Let's say they meet at a catch weight: Chang moves up and Harada keeps his weight down. How does this one play out? Is Harada just too big or could Chang pull out a win?
They can meet at flyweight no problem. Harada's jab would counteract Chang's feints and they'd meet head on. Harada bigger, stronger, and as relentless. A bad matchup for Jung Koo, assuming Harada makes the weight alright. Harada decision in a great fight. No doubt in my mind.
If Chang had a hit more pop this would be interesting. But at 115 Harada us much to big and strong. That's no shame in that. Harada was to much for even a guy like Jofre (even if I gave Eder the first fight) so Changs in good company.
I like the responses and also lean towards harada. Flea do you really think Harada could make weight? Maybe it's just me but I thought of this watching Chang and Torres yesterday and he resembled Harada a LOT at times...the jab, the constant bobbing movement, always coming forward but intelligently. Chang sometimes put more beef and committment into his punches than Harada seemed to.
You're having a mental freeze mate. Harada was World flyweight champ' before he beat Jofre. Beat Ebihara & Kingpetch :good
No probs. Harada will still have the engine to beat Chang at fly, but rounds 11-14 will be interesting, as Chang attaches himself to Masahiko like a limpet and outworks him. Both men were known to **** off training in exchange for partying so assuming they're both at their most dedicated it won't be ugly.
to be certain, the more i think about it the more of an awesome fight it would be. no matter the edge that harada has, chang would be with him every step of the way. even if harada started to pull away, you get the feeling that while watching it who wins would be less important than enjoying the war unfold.
Chang is so diverse and hard to read there's no chance Harada steamrolls him. Both men would have some brilliant moments, but Harada was bigger, better, greater. Chang can't win 'em all ;-)
A fighters greatness can only be measured by how close he comes to Ricardo Lopez. Just as a punchers destructive capabilities are measured in Khaosai Galaxy %. On a completely unrelated note Flea who's better on the inside. Chang or Harada. In p4p terms rather than absolute.
Harada is better at everything, but Chang had the superior defence and slipped better when in full flow offensively. Chang more unorthodox but Harada might've squared up more but he wasn't the easiest to read either. Even when caught when coming forward, like against Aoki and Caraballo, it took a lot to dissuade him. Chang will catch him with all sorts, but not enough to stave him off long enough. At mid-range Harada doubles, triples, quadruples his jab, alternating between flicking and punching with it so his opponent isn't sure what to expect, he moves off of it as well and moves his opponent where he needs them. Chang's jazzy movement and alternate subtle and over exaggerated feints, will see him find his own spots. He can shift to southpaw, cut the distance and fire to head and body, and at his prime could get out and back in again very quickly. But Harada will be able to punch with him enough, and will be able to push Chang back to get on the front foot himself. Chang can box well on the backfoot, but once Madagiko starts pushing him back consistently it'll be hard for Chang to get too much going. Great fight, lots of shifts in the rhythm and some incredible exchanges. But Harada is too much.
Of everyone I've seen extensively from flyweight on down the last 50 or so years, Harada is the only guy I don't think Chang can beat. A bad stylistic match-up for Chang.
