Why did Jofre lose twice to Harada?

17 & 1/2 pesos will tempt any man to throw a fight.

 

Jofre lost due to age and difficultly making weight, Harda's style being his toughest match up and Harda himself being a great fighter.

No excuses, its just the time at which they fought. 4-5 years before, I think we see Jofre via UD.

 

Jofre wasn't past it. He was undefeated before the losses and would come out from retirement years later to beat some of the best 126lbers around.

You could argue he was a little less sharp than Medel 1 / 2, but he was still a monster and would beat any other 118 at the time. This is visible as well due to Jofre actually having more success in the second Harada bout than the first.

The reason Jofre lost is due to Harada's style. His extremely educated in and out footwork, ATG jab (which he would triple and quadruple), feints and straight right hand set up to the body, were simply hell to a more static fighter like Jofre who was more about tightly slipping the shots, closing in and working the body and head with combos. Harada also had enough power to rock Jofre to keep him from getting too close, as seen in round 4 when Harada rocks him with a vicious counter right uppercut and proceeds to pound on him for the remainder of the round. Harada also had a freakish ability for recovery when rocked, and was deceptively hard to hit anyway due to his feet, distance management and turning of the head. Even when Jofre stunned him with good shots in the first and especially the second, Harada recovered quick and immediately went back to his jab.

Harada's jab was a massive problem for Jofre, which he had trouble with and could never really counter for the whole 15 (and 30) rounds. I believe Jofre would always lose to Harada; just a very troublesome style for him at Bantamweight. He would actually have much more success at 126lbs against the Famechon version, despite being 37.

 

In that time, lower weight could be past it at Jofre's age, and Jofre drew to a no name in his next fight, a sign he was on the decline as a bantam. He was not an ideal bantam. Jofre did have problems making weight. I think Harda caught him at the perfect time in the perfect weight class.

Juding was an issue, unless you like the 5 point must system.

 

You know he won that? He just not by 4 points, so it was ruled a draw. All 3 cards had him winning lol.

Elias wasn't a complete no name either, he was a regional champ at a time where that meant more than it does now.

 

That's why I said it was arguable he was less sharp than Medel 1 / 2, which he was IMO. He was NOT 'past it', and would still beat most / all bantams around at the time. I know about his weight issues. And the bouts were both clear for Harada unless you are biased. Got a scorecard?

And yeah, I'd agree Harada got him at a good time, but he was a great fighter with a style advantage. He always gives Jofre hell.

 

Not my point, a prime Jorfe would have beaten the person he drew with easily. Also take note, Jorfe had issues making the bantam limit so that fight was at 121 pounds.

 

A prime Jofre did.

 

A combination of all the above really. Harada was great himself. Really great. His style too posed problems but also Jofre by then was very tight at the weight and was a little bit past his best. He’d had a long run and reign to that point and was even hurting to make the weight 5-6 years before these fights. Jofre actually didn’t make weight when he fought Gianni Zuddas in 1959 and it’s not like he lacked professionalism or had vices. His body was pushed to the limit for years just getting to 118. He really needed to either move up or retire (two things strongly considered in 1962 and onwards) so you factor all that in and he was burning out by 1965. When you factor that in, plus the styles, the fighting in the opponents backyard and of course the opponents quality then you get what you got. Two very close losses. Harada himself (plus the Japanese press) didn’t really think he won the first fight but noticed Jofre wasn’t as strong a year later despite his better start. By then Harada was hurting at the weight too which in turn contributed to his losing to Lionel Rose who also had stylistic attributes to bother him anyway. Jofre performed poorly against Manny Elias (a good fighter by the way as you had to be in that era to be North American Bantamweight Champion I’d say equivalent to being a “world champion” today) in between. Elias was awkward, short, with good defense but strong and slick. Jofre dominated the first four rounds but ran out of steam and was losing rounds and reportedely looked jaded.

The three years+ off helped Eder a lot. It helped re-charge his batteries, it also meant he came back at Featherweight where he’d not have to struggle to make weight. Of course, he was at a disadvantage of being older now but being incredibly skilled, experienced and professional he was able to turn out an incredible run (best comeback ever IMO). In this run he dominated Elias for example in the return. Shut out victory. Eder himself said he physically felt a lot better despite being older and smaller than his opponents.

I think Jofre always has some stylistic problems with Harada but I would say a few years earlier when he’s fighting more regularly and closer to his mid 20s he would win the fights clearly, maybe by knockout. Maybe it takes a three fight series? Like I say, Harada was extremely great. But Eder was a great finisher and I think he’d have the energy to follow up and score a knockout in a fight where he’s having problems. I also wonder how Harada does in a re-match closer to Medel’s prime too. That fight was very close IMO and Medel has him hanging on again in the last round. Medel was an incredible counter puncher and great finisher. All three are great fighters.

 

I've seen some people saying before that they thought Jofre won the first, but I honestly don't see legit case for it in any way. Unfortunately I don't have a scorecard for it on here (which is annoying as none of the Jofre supporters posted their scores either back in the day), but I do have a scorecard for the second, which I felt was slightly closer than the first and had Jofre in it with some very good moments. He definitely could take a win if he was slightly younger, as he could keep up the great bodywork seen in the second more consistently.

Bear in mind I used the 10 point must when in reality it would have been scored with the 5 point system, in which case I would have had it 69 - 65 for Harada.

 

Jel and I both scored the first fight for Harada as well, you and I previously discussed the 2nd fight as well.

 

I honestly haven't see ANYONE score the first for Jofre without being biased, and I've also never seen a scorecard for him that was done in depth, round by round. It was a clear Harada victory IMO.

 

I've got time after Brook later, I'm thinkjng doing one for both fights, Hank vs Mino and Tiger too. Sounds like my nights entertainment is sorted

 

To be fair, I probably have the widest card in this thread as I refrained from scoring any rounds even (except for the point deduction) when they could've been so.

And yes, they are great watches. ATG skills, obviously.