| Fighting Harada | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Masahiko Harada |
| Rated at | Bantamweight |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Birth date | April 23, 1943 |
| Birth place | 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. The term bantamweight usually refers to a class in Boxing or boxers who weigh between 112 and 118 pounds (between 51 and 54 Kilograms Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, 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. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} Wilfredo Gómez (born October 29, 1956) is a former boxer and three time world champion CHILD syndrome (or congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects) is a genetic disorder
Biography
Harada began fighting as a professional on February 21, 1960, knocking out Isami Masui in round four, in Tokyo. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire. Hiroyuki Ebihara ( March 26th 1940 - April 20th 1991) was a Japanese world-champion Flyweight boxer from Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes
On June 15, 1962, he suffered his first defeat, being beaten on points by Edmundo Esparza over ten rounds in Tokyo. Events 763 BC - Assyrians record a Solar eclipse that will be used to fix the Chronology of Mesopotamian history Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
After one more win, Harada received his first world title try: on October 10 of that year, he became the WBA world flyweight champion by knocking out Pone Kingpetch in the first round, in Tokyo. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated The World Boxing Association (WBA is a Boxing organization that sanctions official matches and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level Flyweight is a class in Boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb (51 kg but above 108 lb (49 kg Pone Kingpetch (โผน กิ่งเพชร also known as Mana Seedokbuab (มานะ สีดอกบวบ is Thailand 's 3 times Flyweight world boxing
A rematch followed, and Harada lost the title in his first defence, being outpointed by Kingpetch over fifteen rounds on January 12, 1963 in Bangkok, Thailand. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (krūŋtʰêːp máhǎːnákʰɔn) or Krung Thep ( for short is the Capital, largest 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. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a
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 contender Oscar Reyes. Oscar Reyes (born 1977 is a British Journalist and co-editor of Red Pepper magazine
On May 17, 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. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Éder Jofre (born March 26, 1936) is a Brazilian former boxer, whom many consider to be the greatest Bantamweight fighter of all is the third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan. The term bantamweight usually refers to a class in Boxing or boxers who weigh between 112 and 118 pounds (between 51 and 54 Kilograms 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. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Alan Rudkin (born 1941) is a former British Commonwealth and European Bantamweight Boxing champion (1965-1970 On June 1, 1966, he and Jofre had a rematch in Tokyo, and Harada defeated Jofre once again, by a fifteen round decision. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Losing for the second time to Harada prompted Jofre to retire; he would make a successful comeback ten 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. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.
On July 4 he retained the title against Colombian Fernando Caraballo, a fighter who was well liked in his country. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Harada outpointed him over fifteen rounds.
On February 16, 1968, Lionel Rose became the first Australian aborigine to become a world boxing champion, when he outpointed Harada over fifteen rounds in Tokyo. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lionel Edward Rose, MBE (born June 21, 1948) is an Australian Bantamweight boxer, now retired who became the first For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. Having lost his world bantamweight crown, Harada then set his sights on regaining it.
He won four of his next five fights, his lone loss during that span coming at the hands of Alton Colter by a ten round 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. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Johnny Famechon (born March 28, 1945) is an Australian Featherweight boxer, who was born as Jean-Pierre Famechon in The fight was held in Sydney, and the referee and only judge was the legendary former world featherweight champion Willie Pep. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Guglielmo Papaleo ( September 19 1922 - November 23 2006) was an American boxer who was better known as Willie 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. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall Canastota is a Village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County New York, United States. 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. Pone Kingpetch and Eder Jofre, the boxers Harada beat to win world titles, are also members of the Hall of Fame.
Masahiko Harada became president of the Japanese Boxing Commission in 2002. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar.
On January 28, 2004, as he was driving home from his office, Harada experienced a headache and decided to check himself into a hospital. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " A headache ( cephalalgia in medical terminology is a condition of pain in the Head; sometimes Neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for He was found to have a brain hemorrhage. The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging / haemorrhaging (see American and British spelling differences) is the loss of Blood from Harada was hospitalized on stable condition, and the doctors at the hospital said he is expected to be released in one month. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the
| Preceded by Pone Kingpetch |
WBA Flyweight Champion 10 Oct 1962– 12 Jan 1963 |
Succeeded by Pone Kingpetch |
| Preceded by Eder Jofre |
WBA Bantamweight Champion 18 May 1965– 27 Feb 1968 |
Succeeded by Lionel Rose |
| WBC Bantamweight Champion 18 May 1965– 27 Feb 1968 |