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YourHub.com \\ The Valley \\ Stories \\ Milestones \\ Birthdays

Famous former boxer Art Aragon turns 80

On 11/13/2007

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Contributed by: Morris Schulatsky on 11/29/2007

Van Nuys resident Art Aragon, who was called the Golden Boy in the boxing world during the 1940s and 50s, turned 80 on Nov. 13 anda knockout birthday bash was held in his honor.

Held at the Dunes Inn in Hollywood, the party guests included Bobby Chacon, former World Boxing Council featherweight and junior lightweight champ; Vince Delgado, former featherweight contender; and Don Fraser, president of the California Hall of Fame Boxing Association.

The partygoers remembered Aragon when he was an outstanding lightweight, ranked fifth in the world. He was later ranked fourth among welterweights.
Sports writers described the young Mexican-American from East L.A. as "an aggressive and fearless fighter."

He was a busy one, too, sometimes fighting twice a month. In his 17-year career, he fought 114 bouts and won 88 - 60 by knockout. In his only world title bout, he lost to James Carter in the lightweight division.

"I had to drop my weight from 142 to 134," he said. "I felt weakened and I lost."
A few years later, he defeated Carter in a nontitle match.

But Aragon still remembers the cheers - and and jeers - from the crowds during his bouts against fighters such as Lauro Salas, Cisco Andrade, Don Jordan and Alfredo Escobar. In 1950, he knocked out the popular Enrique Bolanos and he heard the boos.

"I was unhappy at first," he said. "But audiences love a winner."

In 1958, he had his toughest fight, against Carmen Basilio. He went eight rounds before hitting the canvas in L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

"I gave him everything I had," Aragon said. "But it wasn't enough. He was a bulldog. He hit me with everything."

One sport writer described Aragon's face as "a mess" after the fight. Why did he fight Basilio? "For the money," he said.

For the bout, Aragon was paid $140,000. "Cost me $90,000 to get out of the hospital," he joked.

He retired from boxing in 1960 at age 33 and invested the money he'd made to start a bail-bond business.

"If I ever got arrested, I could bail myself out," Aragon quipped.

His two sons, Brad and Audie, help with the business. He also has a daughter, Georgette, and three grandchildren.

Aragon said he would like to be remembered as a survivor in a brutal business.
"A guy beating on your head for 10 rounds," he said " ... I'm lucky to be alive."

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