Fight:121408
Joe Miceli 148 lbs beat Art Aragon 152 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1959-04-25
- Location: Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, USA
- Referee: Tommy Hart 89-88
- Judge: Mushy Callahan 92-90
- Judge: George Latka 93-89
Art Aragon’s dreams of a title fight with Don Jordan ended in a nightmare last night at Hollywood Legion Stadium as he blew a bruising unanimous but close 10-round decision to 5-1 underdog Joe Miceli before a turn-away crowd of 6,500. Miceli weighed 148, Aragon 152. Miceli, lashing out with left hooks that originated from the area of his kneecaps, brought the house to its feet early in the first round when he tore after Aragon with both fists blazing. Aragon, taken by surprise, went into a quick retreat and while going back caught a left hook to the jaw and a long right that spilled him for an eight count. Miceli went all out for a knockout but was unable to get over the finishing punch, although he had the Golden Boy stunned repeatedly. Aragon surprised the fans by coming back to out-left hook Joe in the second stanza, but Miceli was on target again in the third round. With a blasting left hook and a southpaw smash, Joe decked Aragon as if he was pole-axed. Art got up badly hurt at four and took a severe lacing for the remaining minute of the round. A Miceli left hook almost floored Aragon again at the bell, and Art walked aimlessly away from his corner when the bell sounded. He was in bad shape. Joe oozed confidence in the fourth and fifth rounds and toyed with Aragon but never went after his rival as ferociously as he did in the first three rounds. The sixth round was Aragon’s big round. He hit Miceli over the eye with a right which opened a cut and followed with a barrage of lefts and rights which staggered him. The seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds were all Aragons. Miceli’s cut eye gave him trouble, and he appeared to tire badly. The tenth was a torrid affair. Aragon realizing he would have to kayo Miceli if he was to win went all out. Joe, however, counter-punched beautifully and hit Aragon with a left hook which dazed and almost floored him. Aragon tried to hold but Miceli pushed him away and was landing punches with both hands when the bell ended the fight. Referee Tommy Hart voted for Miceli 89-88. Judges Mushy Callahan and George Latka had Miceli ahead 92-90 and 93-89, respectively. [LA Times]