Classic American West Coast Boxing

[Cholo]

More on The "Golden Boy",
Starting with a second-round knockout of Chuchu Ruiz in January, the 21-year old fought 16 times in '49, turning the famed Hollywood Legion Hall into his own personal showcase. Aragon fought every three weeks, pulling in ever-growing crowds of fight fans and celebrities anxious to catch his act. His reputation grew with every Knockout and/or quip. Both came fast and furious. After Ruiz came out-of-towner Ray Powell.
"Aragon dropped the pittsburgh Fighter with the first punch he threw, a crackling left hook to the chin....Aragon is ready to step up in class", wrote Carl Whorton in his first piece for the L.A.Times.....Frank/Rick Art fought 16 times in one year....

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Tommy Umeda (R) vs Bobby Garza.....1951

Frank, Looks like the Olympic Auditorium?, I see that Keeny Teran fought Bobby Garza on the undercard of Aragon/Carter lightweight title fight......

Yeah, that's the Olympic Paul. I seen the Teran/Umeda fight live....The Garza/Umeda fight I believe was on the Jimmy Carter/Mario Trigo undercard...

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Jimmy Carter vs Mario Trigo....1951??

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Art Aragon vs Joe Miceli



I Think this is when Art twisted his ankle

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Art Aragon vs Mario Trigo...1951....Referee is Charley Randolph

[Cholo]

Tommy Umeda (R) vs Bobby Garza.....1951

Frank, Looks like the Olympic Auditorium?, I see that Keeny Teran fought Bobby Garza on the undercard of Aragon/Carter lightweight title fight......

Yeah, that's the Olympic Paul. I seen the Teran/Umeda fight live....The Garza/Umeda fight I believe was on the Jimmy Carter/Mario Trigo undercard...

Frank, Thanks....

[Cholo]

Art Aragon vs Joe Miceli



I Think this is when Art twisted his ankle

Frank, These photo's are great, i've never seen them before, many thanks.....

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Phil Kim...1952



At the Teamsters Gym with ?



Doing roadwork in Griffith Park

[CNorkusJr]

Art Aragon vs Joe Miceli



I Think this is when Art twisted his ankle

Frank, These photo's are great, i've never seen them before, many thanks.....

Good to be back from vacation into the Boxing world again. Catching up on last few pages.
Joe Miceli was a top matinee TV idol during the 1950's. Close friend of my dads for years, I worked myself with Joe in the late 1970's & early 1980's at Fairchild Republic here on Long Island building the A-10 defense planes. Quite a character as he held court everywhere in the plant talking about the good old days. He was Pres. of Ring 8 for years till his passing.
A fun guy to be around. Great photos Frank.

Charley & Joe, Stillmans Gym

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Olympic Auditorium...Circa..1930

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Thanks Charlie

[Cholo]

Phil Kim...1952



At the Teamsters Gym with ?



Doing roadwork in Griffith Park

Frank, The Teamsters Gym, wasn't that the gym where the film "The Ring" was shot, also on a previous post Frank you posted a photo of the "Golden Boy" wearing a crown and his Californian Lightweight belt, do you know what gym that was?....

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Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

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Frank, The Teamsters Gym, wasn't that the gym where the film "The Ring" was shot, also on a previous post Frank you posted a photo of the "Golden Boy" wearing a crown and his Californian Lightweight belt, do you know what gym that was?....

Yes, it was at the Teamsters where the "The Ring" was shot.... No, I don't know where that picture was shot at....

[Rick Farris]

This is from Audie Aragon regarding Frank's photos . . .
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Hey Rick,

Where in the heck did you find those pictures?
They are very cool and I've never seen them before so thanks for sharing them with me.
In answer to your question, that's my brother Art in the photos with my dad.
Keep them coming, I really get a kick out of seeing them.

Audie

[Cholo]

Frank, The Teamsters Gym, wasn't that the gym where the film "The Ring" was shot, also on a previous post Frank you posted a photo of the "Golden Boy" wearing a crown and his Californian Lightweight belt, do you know what gym that was?....

Yes, it was at the Teamsters where the "The Ring" was shot.... No, I don't know where that picture was shot at....

Frank, Thanks...

[Cholo]

I know i've said it before and i'll say it again, can't somebody do a documentary on the "Golden Boy".....

[Rick Farris]

I know i've said it before and i'll say it again, can't somebody do a documentary on the "Golden Boy".....

It's a big undertaking. I believe there is a place for such a film (?), but it would involve a great deal of time & money to do it right.
Somebody with a passion for boxing, who loves that special era, and somebody who knows how to market the film in a way that will make if financially feasable.
As a film maker and a fan of Aragon & the era, I think it would be great, but I'm not the one to do it.
To be honest, there are only a handful of people with the knowledge to do it right, and with each day that passes that handful gets smaller.
I agree, Paul, it would make a great documentary.

[Rick Farris]

The Amazing Golden Boy . . .

It's been a half century since Art Aragon last fought, more than three years since he passed on.
Aragon fought in a great era, one of the toughest in boxing history. Great welterweights were everywhere.
Art didn't win a world title, but his personality and image made him much bigger than the men who wore the world title belts.
How many champs were as popular and controversial as Art Aragon? I can only think of one, Muhammad Ali.
Just as Ali's legend lives on, so does Art Aragon's. It's alive and well right here, and this is the appropriate place.

[Rick Farris]

Jimmy Carter . . .

I know Carter was handled by mobsters, was involved in some crooked fights, and that Carter was one man whom Ike Williams did not like.
I know this from a conversation I had with Ike Williams half-brother. But when I watch Carter fight, damn he was good.
Look at those photos Frank posted of Carter & Aragon. I don't know of many who like Carter, but he had to be pretty good.

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This is from Audie Aragon regarding Frank's photos . . .
---------------------------------------------------------

Hey Rick,

Where in the heck did you find those pictures?
They are very cool and I've never seen them before so thanks for sharing them with me.
In answer to your question, that's my brother Art in the photos with my dad.
Keep them coming, I really get a kick out of seeing them.

Audie

Thanks Rick for forwarding the photos to Art's son, Audie, I am glad he liked them.

[kikibalt]

Jimmy Carter . . .

I know Carter was handled by mobsters, was involved in some crooked fights, and that Carter was one man whom Ike Williams did not like.
I know this from a conversation I had with Ike Williams half-brother. But when I watch Carter fight, damn he was good.
Look at those photos Frank posted of Carter & Aragon. I don't know of many who like Carter, but he had to be pretty good.

Jimmy Carter was one hell of a fighter....

[Rick Farris]

"To Hell And Back" . . .

The WW2 exploits of Medal of Honor winner, Audie Murphy. Murphy played himself.
Art Aragon played "Sanchez" one of Murphy's fellow soldiers. Art And Audie became tight friends from then on.
The movie is a good one, but one I haven't seen in years. I need to find it, and watch it this weekend.
I saw Audie Murphy at the Main Street Gym in 1970. He was with a young amateur, Randy Shields that day. Murphy died in a plane crash soon after.

[Rick Farris]

This is from Audie Aragon regarding Frank's photos . . .
---------------------------------------------------------

Hey Rick,

Where in the heck did you find those pictures?
They are very cool and I've never seen them before so thanks for sharing them with me.
In answer to your question, that's my brother Art in the photos with my dad.
Keep them coming, I really get a kick out of seeing them.

Audie

Thanks Rick for forwarding the photos to Art's son, Audie, I am glad he liked them.

He knows they are coming from you, and he says thank you, Frank.

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Art & Georgina Aragon