Part 2

Aragon was born in Belen, N. M., on his parents' humble cattle ranch, in 1927. He was the 6th of 13 children. When Papa Aragon realized he had more kids than steers, 2-year-old Art was packed off to an aunt in Albuquerque.

He wound up in East Los Angeles, and was a 1946 graduate of Roosevelt High School. But he'd already been boxing as a professional, under an assumed name, since 1944.

"My heroes then were Boston Blackie and Tyrone Power, so I fought under Blackie Powers," Aragon said.

"In high school, I worked at the Knudsen creamery. I got in a fight one day there, and the boss wouldn't stop it. He liked the way I was whackin' this guy. So I became a fighter, and the boss, Lee Boren, became my manager.

"For six months, I was in his back yard and he taught me how to throw left hooks, jabs, stuff like that.

"I had 13 amateur fights, then I turned pro. But turning pro then, it's not what it's like today. Today, you can turn pro and get a title fight before you've had 10 fights. In those days, there must've been 10,000 fighters in L.A.

"I mean, L.A. was a real fight town. There were fights every night, someplace. Monday was Ocean Park in Santa Monica. The Valley Garden Arena in North Hollywood was Tuesday. The Pasadena Arena was Wednesday. The Olympic was Thursday. Friday was Hollywood Legion Stadium . . .

"I fought 4-rounders for two years. I used to get paid $27 for 4-rounders. Here's how it was: You had 12 or 15 prelim fights and had to show you were ready for semi-mains, or 6-rounders.

"My God, to get a main event, you had to be really good. You had to win all your semi-mains. I didn't get a main event until 1948.

"Eventually, I got up to $10,000 for just about anytime I wanted to fight. And the more I made, the broker I got. I'd get $10,000, see, then two months later I'd be broke again and I'd need another fight.

"Hey, I kid myself a lot about my career. And I'm not sayin' I was great. But I must've been pretty good, right?"

There probably has never been another Los Angeles sports figure who could fill up newspaper library envelopes or photo files the way Arthur Anthony Aragon did.

The photo file: There's Art, leaving a courtroom with one of his former wives. There's Art, in a denim jacket with "L.A. CO. JAIL" stenciled on the breast. There's Art, emerging from a police booking office the morning after a drunken brawl. There are almost as many pictures of Aragon with lawyers as there are boxing pictures.

And the clipping file:

"Wife Sues Aragon Names 15 Women"

Said Aragon: "My first wife named 15 women. My second wife divorced me and named 9 women. My third wife divorced me and named 2 guys."

"Aragon, Salas in Wild Cafe Brawl"

That 1951 clipping reports that Aragon and Lauro Salas, a prominent lightweight at the time, had engaged in an epic fistfight at a Sunset Boulevard Mexican restaurant. Witness accounts had the brawl lasting from 15 to 45 minutes.

"I was in a bad mood," Aragon said in recalling it. "It was New Year's Eve, and I walked into this joint by myself, if you can imagine that. To begin with, I didn't like Salas. He was ugly. And the first guy I see is Salas, with a big grin on that ugly puss of his, with two of the most gorgeous women I ever saw.

"Right away, I'm hot. I wise-cracked him, called him ugly or something. I take off my jacket so I can really pop him one and the . . . waits until my arms are hung up in my sleeves, then he starts whacking me on my head. When I finally got my coat off, I beat him up good."

Later, the two met in the ring, and it was billed as the cafe rematch. Aragon won.

"Aragon Wins Dismissal of Fight-Fix Charges"

Aragon, in 1957, was charged with trying to fix a fight against an opponent named Dick Goldstein. After a trial, he was sentenced to five years in prison. Later, on appeal, the sentenced was overturned and all charges dismissed.

Aragon's explanation: "I signed for a fight in San Antonio with Goldstein for $3,000. I said to him: 'Now listen, if I knock you down, don't be an . . . and get up.' He took that as a bribe attempt.

"The next thing I know, he's testifying at a (boxing) commission meeting, and I'm in court. I did nothing wrong, and it cost me thousands to get out of trouble."

"Aragon Calls Cohen 'Bum' "

Mickey Cohen was a Los Angeles gambler, thought by many to have mob connections. He went to the fights a lot, and liked being photographed with boxers. Including Aragon.

"I'm in court for something in downtown L.A. and Cohen's in court the same day," Aragon said. "Cohen was always hanging around me and he made me nervous. I was afraid of him.

"So some newspaper photographer wants me to pose with Cohen, and I told him I didn't want him photographing me with that bum. He scared me to death.

"So the next day, there's that headline. I nearly died. Cohen sees me the next day in the courthouse hallway and whispers to me: 'You bastard, in the old days I'da cut your heart out.'