Art Aragon
"The Golden Boy"


One of the sport’s most amiable and decorated stars, the original golden boy, Art Aragon, was a fighter who in 1944 turned pro at the age of seventeen. A Californian native, the local boxer was responsible for the sell out attendances which regularly packed venues such as Wrigley field and the Legion Stadium.

His nickname “Golden Boy” does not fully convey this fighter’s character. He was not a protected fighter or a fighter that campaigned with any delicacy. His record of 90-20-6 illustrates the true grit of which this man was composed. Entering the ring adorned with a golden robe Aragon defeated a number of world class foes in the forms of Jimmy Carter, Don Jordan, Carmen Basilio and Lauro Salas.
With such pedigree and a willingness to fight the best it would be assumed that Aragon would have been a hero. However, like Ali after him, Aragon presented a figure that the audience loved to hate, a persona, which was fuelled by the heavy defeats he bestowed upon the numerous top Mexican fighters who challenged him.
On his retirement he lamented over this. When interviewed by the Los Angeles Times he stated “Walking into the ring at the Olympic Stadium with 10,000 people there, wearing that gold robe, hearing those boos, I miss that. You ever get booed by 10,000 people? It’s exciting.” “I liked it even better when I beat some guy the crowd loved and then I’d look out at ‘em and give ‘em, a big smile, and the boos would be even louder and I loved that.”

Retiring in 1960, Aragon was one of those fighters who became popular in retirement. His status within the boxing world translated to fame outside of it also and Aragon was romantically linked to Mamie Van Doren, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe.
His failure to ever land a world title was overshadowed by the accusation that he had conspired with opponents before fights and fixed certain fights. It was never proven, but the record of this hero was tarnished somewhat by the mention of this crime.
His passing was well documented this year, at 81 he was one of the most likeable fighters ever to grace a ring, far from his persona as the bad guy of Californian boxing.