Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon..

Outside the ring, Aragon was an enigma, his tumultuous life a peculiar mixture of fury and levity. Wherever he was, trouble was never far behind, but he loved to party and could poke fun at himself. He once called a reporter and said; "This is Aragon. Remember me? Let me give you a hint;...Eight, nine, 10. He's out!. His escapades were notorious and invited constant headlines. There was New Year's Eve in 1951, when Aragon went into a Mexican restaurant on Sunset Boulevard and started a fracas with fellow lightweight Lauro Salas that police had to break up. "I walked in and he said, 'Aragon, mi amigo, Art recalled, "I said 'Get away from me, you ugly...' He was there with two gorgeous [women] and I guess that [ticked] me off. "Then I took a punch at him and damn it, I missed. Big mistake. Never miss a little guy. He was so small I couldn't find him." The banner headline over a story about his divorce read; "Wife Sues Aragon, Names 15 Women." "She missed three," Aragon said.. Aragon, on the other hand, could be located easily. His hangouts were gymnasiums, nightclubs, strip joints and with astonishing regularity the courthouse. In 1957, Aragon was sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to fix a fight. The verdict was overturned on appeal. Aragon said he told his opponent not to foolishly get up if he knocked him down, and the guy mistook it for a bribe...

 

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I was at the Olympic that night..Peanut Gallery

 

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Art "Golden Boy" Aragon, Marilyn Monroe and Mickey Rooney

 

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The "Golden Boy"

 

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Art Aragon vs Chico Vejar

 

The Golden Boy at his best: When Art Aragon defeated the highly touted John L. Davis at Hollywood back in the early 50s he returned to his dressing room to find a bouquet of roses sent to him by another legendary fight figure, Baron Long, who had been in boxing since the late 19th century and had once teamed with Jim Jeffries to promote in Vernon, Ca. Long was also the first owner of the LA Biltmore Hotel.
Another such gesture, in the form of a flattering "fan letter" came to Artie after another brilliant showing at Hollywood sent to him by noted screenwriter Borden Chase (of "Red River" fame).

Here's a conundrum in the life of the Golden Boy: After losing to Carmen Basilio in a monster of a promotion at Wrigley Field in 1958 that grossed over $200,0000, he made his next showing at smallish Fresno's arena, drawing with a veritable newcomer, young Frankie Bielma. Go figure.

 

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Lauro Salas..

Of all the incidents in which Aragon has participated during his eight years of tempestuous ring life, none has given him such publicity as what some say was a 20-minute brawl he and Lauro Salas staged one particular winter dawn in 1951. The affair took place in a small Mexican restaurant where Sunset Boulevard begins it's winding march towards the Pacific Ocean. At that time both were in the public eye as championship caliber. Aragon, who always carries with him an air of superior pugilistic breeding, leaves no room for brother boxers to move around when bunched together socially. That was the kind of atmosphere Lauro Salas ran into when he pushed open the doors of the Mexican bistro on Sunset Boulevard that early dawn of december 1951. Art, as one version puts it, was sitting at one booth enjoying a huge portion of stinging hot tamales. No sooner had he knocked of the last delicacy when Salas-so the story goes-came over, grabbed Art by the shoulder and gave his spanish version of Aragon, the man, Aragon, the fighter, and Aragon, the son. From then on there were no more words to be said. Both men threw boxing etiquette out of the window and put on one of the wildest punching fiesta ever seen anywhere on Sunset Boulevard. They locked horns so hard that patrons got knocked off there feet trying to stop the slugging show. Some quick-thinking night owler's thought that buckets of cold water would be the thing to do and sure enough Art and Lauro stopped the fracas when they got there early morning bath. When officers of the law showed up all was quiet and perfect. Both men had licked their wounds sufficiently well to leave no evidence of assault. Out of this unscheduled fistic cuffing both were signed for a 10-round rematch, this time with a pay envelope and thousands were turned away. Aragon got the decision in a savage contest..

 

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Jackie McCoy, Lee Paila, featherweight champion, Raul Rojas and The Golden Boy, Art Aragon

 

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Alvaro Gutierrez Jan, 21. 1960...

At 32 years of age, welterweight boxer Art Aragon said Friday he is through with the fight game. Aragon was stopped in the ninth round of a rousing brawl Thursday night by Alvaro gutierrez at the Olympic Auditorium. Before the match Aragon said he would retire if he lost, or even looked bad winning. The "Golden boy" of local boxing looked game, but that was all as he took a bad beating. For some 14 years Aragon has been the target of boos in almost every fight, win or lose. Thursday night a crowd of 8,100 reversed the procedure. He got applause when he entered the ring and a big ovation when he left, beaten though he was. At first Aragon said he would decide in a few days about retirement. Later he announced without qualifactions that he was through. Aragon, was the biggest box office magnet in Los Angeles fight annuals. His future plans are indefinite. "But" he said, "this was my last fight."

 

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Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

 

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Is this Mamie Van Dore with Art Aragon (L) and Julian Eget

 

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The "Golden Boy" with MM...The Golden Boy was a star among stars.

 

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The Golden Boy breaks down in tears after hearing the decision in his favor vs Jimmy Carter I...8-28-1951.

I was at the Olympic for this fight...Also fighting on the card was my friend, Keeny Teran

 

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

In spite of the obvious contempt which the greater portion of latin fans hold for him, Art already has been successful in swaying there emotions. It has only happened once and possibly will never happen again. That was when he faced Jimmy Carter for the crown. Sweating off valuable pounds from a body rippling with lean muscles so as to make the weight limit, Art blew his chances for success. But he fought one of the most valiant he-man matches ever seen on the coast. He was punished severly, he hit the canvas twice and the easiness by which Carter maneuvered around him made Art look sick. When the much -one-sided tiff came to an end Aragon's granite-like jaw almost rubbed his chest admitting defeat. Just before leaving the ring exploded the sweetest music ever heard by Aragon. The fight mob, sensing they had seen a hero in action, let go with a tremendous roar of effection for the man they had despised for so long. But Aragon couldn't take that standing up. He sat in his corner stool. Then he wept, he sobbed shaking in convulsions like a broken child..