Art Aragon
Encyclopedia
Arthur Benjamin Aragon was an Mexican-American boxer
in the lightweight
from New Mexico
.
, but grew up in East Los Angeles
. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe
, Jayne Mansfield
and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II
hero turned Western
star Audie Murphy
. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
in Los Angeles. Aragon won his first eleven fights before dropping a decision to Bert White in October 1944. Aragon faced ever-tougher competition as his career progressed, eventually facing many of the great names from his era, including Tommy Campbell, Jesse Flores
, Redtop Davis
, Jimmy Carter
and Carmen Basilio
. Aragon also held victories over such men as Enrique Bolanos
, Johnny Gonsalves, Lauro Salas
, Don Jordan
, Danny Giovanelli and Chico Vejar. Aragon retired in 1960 with a career record of 90 wins (61 by knockout
), 20 losses, and 6 draws. Before his career ended, Aragon was dogged by accusations of conspiring to fix fights in his favor, including a conviction in California in February 1957. Similar allegations were made by other fighters afterwards but were never substantiated.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in the lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Early and later life
Aragon was a native of Belen, New MexicoBelen, New Mexico
Belen is a city in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States. Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem, and over time has gained the nickname "Hub City" because of the Belen Cutoff of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The Cutoff made it possible for many more trains to travel east and west across...
, but grew up in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
. He was married four times and engaged a fifth time, and was romantically linked to Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress working both in Hollywood and on the Broadway theatre...
and other Hollywood starlets. Another Hollywood connection was Aragon's friendship with World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
hero turned Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
star Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
. He had six acknowledged children. After retiring from boxing, Aragon went into the bail bonds business. Aragon converted to Judaism later in life and is buried in a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.
Professional career
Aragon's first profession fight, a points win in May 1944, was against Frenchy Rene at the Olympic AuditoriumGrand Olympic Auditorium
The Grand Olympic Auditorium is the former name of a sports venue in Los Angeles, California, United States. Located at 1801 S. Grand Avenue, the venue was built in 1924 specifically for the 1932 Summer Olympics, which saw the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling events held there. At the time it...
in Los Angeles. Aragon won his first eleven fights before dropping a decision to Bert White in October 1944. Aragon faced ever-tougher competition as his career progressed, eventually facing many of the great names from his era, including Tommy Campbell, Jesse Flores
Jesse Flores
Jesse Sandoval Flores was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The 5'10", 175 lb. right-hander was a native of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He played for the Cubs , Philadelphia Athletics , and Cleveland Indians .-Career:Flores was originally signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent...
, Redtop Davis
Teddy Davis (boxer)
Teddy "Redtop" Davis, alias Murray Cain , was a featherweight professional boxer from South Carolina.-Personal life:...
, Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter (boxer)
James Walter Carter was a world lightweight boxing champion. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2000. Carter's loss to Lauro Salas in 1952 and his loss to Paddy DeMarco in 1954 were each named Ring Magazine upset of the year...
and Carmen Basilio
Carmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
. Aragon also held victories over such men as Enrique Bolanos
Enrique Bolaños
Enrique José Bolaños Geyer was the President of Nicaragua from 10 January 2002 to 10 January 2007. President Bolaños is of Spanish and German heritage and was born in Masaya ....
, Johnny Gonsalves, Lauro Salas
Lauro Salas
Lauro Salas was a former world lightweight boxing champion.-Professional career:...
, Don Jordan
Don Jordan
Don Jordan was a boxer born in Los Angeles, California and was the undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World from 1958 to 1960. His nickname was ‘Geronimo’...
, Danny Giovanelli and Chico Vejar. Aragon retired in 1960 with a career record of 90 wins (61 by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
), 20 losses, and 6 draws. Before his career ended, Aragon was dogged by accusations of conspiring to fix fights in his favor, including a conviction in California in February 1957. Similar allegations were made by other fighters afterwards but were never substantiated.