Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Carlos Chavez, June. 6, 1950

The veteran Carlos Chavez pulled one of the big upsets of the year when he took a ten-round decision over the top heavy favorite. Art Aragon, in their Los Angeles battle. The fight was action packed from the opening bell with Aragon making the mistake of staying in close with the bull shouldered Mexican. Chavez outbanged the "Golden Boy" in close and then when he backed away, Carlos caught him with hard shots to the head. Chavez set a blistering pace from the start with the younger Art matching him blow for blow in the early heats. However, instead of wearing himself out, Carlos kept up the torrid going after the half-way mark, while Aragon began to show signs of wear and tear. At long range, Aragon missed badly and Chavez countered beautifully. In the fifth round the Mexican shook Aragon with a left hook to the chin after Art missed a right cross aimed at the jaw. The Hollywood youngster was on ***** street for over 50 seconds as Chavez chased him all over the ring in a bid for the kayo. However, Aragon came back strong during the last minute of the round to make it a fairly close session. After the battle, Aragon admitted he lost, but that he just couldn't seem to get started. Here is the scoring of the officials: Referee Joe Stone tabbed it 58 to 52 points for Chavez Judge Charley Randolph had it 56 to 54 for the Mexican and Judge Johnny Indrisano marked the bout 57 1/2 to 52 1/2 for the Mexican battler, making the decision unanimous. A crowd of 7,478 wild-eyed fight fans paid a gross gate of $32,210.60 for the show which was promoted for the benefit of the worthy "Fight for Life" charity. Despite his loss, Art Aragon remains the biggest attraction on the Pacific Coast and he was rematched with Enrique Bolanos right after the Chavez upset. In there first bout, Aragon knocked out Bolanos and gained one of the top-contender spots for Champion Ike Williams' title..

 

Art Aragon...The Original Golden Boy...


When Aragon fought, he became the surest thing to a guaranteed sell out when he apeared on fight cards from the 1940s to 1960. The lightweight slugger from East Los Angeles packed them in with people looking to see him knock out or get knocked out. Outside the ring he proved just as irresistible to fans and onlookers who saw the prizefighter regularly clown and joke his way in and out of trouble, Hollywood was captivated with the charismatic Aragon. Many recall Aragon's womanizing ways and willingness to accept dares to seduce an unsuspecting female, Aragon would often tell friends, "Do you think I could get that girl?". Many observers said that despite Aragon's penchant for the Hollywood nightlife, once he got in the ring he became a different human being. The closest the Golden Boy came to a world championship came in 1951 when he beat champion Jimmy Carter in a non-title affair at the Olympic. Three months later they fought again, a weight drained Aragon lost over 15 rounds with the lightweight title on the line, being dropped twice along the way. He did get revenge when he met Carter a third time five years later, Aragon battered Carter for 10 rounds in an easy victory, weighing 142, Art always said "At 142 I'd fight Joe Louis"

 

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon...


The Golden Boy. A legend with a devastating left hook matched only by his matinee idol looks. a celebrity among celebrities. The most popular fighter in Los Angeles, guaranteed to pack the house. And yet one simultaneously loved and despised by LA's Mexican fight fans. Oscar who? No, we're talking about boxing's original Golden Boy. Art Aragon. Possessor of a gaudy 87-16-6 record, with 60 KOs, Art Aragon was the Golden Boy during the golden age of boxing in Los Angeles. This remarkable lifgtweight and welterweight, enjoyed a career spanning sixteen years, during which time he fought, and defeated, some of the toughest in the game. "I coulda gone further," he reflected "My biggest drawback, looking over my life, I didn't like to train, the most I ever trained in my life was a month, six weeks. I didn't like training. Jim Murray asked me one time 'Art, we know you hate training. What do you hate the most? The boxing, the sparring, the roadwork?' I said 'yes!. His career was interrupted by military service in 1945-46, during which time he had no fights for a twelve month period, and again from late 1946 through early 1948 fighting only once in 1947. "I quit fighting for a while. I was a young kid, and I may have gotten robbed, and I was very disappointed in boxing, and I gave it up." Yet, when asked what got him back into it, he responds, characteristically, "You can't stop being an idiot. Once an idiot, always an idiot!" Aragon returned with a vengeance, fighting thirty five times from 1948 through 1950. The next year, he fought Jimmy Carter twice, decision him in 10 and then losing by decision in 15, his only championship shot. Deadpanning Aragon muses, "When I fought him, I was fighting at 142, and it's tough getting down to 135 [It was so hard making weight] I was the only fighter they ever carried into the ring! "Good fighter. I won the first five rounds, and ran out of gas. And he won the last 40 rounds!" Momentarily introspective, Aragon remarks, "I thank god, and I mean this sincerely, anybody that had as many fights as I did can't even talk. I know a good fighter, won't mention his name. Good fighter, great fighter, champion. [I said] 'Hi, how are you, good to see you again.' And you know what he said to me? 'Bwoa duow bla.' And I believed him!" ...

 

Art Aragon/Reybon Stubbs...December 3, 1959...


BIG MONEY CAREER OVER FOR SRUGGLING ARAGON

Even if he refuses to follow the avalanche of advice from his freinds and decides instead to continue fighting, Art Aragon is doomed as a big money gate attraction. Despite his struggling efforts to the contrary, the handwriting has been shouting on the wall ever since Art was pasted by Carmen Basilio before a California record $236,531 crowd in September 1958. But it wasn't until his one-sided loss to Reybon Stubbs that anybody would really believe it.

Now, even his dreams of one last big money battle with Battling Torres or Don Jordan have been smashed. The State Athletic Commission might not even sanction matches. Aragon would be in real physical danger. Against Stubbs, Art's reflexes and legs (despite the fact he had trained well and was in good condition) were gone.

Not a heavy puncher, Stubbs actually toyed with Aragon as he outboxed him all the way, winning nine of 10 rounds on the cards of nearly every ringside reporter. Nevertheless, Aragon as always, made it exciting. He kept chasing Stubbs trying to get over one big punch. But it was pathetic and futile. Aragon had the desire, but no longer the equipment. His big punch has vanished.

Looking back, he's had a fabulous career-15 years, most of it as the No. 1 attraction in Los Angeles. Even near the end here in 1959, he managed to win seven, drop only two. But the magic is gone. Fans realize now more then ever that he can't beat any really good opponents. The Stubbs bout drew well (but not impressive for an Aragon match) as 5500 fans turned up to pay a gross gate of 10,566. It will get worse if he continues.

 

Grey. riding the bus from Ontario to L.A.? Man! that's hard core dedication to the sport of boxing....I started going to the Olympic and the Hollywood Legion in the late '40s...I was probably at the same fights as your mom at one time other.

Your dad was in great company..

 

This fight never happened

GOLDEN BOY MEETS GUDER APRIL 25...

Art Aragon is not exactly the world's most charming personality. Most of the time he's happy to admit it. He works hard to irritate. It's part of his bread and butter. Long ago he discovered that villains make better copy, have flashier cars and are longer remembered. But the Golden Boy has decided to make an exception to his rule and momentarily play it straight.

At the risk of being stamped a sentimentalist and a nice guy, Arthur has become the central figure in a charity fight April 25 at Hollywood Legion Stadium. Largely through Art's effort, the match will produce funds for former boxer Julian Velasquez, a local featherweight prospect who suffered serious brain injury last year in a bout against Eddie Gasporra at Hollywood. Surgery saved Julian's life, but he's still unable to work, and the little money he earned from boxing has long been gone.

Although Art's opponent in the bout-Karl Guder-is not quite what you would call a fierce foe, the program rates support from evey ring fan. Art himself will turn over part of his purse as will Aragon's manager, Paul Caruso. There will also be a couple of small raffles and donations can be sent to "The Julian Velasquez Fund" in care of Hollywood Stadium.

Altogether they hope to raise at least $2000 for Velasquez, enough to to put down on a small home for him and his family (wife and one child) and start him learning a trade he can handle. From the begining of Julian's troubles, Aragon has kept in close touch. It wasn't known to the public, but Harry Kabakoff, former manager of the stricken fighter, says Aragon has repeatedly sent money to help the fighter with food and clothing for the past year. Art was actually the first to suggest the charity bout. So this one time the Golden Boy deserves a cheer. As for the fight itself, it will mark Aragon's first start since his controversial 4th round "no decision" kayo over Charlie Sawyer in the same ring. Aragon hopes it will lead to a clash here later this year with Don Jordan for the welterweight championship-depending, of course on how Jordan comes out in his title rematch with Virgil Akins April 24 in St. Louis.

Both Aragon and Guder knocked out Ramon Tiscareno, were held to draws by Frankie Belma, and beaten by Joe Miceli in fights against common opponents. However Guder doesn't have the power to play with Art on one of his better nights. I think Aragon will win in a breeze. But the big winner will be Velasquez in this one. And also the fans who take part...

 

The Golden Boy's last hurrah

ART ARAGON TAKES WORST BEATING OF HIS CAREER...

Los Angeles, Jan. 22-Art Aragon, the "Golden Boy" of California boxing, went out last night like the champion he never became. But, as he was leaving, he hesitated-suggesting perhaps that he might be back. Aragon, a boxer for half his 32 years, said he would quit if he lost this one to Alvaro Gutierrez, a bullish clubfighter from Mexico. He lost. Art was bloody, bushed and beaten when Referee Tommy Hart stopped it in the ninth round. But if his competence was gone, his courage persisted. He was ready to go on when Hart put his arms around him and said: "It's all over Art, It's all over"

The United Press representative at ringside said Gutierrez handed Aragon his worst beating of his 16-year career). Aragon, talkative and provocative, usually gets a lot of abuse from the fight crowd. This time, many of the 8100 at the Olympic Auditorium gave him a standing ovation, some of them shouting as though carried away by the final act of a tragic opera. Aragon, still fast with the quip though slow of arm, had nothing funny to say in the dressing room. But he didn't say what he was supposed to-that he will retire. "I want to think about it a couple of days," he said. Then the ancient fighter's lament: "I could have won if I'd fought a different fight." A writer at ringside agreed: "He could have won, all right, if the fight had been 10 years ago"

Whatever Aragon decides, his manager is through with him as a fighter. Paul Caruso said he would terminate their business relationship if Aragon lost and insisted on fighting again. Aragon presented flashbacks of his former self early in the fight, even though he was knocked down for a three-count in the first round. Art had a good second round and got in some nice shots in the third, although fewer then Gutierrez. Then in the fourth, Aragon scored with a sharp combination and gave the Mexican the wobbles. Art might have been only one punch away from a knockout, but he never landed it. Aragon was obviously weary after the fourth. He accumulated punishment almost constantly from then until Hart stepped between the fighters in the ninth...

 

Aragon/Andrade...Aug. 1956.

Art Aragon, still keeping his weight a much publicized secret, moved his training camp entourage to Pop Soper's spot in Ojai today to put on the finiishing touches for his Aug. 29 match with Cisco Andrade. Under a bond to make 144 1/2 pounds, Art refused to get on the scales for the benefit of the press yesterday during drills at the Hollywood Legion Stadium. Golden Boy wouldn't weigh himself until everybody cleared out and door was locked. However, it appears he isn't having too much trouble shaving off his extra poundage, and although he still scales somewhere in the vicinity of 152 his last 10 days at Soper's figures to do the job. Incidentally, another smash crowd of over 2000 fans turned out yesterday for the "Sunday Workouts" at Hollywood.

 

Art Aragon/Tony Chavez...Sept,16.1949...


San Jose Tony Chavez comes to Hollywood Legion Stadium proceded by a sizable reputation as a durable little fisticuffer. He has faced some highly explosive punchers in past bouts and as yet has never been counted out in ring combat. That could be, perhaps, the reason why he's shown no great awe for the pulverizing power of Art Aragon, that is why he his in a position to spring the upset of the year here tonight.

Local fight men agree there aren't many lightweights in captivity capable of whipping the "Golden Boy"; In the same breath they'll tell you Art has got himself no softie for an opponent tonight. And when men in boxing think enough of a fight to take on the interest typical of the fight fan it's almost a sure indication that a sizzling battle is expected.

Because of a series of circumstances, Art Aragon has been forced to literally smash his way to the top of the lightweight heap. He's had trouble getting the top fighters in the nation to face him. He has but one alternative in such case and that is to prove, by comparative performances, that he his without doubt the outstanding 135 pounder on the left coast. He has the punching power to put his point over; And you can believe that he has the will to use that punching power. He has already knocked out 21 of his 42 foes; Tony Chavez is bound to change those figures one way or another.

 

Art Aragon/Bolton Ford...Aug, 26. 1949...Hollywood Legion Stadium.

Art Aragon and Bolton Ford. For seven days now, those two names have been a major topic of conversation among fistic followers of this locality. Whenever aragon's name is mentioned, it is invariably followed by "Golden Boy" "20 knockouts in 40 bouts," or "Jimmy Roche's comin champ." He's up against a spoiler of no mean ability tonight. When you think of Bolton Ford you'll probably think too of his wins over Paulino Montes in this very ring late last year. Or his decisive whipping of Irvin Sheen, because of his unorthodox style Ford will be a definite match for young Aragon. Both boys have had a share in the national rankings at one time or another. Both have quite a deal at stake tonight. Ford has never been knocked out. If he gets by Art, he'll succeed where eight others have failed this year. On the other hand if Artie flattens him, we'll go along with many observers who see a brilliant future in boxing for Art Aragon.

 

Art "Golden Boy" Aragon/Richie Shinn...Sept,20.1948

SAN FRANCISCO-Matchmaker Bennie Ford has a standout lightweight duel for the bowl next monday when Art Aragon, from L.A. clashes with clever Richie Shinn over the ten round distance...Aragon staged two smashers against John L. Davis at Oakland in recent outings and his match with Tommy Campbell was called a two round technical draw when Art suffered a cut eye from an unintentional butt...Senor Aragon is considered one of the top prospects in the southland and is noted for his action fighting.