The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

Yep, Nicolino was a MASTER :deal

 

Name: Masahiko 'Fighting' Harada

Height:: 5 ft. 3 in. (160 cm.)

Birth: 1943-04-05

Boxing record
Total fights 62
Wins 55
KO's 22
Losses 7 (2)

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Fighting Harada fought in arguably the toughest Bantamweight division of all time, and is hard done by not be a genuine 3 Weight World Champion.

As a Flyweight, he held wins over the great Hiroyuki Ebihara and the very good Pone Kingpetch, and was the Champion in a time of one. He fought Kingpetch twice for the World Flyweight title, dethroning him in the first with a dominating display of swarming, before a closer return which saw Harada robbed in Thailand,.

Kingpetch I

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GprRjCtuWHs&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL744184AF8FCE59B4[/ame]

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Masahiko (a notoriously bad weight cutter) took a few fights at featherweight. He then made the transition to 118lbs (in the days before super-fly) and aimed to face the seemingly unbeatable Brazilian, and, in many pundits opinions greatest Bantamweight ever, Eder Jofre. But his Bantamweight run got off to a bumpy start, walking into a trap set by one of the hardest punchers in 118lb history: Jose Medel.

Medel I
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Harada didn't let the loss affect him, and quickly built back up to title contention, squaring off with the great Jofre for the World Bantamweight Championship in two unbelievable contests. Harada outpunched and out manouvered the textbook Jofre, who was renowned for his murderous punching puncher. In a particularly revered moment, Harada staggered Jofre for most of the fourth round of their first fight, stamping his authority on the division. (Rounds 4 & 5 are below) and although the second fight was closer, Harada came out of the fights as the better man.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft1JgSqHzTM[/ame]

Harada defended his World title against some very, very good Bantams. He beat Bernando Caraballo in a very good fight where both hit the deck. Avenged the loss to Jose Medal, but one of his cloest bouts was a defence against top contender Alan Rudkin, of Liverpool. In a closely contested battle in Japan, Harada won a decision, after scoring a flash knockdown in the first round over the gritty and able Rudkin. Rudkin also pushed eventual Harada successor Lionel Rose very close as well, judged by many fans to be on the wrong end of hometown decisions (though both were closely-contested battles and not 'robberies' IMO)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOg0wYe3GE[/ame]

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However, his struggles with the weight started again; unable to make the 118lb limit safely, he was well beaten by ATG Australian Bantam Lionel Rose. Harada was done at Bantam.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDNM-V6v15M[/ame]

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Solid Featherweight champ Johnny Famechon stood in Haradas way of winning three LEGITIMATE WORLD TITLES. Fighting in Famechons home turf of Australia, Harada found he was also fighting the greatest Featherweight of all time that night; Willie Pep was the referee and only Judge, and after being hassled by the pro-Famechon crowd he awarded the decision to the reigning champion, well renowned as one of the most controversial decisions in a World title fight.

Harada was distraught, and never reached those heights again. He retired after losing the rematch to Famechon, stopped in the 14th round and down on all three cards.

Being able to switch between a frenetic Blietzkrieg assault and smooth mid-range boxing, Masahiko Harada had it all. A discerning fan reviewing his career must surely judge him as a legitimate 3-weight World champion, in the days of only one title.

Taking into context the lack of super-fly/super-bantamweight divisions, Haradas rise through the weights from fly to feather has to be seen as one of the most brilliant P4P achievments in boxing history, especially when you consider the depth of names and performances his CV contains. Fighting Harada was truly one of THE GREATS, and, despite Manny Pacquiao's recent achievments, still has a genuine claim to being the greatest Asian fighter of all time.

 

Nice write up Flea, enjoyed that. is the whole Rudkin fight on youtube

 

I might be wrong but I think that is extended highlights, but most of it is on there. Al told me that as his Mum featured in the BBC broadcast (highlights) he put that on YouTube for her to see

But the full fight is available, I have it :good Go on the tube and watch all that is on there, good fight, very competitive indeed between two great Bantamweights.

Rudkin remains a very underrated operator IMO.

Thanks for the kudos LP :good Wasn't too difficult, Harada really is one of my favourites.

 

i liked to way he switch head to body attacks in the first Video, or feint thew jab and went the body.:thumbsup

Made from different stuff these ol' boys:bbb

 

If it's on there, watch his first fight with Pone Kingpetch.

Honestly mate, probably the best offensive display you'll ever see, if not it's right up there. The nipper goes through Kingpetch, who is awkward as ****, and was coming off beating Pascual Perez, who as I said earlier in this thread, was arguably the greatest Fly of all time :good

 

ill give it a whirl:thumbsup

 

Rudkin was wary in the early rounds it was the first time he was scheduled to go the chmpionship distance and so conserved his energy early on worried that he wuldnt have enough to last the distance in the end he paid for it on the scorecards.

The Rose fight he probably should have won though or at least been given a decent shot at it considering one judge scored every round to Rose atsch

 

Yeah Awful that was.

Rudkin was top, top class. AND didn't need a phoney ABC title to prove it, in fact he proved himself more due to being competitive with TRUE GREATS rather than winning a 'version' of a title.

I mean, if Ricky Burns retired tomorrow who would be considered greater? The former European Bantamweight champion of the 'World' super featherweight 'champion'?

All about opposition boys, I always say it :good

 

Good thread Mand', well on your way to making a defence off your title :yep :good

 

Best thing about this thread is that it literally has unlimited mileage.

Would a great thread to direct a noob who shows the yearn the learn as well :good

So.....who nex'?!?




*But please, can we all leave Sam Peter for a while Like Lazarus' shocking sole contribution to this thread, with the amount of fighters there are that can provide more substantial/interesting subject matter than guys from today (Im not saying exclude them by any means!!!) I see no reason for everybody to be contributing engaging stuff!! Be it entirely your own or a comprehensive mash-up of sources :good

Who's next?

 

You're obsessed.

 

Quick summary for anyone considering adding a new post.
The following guys have already been done (no homo)

Salvador Sanchez, Ray Mancini, Jim Watt, Charley Burley, Sandy Saddler, Carlos Ortiz, Bob Fitzsimmons, Harry Greb, Chang Jung-Koo, Jimmy Wilde, Pacual Perez, Battling Nelson, John Conteh, Carlos Monzon, Ruben Olivares, Gerald McClellan, Aaron Pryor, Robin Reid, Smokin Joe Frazier, Pipino Cuevas, Victor Galindez, Nicolino Locche, Fighting Harada & some guy called Amir Khan.