BoxRec

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon On Lauro Salas,
"I like guys who keep there mouths shut-not guys like me. Thats the trouble with Lauro Salas; he's always popping off. Especially about me." The feeling was common knowledge among the fistic population of Los Angeles. Aragon summed up there relationship comprehensively when he said, "A funny thing happened one time. I was out driving, and turned a corner real quick and almost ran into a guy. Who was he but Salas, and it was just a lucky thing I never hit him, because they sure would have hung a premeditated murder rap on me."

Rick Farris wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:Hap must be without a doubt one of the last treasurechests with that great behind the scenes knowledge from that era in L.A boxing.
A true joy that he contributes to this thread through Rick
Great stuff as always

Remy . . . The old Hollywood Legion Stadium is now a Balley's Fitness Center, but the building still stands.
So does the old Columbia Studio lot, which is now called the Sunset-Gower Studios. All are just a few blocks from where you will be staying in Hollywood.
When I work at Paramount Studios (which is a few blocks further down Gower from the Legion) I pass by the old arena, as well as the old Columbia lot.
Not a time passes when I drive down Gower and cross Hollywood blvd. that I don't think of Hap, and imagine him crossing the little alley in back of the LEgion to the rear entrance of the Blue Palm bar.
I can still see it all from the corner of Gower & Hollywood Blvd. as I drive by. If we could just turn back the clock sixty years.

Whats the address for the Balley's fitness center where the Hollywood Legion used to be , I might go over and check it out today maybe take a photo

kikibalt wrote:Canelo Alvarez imho sucks. it would be hard to find a safer opponent than the guy he is fighting tonight, and yet the guy is still around in the 11th round. good fighters blows guys like that out. Like Jackie McCoy used to say "a good fighter get an opponent like that out early"". The fighter called "Perro" will beat imo.....

I agree Frank , Canelo has been underwhelming in the fights ive seen him in

Saw this and thought it was awesome information for your perusal:

Subject: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


ARLINGTON CEMETERY






Tomb of the Unknown Soldier







1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns and why?
21 steps: It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which is the highest honor given
any military or foreign dignitary.


2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1







3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.


4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and, if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the
path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.







5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.






6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10' and
6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.

They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb,
and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot
swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb
in any way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying
they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must
obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from
their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to
make the loud click as they come to a halt.


There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.. Guards dress for duty in front of a
full-length mirror.


The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone nor watch TV . All off duty
time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National
Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among
the notables are:

President Taft,
Joe Louis {the boxer}
Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII.


Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.




ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.


In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House
took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported
that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of
guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the
assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin,
marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not
just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The
tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.





God Bless and keep them.

Rick Farris wrote:Haye vs. Klitschko . . .

This actually has my interest.
Naturally the bout must be held in Germany, a security blanket for the insecure Eastern European bum.
Wembley packed with thousands of Brits would intimidate the weak kneed Ukranian eunic.
I expect David Haye to knockout the youngest Lurch brother.
Nothing else will be acceptable.

If the stars and moons line up just right this year, Hayes will defeat Vlad on July 2 and then Adamek will defeat Vitali in Sept., setting up the greatest Heavyweight Unification Championship this world has ever seen !

Yeah,right !

1628 N El Centro Ave, Is this where the Hollywood Legion used to be?

CNorkusJr wrote:Saw this and thought it was awesome information for your perusal:

Subject: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


ARLINGTON CEMETERY






Tomb of the Unknown Soldier







1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns and why?
21 steps: It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which is the highest honor given
any military or foreign dignitary.


2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1







3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.


4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and, if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the
path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.







5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.






6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10' and
6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.

They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb,
and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot
swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb
in any way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying
they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must
obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from
their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to
make the loud click as they come to a halt.


There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.. Guards dress for duty in front of a
full-length mirror.


The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone nor watch TV . All off duty
time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National
Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among
the notables are:

President Taft,
Joe Louis {the boxer}
Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII.


Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.




ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.


In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House
took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported
that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of
guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the
assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin,
marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not
just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The
tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.





God Bless and keep them.

Interesting stuff Charley

Panzerfaust wrote:1628 N El Centro Ave, Is this where the Hollywood Legion used to be?

Just south of Hollywood Blvd.

Panzerfaust wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:

Panzerfaust wrote:Hap must be without a doubt one of the last treasurechests with that great behind the scenes knowledge from that era in L.A boxing.
A true joy that he contributes to this thread through Rick
Great stuff as always

Remy . . . The old Hollywood Legion Stadium is now a Balley's Fitness Center, but the building still stands.
So does the old Columbia Studio lot, which is now called the Sunset-Gower Studios. All are just a few blocks from where you will be staying in Hollywood.
When I work at Paramount Studios (which is a few blocks further down Gower from the Legion) I pass by the old arena, as well as the old Columbia lot.
Not a time passes when I drive down Gower and cross Hollywood blvd. that I don't think of Hap, and imagine him crossing the little alley in back of the LEgion to the rear entrance of the Blue Palm bar.
I can still see it all from the corner of Gower & Hollywood Blvd. as I drive by. If we could just turn back the clock sixty years.

Whats the address for the Balley's fitness center where the Hollywood Legion used to be , I might go over and check it out today maybe take a photo

Remy, somewhere in this thread are a couple photos I took of Balley's, as well as The Blue Palms bar (which today is a micro-brew).

CNorkusJr wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Haye vs. Klitschko . . .

This actually has my interest.
Naturally the bout must be held in Germany, a security blanket for the insecure Eastern European bum.
Wembley packed with thousands of Brits would intimidate the weak kneed Ukranian eunic.
I expect David Haye to knockout the youngest Lurch brother.
Nothing else will be acceptable.

If the stars and moons line up just right this year, Hayes will defeat Vlad on July 2 and then Adamek will defeat Vitali in Sept., setting up the greatest Heavyweight Unification Championship this world has ever seen !

Yeah,right !

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon, From The Fight Magazine 1953,
If Art Aragon spent as much time throwing real punches at sparring partners as he does verbal punches at the world, he would be lightweight champion today. Last June in Los Angeles' Olympic Stadium he snapped the six fight winning streak of Elmer Beltz, a highly-regarded welterweight, with a knockout in 50 seconds of the first round of a much-publicized charity fight. Beltz's manager, Bill Gale, was furious after the fight, but not because his boy had been beaten. he muttered in bitter indignation, "The thing that gripes me is that Aragon did just what he said he would." The Golden Boy had predicted he would floor Beltz with one punch and end the fight in the first round. He was also heard to say "I'd feel sorry for Beltz except for one thing: There's money involved." After fullfilling the boast, the loquacious fellow said in reference to his rapid knockout, "The house wasn't big enough. I wanted to get it over fast." It was as simple as that. Someone asked Aragon if he thought the fight should have been stopped sooner. He replied, "They should have stopped it when the match was signed." Another person asked if Art thought Beltz should have waited another year before taking him on. He replied, "He should have waited four years." Actually, though, Aragon is not as brash as he first appears. Out of the ring, he leads with his lip, and it is a widely accepted conclusion that he speaks before he thinks, and allowances are made accordingly. Before the fight the scenes in the dressing rooms of the two fighters provided a distinct contrast. Beltz was earnestly limbering up and shadow boxing. Aragon on the other hand, was deeply concerned over a sign he was in the process of painting. Art's trainer, Ray Luna, was holding a bottle of black liquid shoe polish in one hand and the dauber in the other. Aragon was dictating what he wanted printed on a large piece of white cardboard. On the first line appeared the words "IF IT'S A." On the scond line went "GOOD FIGHT." The Golden Boy was not satisfied with the progress Luna was making on the word "FIGHT." He said, "Aw, that's lousy. Here-let me do the rest of it." Fight time was approaching, but Art wasn't thinking about it. He was painstakingly printing the words "THROW MONEY" on the third line. When he reached the end of the line, there was not enough room for the "Y" in "MONEY," so Art put a small "Y" just beneath "E." Luna said, that's no good," and took the roll of adhesive tape, with which he was going to bandage Art's hands, out of Aragon's bag. He tore off small strips and covered the "MONE" with them. Then he took the bottle of polish and dauber from Aragon and painted a "$" sign on the tape. This met with Art's approval, so he dictated the last line: "P.S. FOR CITY OF HOPE." One of Aragon's handlers then was designated to carry the sign into the ring and display it prominently before the introductions were made. But when it came time for the Golden Boy's procession-consisting of Art in a GOLD robe to enter the ring, the crewman forgot the sign amid the last minute hustle and bustle. Aragon's thought was there, though. He had sincerely wanted t do his part to help the City of Hope, a local cancer and tuberculosis sanitorium.

Tamales for breakfast at the Vine st farmers market, and a trip up to where the Hollywood Legion used to be. Now a quick rest in the motel with True Grit on dvd and maybe a siesta... then lunch

Remy, good to know you are in town.
There is a burrito waiting for you in East L.A.

kikibalt wrote:
I received this and other photos from my good friend Hap Navarro

This photo of Hap (L) and Enrique Bolanos was taken at the Mexican Sports Writer banquet held in 1951 at the Club El Sarape, on west Sunset Blvd. Hap was the emcee that night and handed out awards to bert Colima, Manuel Oritz, Baby Arizmendi, Art Aragon and Enrique. It was the first time Mexican boxers had ever been honored that way....through popular voting in the Mexican newspaper La Opinion.

Boxing History in the City of Angels.

I see Joe Goossen's boy John Molina (not to be confused with John-John Molina) is fighting this week defending his lightwt titles against Bob Frankel in a Casino out by you guys.
John Molina got some Press from writer Igor Frank recently who dropped my father's name into one of his articles when he fought Lundy for the title. I appreciate that.
Joe's boxer Molina looks like he can hold is own and has support from his dads union members.

What's really a disgrace is that this Frankel guy was convicted and sent to prison for 10yrs
for kidnapping,assaulting his pregnant wife in 2009 !
Now a title shot !! :x :x
Lets me guess-time off for good behavior ? Who gives these guys boxing licenses anyway ?

CNorkusJr wrote:I see Joe Goossen's boy John Molina (not to be confused with John-John Molina) is fighting this week defending his lightwt titles in a Casino out by you guys.
John Molina got some Press from writer Igor Frank recently who dropped my father's name into one of his articles when he fought Lundy for the title. I appreciate that.
Joe's boxer Molina looks like he can hold is own and has support from his dads union members.

Charlie, Molina left Joe Goossen's stable a few months ago.
I've met John Molina. Nice man, wish him the best!
Frank Igor was briefly associated with the WBHOF shortly after I joined the organization.

Thanks Rick- I dont know the "who,what or where" about it ,but I added the piece about Frankel above as you answered me. No fault of Molina,but who put this fight together .
Frankel was a plea bargain down.

kikibalt wrote:
Jerry & Mike Quarry

Jerry put a lot of hurt on his younger, smaller brother.
I saw it up close, never quite understood it. So is the world of boxing.
Both are gone today. God rest their souls.

kikibalt wrote:
"The original Golden Boy"

As Hap pointed out, Art Aragon was not the first "Golden Boy".

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
I received this and other photos from my good friend Hap Navarro

This photo of Hap (L) and Enrique Bolanos was taken at the Mexican Sports Writer banquet held in 1951 at the Club El Sarape, on west Sunset Blvd. Hap was the emcee that night and handed out awards to bert Colima, Manuel Oritz, Baby Arizmendi, Art Aragon and Enrique. It was the first time Mexican boxers had ever been honored that way....through popular voting in the Mexican newspaper La Opinion.

Boxing History in the City of Angels.

Rick, Enrique Bolanos excellent boxer, I've watched his fight with Ike Williams on youtube..

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
"The original Golden Boy"

As Hap pointed out, Art Aragon was not the first "Golden Boy".

Rick, I bet he wasn't as colorful as Artie though, nobody will take the place of "Golden Boy" Aragon..

Babe McCoy On Art "Golden Boy" Aragon,
"We've been given trouble by fighters we lose money with, so when a fellow like Aragon comes along, we can tolerate him. But believe me, he gives us plenty of trouble. Art is a boy with alot of confidence. He thinks he's a better fighter then Carter, and a better matchmaker then me. He tells our publicity man how to write his releases and tells the ticket office how to sell tickets. For a big fight, he tells us how to scale the house and how much to advertise."
When Aragon was up at Pop Soper's Ranch near Ojai, California, training for his title fight with Carter in November 1951, he became concerned over the influx of newspapermen coming to see him train. Art, who worries more about how advance ticket sales are progressing then the promoters do, was counting on a capacity crowd for his fight with Carter, and by simple arithmetic he arrived at the conclusion that for every newspaperman to be accommodated, one less ticket could be sold. When a group of newspapermen crowded around him after one of his rare sparring sessions, he said, to no one in particular, "Remind me to call the Olympic in the morning and tell them to cut down on the press pass list."
The booing of the Golden Boy has grown into a tradition. It is his trademark as much as his eye-catching robe. The fight fans boo Aragon for the same reason baseball fans eat hot dogs. It is the customary thing to do.

The count down has began.....CBHOF....

Cholo wrote:Babe McCoy On Art "Golden Boy" Aragon,
"We've been given trouble by fighters we lose money with, so when a fellow like Aragon comes along, we can tolerate him. But believe me, he gives us plenty of trouble. Art is a boy with alot of confidence. He thinks he's a better fighter then Carter, and a better matchmaker then me. He tells our publicity man how to write his releases and tells the ticket office how to sell tickets. For a big fight, he tells us how to scale the house and how much to advertise."
When Aragon was up at Pop Soper's Ranch near Ojai, California, training for his title fight with Carter in November 1951, he became concerned over the influx of newspapermen coming to see him train. Art, who worries more about how advance ticket sales are progressing then the promoters do, was counting on a capacity crowd for his fight with Carter, and by simple arithmetic he arrived at the conclusion that for every newspaperman to be accommodated, one less ticket could be sold. When a group of newspapermen crowded around him after one of his rare sparring sessions, he said, to no one in particular, "Remind me to call the Olympic in the morning and tell them to cut down on the press pass list."
The booing of the Golden Boy has grown into a tradition. It is his trademark as much as his eye-catching robe. The fight fans boo Aragon for the same reason baseball fans eat hot dogs. It is the customary thing to do.

Paul, thank you for all the "Golden Boy" stories, love'em.....

kikibalt wrote:

Cholo wrote:Babe McCoy On Art "Golden Boy" Aragon,
"We've been given trouble by fighters we lose money with, so when a fellow like Aragon comes along, we can tolerate him. But believe me, he gives us plenty of trouble. Art is a boy with alot of confidence. He thinks he's a better fighter then Carter, and a better matchmaker then me. He tells our publicity man how to write his releases and tells the ticket office how to sell tickets. For a big fight, he tells us how to scale the house and how much to advertise."
When Aragon was up at Pop Soper's Ranch near Ojai, California, training for his title fight with Carter in November 1951, he became concerned over the influx of newspapermen coming to see him train. Art, who worries more about how advance ticket sales are progressing then the promoters do, was counting on a capacity crowd for his fight with Carter, and by simple arithmetic he arrived at the conclusion that for every newspaperman to be accommodated, one less ticket could be sold. When a group of newspapermen crowded around him after one of his rare sparring sessions, he said, to no one in particular, "Remind me to call the Olympic in the morning and tell them to cut down on the press pass list."
The booing of the Golden Boy has grown into a tradition. It is his trademark as much as his eye-catching robe. The fight fans boo Aragon for the same reason baseball fans eat hot dogs. It is the customary thing to do.

Paul, thank you for all the "Golden Boy" stories, love'em.....

Frank, Glad you enjoy them buddy, "Artie was one of a kind."