Fighting Harada

Fighting Harada
Statistics
Real name	Masahiko Harada
Rated at	Bantamweight
Height	5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Reach	64 in (163 cm)
Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1943-04-23) April 23, 1943 Tokyo, Japan
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	62
Wins	55
Wins by KO	22
Losses	7
Draws	0
No contests	0

Masahiko Harada (born April 23, 1943, in Tokyo, Japan), better known as Fighting Harada, is a former world boxing champion. He is currently the president of the Japanese boxing commission.

Harada was arguably one of Japan's most popular boxers; his fame reached international status, and Puerto Rico's Wilfredo Gómez declared that Harada was his idol as a child.

Biography

Harada began fighting as a professional on February 21, 1960, knocking out Isami Masui in round four, in Tokyo. He won his first twenty four bouts. Among the notables he beat during that span were Ken Morita, who later became a respected boxing official and who was beaten by Harada on June 26 in the first round, and future world champion Hiroyuki Ebihara, who was undefeated in nine fights before meeting Harada and who was beaten by Harada on December 24, by a decision in six rounds.

On June 15, 1962, he suffered his first defeat, being beaten on points by Edmundo Esparza over ten rounds in Tokyo.

After one more win, Harada received his first world title try: on October 10 of that year, he became the lineal and WBA world flyweight champion by knocking out Pone Kingpetch in the eleventh round, in Tokyo.

A rematch followed, and Harada lost the title in his first defense, being outpointed by Kingpetch over fifteen rounds on January 12, 1963 in Bangkok, Thailand. This was Harada's first fight outside Japan.

Harada posted four more wins in a row before losing by knockout in six to Jose Medel on September 26.

After that loss, Harada posted another winning streak, which reached seven before he was given another world title shot. Among the boxers he beat was top contenders Ray Asis, Oscar Reyes, and Katsutoshi Aoki.

On May 18, 1965, Harada extended his winning streak to eight, when he defeated Eder Jofre in Nagoya, by a fifteen round decision, to win his second world title, the unified WBA and WBC world bantamweight title. Jofre was undefeated in fifty fights coming into this bout, and considered by many of his fans to be invincible.

On November 30, he defeated perennial British contender Alan Rudkin by a fifteen round decision to retain the title. On June 1, 1966, he and Jofre had a rematch in Tokyo, and Harada defeated Jofre once again, by a fifteen round decision. Losing for the second time to Harada prompted Jofre to retire; he would make a successful comeback three years later. Harada was the only boxer to beat Jofre.

After two more, non-title wins, Harada had a chance to avenge his defeat against Jose Medel. On January 3, 1967, Harada retained his world bantamweight title with a fifteen round decision over Medel in Nagoya.

On July 4 he retained the title against Colombian Bernardo Caraballo, a fighter who was well liked in his country. Harada outpointed him over fifteen rounds.

On February 27, 1968, Lionel Rose became the first Australian aborigine to become a world boxing champion, when he outpointed Harada over fifteen rounds in Tokyo. Having lost his world bantamweight crown, Harada then set his sights on regaining it.

He won four of his next five fights. Among those he defeated were American Dwight Hawkins and his countryman Nobuo Chiba. His lone loss during that span came at the hands of American Alton Colter by a ten round, split decision. Then, he received another world title shot.

On July 28, 1969, after the WBA and WBC had split the world bantamweight title, Harada fought Australia's Johnny Famechon for the WBC world featherweight belt. The fight was held in Sydney, and the referee and only judge was the legendary former world featherweight champion Willie Pep. Pep scored the fight a tie (draw), but Famechon's fans rallied over the call by booing Pep, who then announced he had miscalculated his scorecard and actually had Famechon ahead, making Harada a loser by a fifteen round decision. This fight was, nevertheless, controversial because of the nature of its ending, and the WBC clamoured for a rematch.

After a knockout win in eight rounds over Pat Gonzalez, the rematch came. Harada's management wanted the fight to be held in Tokyo, and so, on January 6, 1970, Harada and Famechon met once again, this time at Tokyo's Metropolitan Gym. Harada dropped the champion in round ten, but Famechon recovered, knocking Harada off the ring in round fourteen and retaining the title by knockout in that round. This was Harada's last fight as a professional.

Harada led a rather quiet life after retirement. In 1996, he was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Coincidentally, Wilfredo Gómez was inducted in the same ceremony. After Gómez expressed that Harada was his idol, Harada responded, using an interpreter, that Gómez had, in turn, become one of his favorite fighters as well. Eder Jofre, one of the boxers Harada beat to win world titles, is also enshrined at the IBHOF.

Masahiko Harada became president of the Japanese Boxing Commission in 2002.

On January 28, 2004, as he was driving home from his office, Harada experienced a headache and he was found to have a brain hemorrhage which required hospitalisation.

Professional boxing record

55 Wins (22 knockouts, 33 decisions), 7 Losses (2 knockouts, 5 decisions), 0 Draws
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	55–7	Johnny Famechon	KO	14 (15), 1:09	1970-01-06	Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo	For WBC featherweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	55–6	Pat Gonzales	KO	8 (10), 0:17	1969-10-01	Fukui, Fukui
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	54–6	Johnny Famechon	PTS	15	1969-07-28	Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales	For WBC featherweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	54–5	Vil Tumulak	UD	10	1969-06-04	Nagoya, Aichi
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	53–5	Alton Colter	SD	10	1969-04-02	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	53–4	Roy Amolong	KO	2 (10), 1:55	1968-12-04	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	52–4	Nobuo Chiba	KO	7 (10), 1:13	1968-09-04	Sano, Tochigi
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	51–4	Dwight Hawkins	UD	10	1968-06-05	Tokyo
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	50–4	Lionel Rose	UD	15	1968-02-27	Nippon Budokan, Tokyo	Lost WBC & WBA bantamweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	50–3	Soo Bok Kwon	KO	8 (12), 0:26	1967-11-28	Okayama City, Okayama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	49–3	Hajime Taroura	KO	2 (12), 1:52	1967-09-25	Osaka, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	48–3	Bernardo Caraballo	UD	15	1967-07-04	Nippon Budokan, Tokyo	Retained WBC & WBA bantamweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	47–3	Tiny Palacio	UD	12	1967-04-04	Fukuoka, Fukuoka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	46–3	José Medel	UD	15	1967-01-03	Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Aichi	Retained WBC & WBA bantamweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	45–3	Antonio Herrera	UD	12	1966-10-25	Osaka, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	44–3	Dio Espinosa	UD	10	1966-08-01	Sapporo, Hokkaido
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	43–3	Éder Jofre	UD	15	1966-05-31	Nippon Budokan, Tokyo	Retained WBC & WBA bantamweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	42–3	Soo Kang Suh	PTS	12	1966-02-15	Nagoya, Aichi
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	41–3	Alan Rudkin	UD	15	1965-11-30	Nippon Budokan, Tokyo	Retained WBC & WBA bantamweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	40–3	Katsuo Saito	PTS	12	1965-07-28	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	39–3	Éder Jofre	SD	15	1965-05-18	Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Aichi	Won WBC & WBA bantamweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	38–3	Dommy Froilan	KO	6 (10), 1:20	1965-01-04	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	37–3	Katsutoshi Aoki	KO	3 (10), 2:54	1964-10-29	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	36–3	Oscar Reyes	PTS	10	1964-09-17	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	35–3	Ray Asis	UD	10	1964-07-06	Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	34–3	Somsak Laemfapha	KO	2 (10), 1:05	1964-02-14	Osaka, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	33–3	Avelino Estrada	KO	5 (10), 0:51	1964-01-02	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	32–3	Emile de Leon	PTS	10	1963-11-25	Tokyo
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	31–3	José Medel	TKO	6 (10), 2:28	1963-09-26	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	31–2	Dommy Balajada	UD	10	1963-08-07	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	30–2	Thira Lodjarengabe	RTD	6 (10), 3:00	1963-06-19	Nagoya, Aichi
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	29–2	Jose Cejuda	KO	1 (10), 0:28	1963-05-04	Naha, Okinawa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	28–2	Tetsuro Kawai	UD	10	1963-03-21	Tokyo
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	27–2	Pone Kingpetch	MD	15	1963-01-12	National Stadium Gymnasium, Bangkok	Lost WBC flyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	27–1	Pone Kingpetch	KO	11 (15), 2:50	1962-10-10	Kokugikan, Tokyo	Won WBC flyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	26–1	Little Rufe	UD	10	1962-07-23	Tokyo
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" | Loss	25–1	Edmundo Esparza	SD	10	1962-06-14	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	25–0	Baby Espinosa	PTS	10	1962-05-03	Korakuen Gym, Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	24–0	Tadao Kawamura	UD	10	1962-03-18	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	23–0	Kozo Nagata	UD	10	1962-01-12	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	22–0	Ryoji Shiratori	KO	6 (8), 1:12	1961-12-10	Nagoya, Aichi
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	21–0	Akio Maki	UD	10	1961-10-09	Osaka, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	20–0	Sombang Banbung	KO	3 (10), 2:37	1961-09-09	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	19–0	Akio Maki	RTD	8 (10), 3:00	1961-07-31	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	18–0	Shigeru Ito	UD	10	1961-06-19	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	17–0	Ray Perez	UD	10	1961-05-01	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	16–0	Yasuo Fujita	UD	6	1961-03-05	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	15–0	Riichi Tanaka	UD	6	1961-01-28	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	14–0	Tsuyoshi Nakamura	UD	6	1961-01-05	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	13–0	Hiroyuki Ebihara	PTS	6	1960-12-24	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	12–0	Yoshinori Hikita	UD	3 (4), 1:44	1960-12-11	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	11–0	Hachiro Arai	UD	4	1960-11-07	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	10–0	Sadayoshi Yoshida	KO	4 (4), 1:02	1960-10-28	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	9–0	Yukio Suzuki	UD	4	1960-09-01	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	8–0	Masaru Kodangi	RTD	3 (4), 3:00	1960-07-18	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	7–0	Kazuo Morita	KO	1 (4), 1:25	1960-06-24	Shinagawa Hall, Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	6–0	Masatake Ogura	TKO	3 (4), 2:16	1960-06-10	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	5–0	Ken Morita	UD	4	1960-04-13	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	4–0	Yuichi Noguchi	UD	4	1960-04-04	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	3–0	Goro Iwamoto	KO	3 (4), 2:53	1960-03-27	Asakusa Hall, Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	2–0	Mitsuo Motohashi	SD	4	1960-03-02	Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" | Win	1–0	Isami Masui	TKO	4 (4), 2:20	1960-02-21	Tokyo

See also

• List of flyweight boxing champions
• List of WBC world champions

External links

• Professional boxing record for Fighting Harada from BoxRec
• Fighting Harada Boxing Gym