose Medel, Vicente Saldivar, Art Hafey, Rodolfo Gonzalez and a slew of other greats, which these names are almost entirely fighters of Mexican descent, but the list of top notch, champion-caliber fighters is as loaded as any division in any time in history!

kikibalt wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Luis Magana, did Spanish p.r. for the Olympic Auditorium.
Died last week.

Magana, 97, longtime boxing publicist

Former longtime Olympic Auditorium publicist Luis Magana died Sunday at 97. A Mass for Magana, also a television commentator on local wrestling broadcasts, will be conducted at noon Friday at Resurrection Church, 3324 Opal St., in East Los Angeles.

Its 1981, we're in Las Vegas, I have Tony fighting Sonny Perez at the Showboat, we get there a week before the fight, Luis Magana is also there working for the promoter, doing his thing, on the second nite that we were there he comes down to the casino wearing a see-through shirt, we're hanging around by the slots when a young girl, 23-24 years old, walks up to Luis and tells him "I love your shirt, its so sexy" well shit Luis didn't take that shirt off for 5 days.

He sure was lucky on the slots though.

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote: Magana, 97, longtime boxing publicist

Former longtime Olympic Auditorium publicist Luis Magana died Sunday at 97. A Mass for Magana, also a television commentator on local wrestling broadcasts, will be conducted at noon Friday at Resurrection Church, 3324 Opal St., in East Los Angeles.

I remember when Luis Magana handled all the Spanish publicity for the Olympic Auditorium. Frank, I believe we both have a photo given to us by Hap Navarro, that shows the former Hollywood Legion promoter with Luis Magana & Enrique Bolanos, taken back in the early 50's.

-Rick Farris

Rick,

I think I posted this pic. already, but here it is again.

Luis Magana, Enrique Bolanos and Hap Navarro

Thanks, Frank. Many aren't aware that Hap Navarro's nephew, is one of the hottest rock guitarists in history, David Navarro (formerly of the "Red Hot Chili Peppers" and "Jane's Addiction".) A few years back, David married Carmen Electra. Hap's son Dan, is the Navarro of "Lowen & Navarro". When commenting on this pic with Luis Magana, Hap said that it was supposed to be of just he and Magana, however, Bolanos stepped into the shot at the last moment, and this was the result.

-Rick Farris

barry wrote:I think I already stated here, or on another forum that lighter weight boxing in the middle to late 1960s through the early to middle 1980s was one of the most competitive and exciting era's in the history of the sport. I mean just look at the overall talent of fighters from this era...Jesus Pimentel, Ruben Olivares, Danny Lopez, Rafael Herrera, Bobby Chacon, Carlos Zarate, Zamora, Jose Medel, Vicente Saldivar, Art Hafey, Rodolfo Gonzalez and a slew of other greats, which these names are almost entirely fighters of Mexican descent, but the list of top notch, champion-caliber fighters is as loaded as any division in any time in history!

Barry

Great list of fighters, hard to top that.

An Art Aragon & Art Aragon Jr. memory. . .

Today I left amessage on the voice mail of Audie Aragon, one of Art's son's, whom I work with in the motion pic industry. Audie is a grip, and we last worked together on "Poseiden"


Needless to say, "Audie" Aragon, was named for one of his dad's best friends, WW2 hero, Audie Murphy. More on this later, a great second-hand story that came to me direct from the mouth of Johnny Flores. Frank, you may know this Art Aragon-Audie Murphy story. A classic!

-Rick

kikibalt wrote:Why was Art Aragon booed?

Art Aragon was boo because in a radio interview he said that he was not Mexican and back at the time he was fighting about 60% of the fans were Mexican Nationals, the other 40% were like me Mexican-American, we cheered Aragon, they booed him, and we would all pack the Olympic-Hollywood Legion Stadium to see him fight and he loved that since most of the time he fought for a piece of the gate, the Mexican Nationals never forgave him for beating Enrique Bolanos twice, that too was another reason for the booing by the Mex-Nat's.

I seen about 90% of Aragon's fights live starting in 1949 whe he fought Harold "Baby Face" Jones in Hollywood.
I don't think I miss any of his big fights in the 1950's, my wife and I were ringside for his last fight vs Alvaro Gutierrez (1-21-1960) at the Olympic.

In the last few years I would see him at functions we would attend, the last time I seen Art was at a Golden State Boxer's Association function on December 14, 2007, I had with me a copy of the Knockout magazine with a picture of him on the cover, I ask him to sign it for me, he takes the magazine and looks at the picture of himself and he tell me "I fought that guy"

Frank

Frank
You made a good point about the rivalry between Mexican/American fighters and Mexican nationals.Perhaps people in other regions of the country don't realize it's like night and day. Mando Ramos and Chango Carmona come to mind,and of course,Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares. Most recently it was the De La Hoya/Chavez fights. I know a lot of fans across the border seemed unusually bitter against Oscar for beating Chavez.

I was in Mexico when Oscar won the Olympic Gold Medal. It was reported almost as an afterthought. I remember something said like "Oscar De La Hoya,the AMERICAN,won an Olympic Gold Medal."

I truly believe the Chicanos/Mexican Americans like yourself are a unique section of Mexican history. Yes,I mean Mexican history. I say that because working in the South Bay area of San Diego,the kids often have conflicted feelings about their identity. When I worked across the border in Tijuana coaching American Football at a private school,the Mexican kids and families had contempt for Chicanos. They considered them Americans. California and Texas were once a part of Mexico. They knew that,but wouldn't cut them any slack. There was a kid that played on that team in Tijuana who was an outstanding player. When I went back to coaching in San Diego,he called me about playing on my team in San Diego. He knew he needed the right exposure playing up here if was going to get a scholarship to a Division I school. Well we got the kid up to San Diego on a "Foreign Exange" program(can you believe that? A foreign sxchange student from Tijuana). He told me ,"Don't put me in a home with a Chicano family."

Well he lived with a Anglo dentist. The kid made all county. He wound up going to the University of Arizona on a full ride. While he was going to school in San Diego he never made friends with any of the Chicano kids.

All the years I've worked in the South Bay with the Chicano kids, they've never expressed hardly any animosity towards Mexican Nationals. I tell them not to worry about it. Just think of all the Mexican Nationals who risk getting smuggled to come here. I know those Chicano kids are Mexicans because they understand"Asi es Mexico".

kikibalt wrote:

barry wrote:I think I already stated here, or on another forum that lighter weight boxing in the middle to late 1960s through the early to middle 1980s was one of the most competitive and exciting era's in the history of the sport. I mean just look at the overall talent of fighters from this era...Jesus Pimentel, Ruben Olivares, Danny Lopez, Rafael Herrera, Bobby Chacon, Carlos Zarate, Zamora, Jose Medel, Vicente Saldivar, Art Hafey, Rodolfo Gonzalez and a slew of other greats, which these names are almost entirely fighters of Mexican descent, but the list of top notch, champion-caliber fighters is as loaded as any division in any time in history!

Barry

Great list of fighters, hard to top that.

AMEN!

-Rick

Mando Muniz, Bobby Chacon, Rodolfo Gonzalez and Julian Eget

Hey "El Gato" . . .

Welcome champ! I've always had an affinity for Mexican boxer's, who fought primarily "below-the-border" thruout their careers. We all know the champs, but there were so many more that campaigned during your era, those who never won titles, but they fought everybody, anywhere. When I look at the records of the greatest Mexican boxer's, I see the names of the fighters they built there careers upon, and furthur examination of such "names", reveals that many of them "could have" been a title holder themselves, maybe if circumstances had been a little different. Who knows?

As I look over your first 35 five pro fights, all KO wins (making you the ONLY World Champion in history to score 35 CONSECUTIVE KO's), I see names of fighters such as "Kid Irapuato", who held wins over Dwight Hawkins, Pajarito Moreno, Don Johnson and Billy Peacock, to name a few. He also lost a decision to featherweight champ, Davey Moore. Now, I know how tough this guy was, and you fought him when you were only 14, and took him out in six rounds! You weren't yet 15, and already had 22 consecutive KO's, and these guys weren't tomato cans.

I realize that you had 21 straight KO's when you stepped into the ring with Kid Irapuato, however, considering you were just 14, somebody must have had a lot of confidence in you, didn't give a damn, or had placed a bet on your opponent??? Did you know who "Kid Irapuato" was?

Dan Hanley tells of this fight, in his great International Boxing Hall-of-Fame bio of your career. According to Dan, it was a close fight before you ended matters. What are your memories of this fight, and who was managing your career at the time?

-Rick Farris

dagosd2000 wrote:

kikibalt wrote:Why was Art Aragon booed?

Art Aragon was boo because in a radio interview he said that he was not Mexican and back at the time he was fighting about 60% of the fans were Mexican Nationals, the other 40% were like me Mexican-American, we cheered Aragon, they booed him, and we would all pack the Olympic-Hollywood Legion Stadium to see him fight and he loved that since most of the time he fought for a piece of the gate, the Mexican Nationals never forgave him for beating Enrique Bolanos twice, that too was another reason for the booing by the Mex-Nat's.

I seen about 90% of Aragon's fights live starting in 1949 whe he fought Harold "Baby Face" Jones in Hollywood.
I don't think I miss any of his big fights in the 1950's, my wife and I were ringside for his last fight vs Alvaro Gutierrez (1-21-1960) at the Olympic.

In the last few years I would see him at functions we would attend, the last time I seen Art was at a Golden State Boxer's Association function on December 14, 2007, I had with me a copy of the Knockout magazine with a picture of him on the cover, I ask him to sign it for me, he takes the magazine and looks at the picture of himself and he tell me "I fought that guy"

Frank

Frank
You made a good point about the rivalry between Mexican/American fighters and Mexican nationals.Perhaps people in other regions of the country don't realize it's like night and day. Mando Ramos and Chango Carmona come to mind,and of course,Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares. Most recently it was the De La Hoya/Chavez fights. I know a lot of fans across the border seemed unusually bitter against Oscar for beating Chavez.

I was in Mexico when Oscar won the Olympic Gold Medal. It was reported almost as an afterthought. I remember something said like "Oscar De La Hoya,the AMERICAN,won an Olympic Gold Medal."

I truly believe the Chicanos/Mexican Americans like yourself are a unique section of Mexican history. Yes,I mean Mexican history. I say that because working in the South Bay area of San Diego,the kids often have conflicted feelings about their identity. When I worked across the border in Tijuana coaching American Football at a private school,the Mexican kids and families had contempt for Chicanos. They considered them Americans. California and Texas were once a part of Mexico. They knew that,but wouldn't cut them any slack. There was a kid that played on that team in Tijuana who was an outstanding player. When I went back to coaching in San Diego,he called me about playing on my team in San Diego. He knew he needed the right exposure playing up here if was going to get a scholarship to a Division I school. Well we got the kid up to San Diego on a "Foreign Exange" program(can you believe that? A foreign sxchange student from Tijuana). He told me ,"Don't put me in a home with a Chicano family."

Well he lived with a Anglo dentist. The kid made all county. He wound up going to the University of Arizona on a full ride. While he was going to school in San Diego he never made friends with any of the Chicano kids.

All the years I've worked in the South Bay with the Chicano kids, they've never expressed hardly any animosity towards Mexican Nationals. I tell them not to worry about it. Just think of all the Mexican Nationals who risk getting smuggled to come here. I know those Chicano kids are Mexicans because they understand"Asi es Mexico".

Diego,

I remember one time that Tony was fighting at the Olympic against some guy from Mexico and the Mexican Nationals booed him going in and going out after he knock the guy out, I remember him asking me "Dad, how come they boo me? don't they like us?" couldn'd answer him.