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Fighting Harada

2025-09-22T04:12:10Z

2600:1702:35F0:A1D0:D928:142E:4EF:393F:

{{Short description|Japanese boxer (born 1943)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name=Fighting Harada<br>{{small|ファイティング原田}}
|image=Masahiko Harada 1968.jpg
|imagesize=200px
|caption=
|realname=Masahiko Harada
|nickname=Fighting
|weight={{plainlist|
*[[Flyweight]]
*[[Bantamweight]]
*[[Featherweight]]}}
|height=5 ft. 3 in.
|reach=64 in.
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1943|4|5}}
|birth_place=[[Setagaya]], Tokyo, Japan
|style=[[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total=63
|wins=56
|KO=23
|losses=7
}}

'''Masahiko Harada''' (born April 5, 1943), better known as '''Fighting Harada''', is a Japanese former [[professional boxer]]. He is a [[weight class (boxing)|world champion in two weight classes]], having held the [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]], [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], and [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] [[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]] [[flyweight]] titles from 1962 to 1963 and the WBA, [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], and ''The Ring'' undisputed [[bantamweight]] titles from 1965 and 1968. He is currently the president of the Japanese boxing association.

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.japanvisitor.com/japanese-culture/sports/japan-boxing |title = Boxing in Japan {{!}} JapanVisitor Japan Travel Guide}}</ref> Harada was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 1995. In 2002, he was ranked as the 32nd greatest boxer of the past 80 years by [[The Ring (magazine)|''Ring'' magazine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxing.about.com/od/history/a/ring_80_best.htm|title=About.com: Boxing|website=Boxing.about.com|accessdate=December 18, 2017|archive-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108035508/http://boxing.about.com/od/history/a/ring_80_best.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Harada began fighting as a professional on February 21, 1960, [[knockout|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 championship|Lineal]] and [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] world flyweight champion by knocking out [[Pone Kingpetch]] in the eleventh round, in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/fly.htm|title=Masahiko "Fighting" Harada – Lineal Flyweight Champion|publisher=The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia}}</ref>

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 Lineal, WBA and [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] bantamweight champion [[Eder Jofre]] in [[Nagoya]], by a contested fifteen round decision, to win his second world title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/bantam.htm|title=Masahiko "Fighting" Harada – Lineal Bantamweight Champion|publisher=The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia}}</ref> Jofre was undefeated in fifty fights coming into this bout, and considered by many of his fans to be invincible.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/12/11/1195657/the-great-masahiko-fighting-harada|title = The Great Masahiko "Fighting" Harada|date = December 11, 2009}}</ref>

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 in another dobious match, 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 [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous Australian]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:23368|title=Fight:23368 - BoxRec}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:23370|title=Johnny Famechon vs. Fighting Harada - BoxRec}}</ref>

Harada led a rather quiet life after retirement. In 1996, he was elected into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in [[Canastota, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/harada.html|title = Masahiko (Fighting) Harada}}</ref> 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. By 2005 he was recovering steadily.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saddoboxing.com/702-fighting-harada-recovering.html|title = Fighting Harada Recovering Nicely. – Boxing News}}</ref>

On November 7, 2019 he presented the [[Muhammad Ali]] Trophy to [[Naoya Inoue]] after his victory over [[Nonito Donaire]] to win the [[2018–19 World Boxing Super Series – bantamweight division]] tournament.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://worldboxingsuperseries.com/the-drama-in-saitama-inoue-wins-ali-trophy-after-war-with-donaire/|title=The Drama in Saitama! Inoue wins Ali Trophy after war with Donaire|date=November 7, 2019|website=World Boxing Super Series|language=en-GB|access-date=November 10, 2019|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110015205/https://worldboxingsuperseries.com/the-drama-in-saitama-inoue-wins-ali-trophy-after-war-with-donaire/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=
|nc=
|ko-wins=23
|ko-losses=2
|dec-wins=33
|dec-losses=5
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|63
|{{no2}} Loss
|56–7
|align=left| [[Johnny Famechon]]
|KO
|14 (15), {{small|1:09}}
|1970-01-06
|align=left| {{small|[[Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium|Metropolitan Gymnasium]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|For WBC featherweight title}}
|-
|62
|{{yes2}} Win
|56–6
|align=left| Pat Gonzales
|KO
|8 (10), {{small|0:17}}
|1969-10-01
|align=left| {{small|[[Fukui (city)|Fukui]], [[Fukui prefecture|Fukui]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|61
|{{no2}} Loss
|55–6
|align=left| [[Johnny Famechon]]
|PTS
|15
|1969-07-28
|align=left| {{small|[[Sydney Stadium]], Sydney, Australia}}
|align=left|{{small|For [[List of WBC world champions#Featherweight|WBC featherweight title]]}}
|-
|60
|{{yes2}} Win
|55–5
|align=left| Vil Tumulak
|UD
|10
|1969-06-04
|align=left| {{small|[[Nagoya, Aichi]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|59
|{{no2}} Loss
|54–5
|align=left| Alton Colter
|SD
|10
|1969-04-02
|align=left| {{small|Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|58
|{{yes2}} Win
|54–4
|align=left| Roy Amolong
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:55}}
|1968-12-04
|align=left| {{small|Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|57
|{{yes2}} Win
|53–4
|align=left| Nobuo Chiba
|KO
|7 (10), {{small|1:13}}
|1968-09-04
|align=left| {{small|[[Sano, Tochigi]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|56
|{{yes2}} Win
|52–4
|align=left| Dwight Hawkins
|UD
|10
|1968-06-05
|align=left| {{small|Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|55
|{{no2}} Loss
|51–4
|align=left| [[Lionel Rose]]
|UD
|15
|1968-02-27
|align=left| {{small|[[Nippon Budokan]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Lost WBA, WBC, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|54
|{{yes2}} Win
|51–3
|align=left| Soo Bok Kwon
|KO
|8 (12), {{small|0:26}}
|1967-11-28
|align=left| {{small|[[Okayama|Okayama City, Okayama]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|53
|{{yes2}} Win
|50–3
|align=left| Hajime Taroura
|KO
|2 (12), {{small|1:52}}
|1967-09-25
|align=left| {{small|Osaka, Osaka, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|52
|{{yes2}} Win
|49–3
|align=left| [[Bernardo Caraballo]]
|UD
|15
|1967-07-04
|align=left| {{small|[[Nippon Budokan]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA, WBC, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|51
|{{yes2}} Win
|48–3
|align=left| Tiny Palacio
|UD
|12
|1967-04-04
|align=left| {{small|[[Fukuoka, Fukuoka]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|50
|{{yes2}} Win
|47–3
|align=left| [[José Medel]]
|UD
|15
|1967-01-03
|align=left| {{small|[[Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium]], [[Nagoya, Aichi]], Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA, WBC, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|49
|{{yes2}} Win
|46–3
|align=left| Antonio Herrera
|UD
|12
|1966-10-25
|align=left| {{small|Osaka, Osaka, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|48
|{{yes2}} Win
|45–3
|align=left| Dio Espinosa
|UD
|10
|1966-08-01
|align=left| {{small|[[Sapporo, Hokkaido]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|47
|{{yes2}} Win
|44–3
|align=left| [[Éder Jofre]]
|UD
|15
|1966-05-31
|align=left| {{small|[[Nippon Budokan]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA, WBC, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|46
|{{yes2}} Win
|43–3
|align=left| Soo Kang Suh
|PTS
|12
|1966-02-15
|align=left| {{small|[[Nagoya, Aichi]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|45
|{{yes2}} Win
|42–3
|align=left| [[Alan Rudkin]]
|UD
|15
|1965-11-30
|align=left| {{small|[[Nippon Budokan]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBA, WBC, and ''The Ring'' bantamweight titles}}
|-
|44
|{{yes2}} Win
|41–3
|align=left| Katsuo Saito
|PTS
|12
|1965-07-28
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|43
|{{yes2}} Win
|40–3
|align=left| [[Éder Jofre]]
|SD
|15
|1965-05-18
|align=left| {{small|[[Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium]], [[Nagoya, Aichi]], Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Won [[list of WBA world champions#Bantamweight|WBA]], [[list of WBC world champions#Bantamweight|WBC]], and [[list of The Ring world champions#Bantamweight|''The Ring'' bantamweight titles]]}}
|-
|42
|{{yes2}} Win
|39–3
|align=left| Toru Nakamura
|KO
|2
|1965-03-04
|align=left|
|align=left|
|-
|41
|{{yes2}} Win
|38–3
|align=left| Dommy Froilan
|KO
|6 (10), {{small|1:20}}
|1965-01-04
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}} Win
|37–3
|align=left| Katsutoshi Aoki
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:54}}
|1964-10-29
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|39
|{{yes2}} Win
|36–3
|align=left| Oscar Reyes
|PTS
|10
|1964-09-17
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|38
|{{yes2}} Win
|35–3
|align=left| Ray Asis
|UD
|10
|1964-07-06
|align=left| {{small|[[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena|Sports Arena]], Los Angeles, California, U.S.}}
|align=left|
|-
|37
|{{yes2}} Win
|34–3
|align=left| Somsak Laemfapha
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:05}}
|1964-02-14
|align=left| {{small|[[Osaka]], Osaka, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|36
|{{yes2}} Win
|33–3
|align=left| Avelino Estrada
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|0:51}}
|1964-01-02
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|35
|{{yes2}} Win
|32–3
|align=left| Emile de Leon
|PTS
|10
|1963-11-25
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|34
|{{no2}} Loss
|31–3
|align=left| [[José Medel]]
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|2:28}}
|1963-09-26
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}} Win
|31–2
|align=left| Dommy Balajada
|UD
|10
|1963-08-07
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|32
|{{yes2}} Win
|30–2
|align=left| Thira Lodjarengabe
|RTD
|6 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|1963-06-19
|align=left| {{small|[[Nagoya, Aichi]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|31
|{{yes2}} Win
|29–2
|align=left| Jose Cejuda
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|0:28}}
|1963-05-04
|align=left| {{small|[[Naha, Okinawa]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|30
|{{yes2}} Win
|28–2
|align=left| Tetsuro Kawai
|UD
|10
|1963-03-21
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|29
|{{no2}} Loss
|27–2
|align=left| [[Pone Kingpetch]]
|MD
|15
|1963-01-12
|align=left| {{small|[[National Stadium (Thailand)#Nimidbud Gymnasium|National Stadium Gymnasium]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand}}
|align=left|{{small|Lost NYSAC, WBA and ''The Ring'' flyweight titles}}
|-
|28
|{{yes2}} Win
|27–1
|align=left| [[Pone Kingpetch]]
|KO
|11 (15), {{small|2:50}}
|1962-10-10
|align=left| {{small|[[Kuramae Kokugikan|Kokugikan]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|{{small|Won [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]], [[list of WBA world champions#Flyweight|WBA]], and [[list of The Ring world champions#Flyweight|''The Ring'' flyweight titles]]}}
|-
|27
|{{yes2}} Win
|26–1
|align=left| Little Rufe
|UD
|10
|1962-07-23
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|26
|{{no2}} Loss
|25–1
|align=left| Edmundo Esparza
|SD
|10
|1962-06-14
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}} Win
|25–0
|align=left| Baby Espinosa
|PTS
|10
|1962-05-03
|align=left| {{small| Korakuen Gym, Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}} Win
|24–0
|align=left| Tadao Kawamura
|UD
|10
|1962-03-18
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}} Win
|23–0
|align=left| Kozo Nagata
|UD
|10
|1962-01-12
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}} Win
|22–0
|align=left| Ryoji Shiratori
|KO
|6 (8), {{small|1:12}}
|1961-12-10
|align=left| {{small|[[Nagoya, Aichi]], Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}} Win
|21–0
|align=left| Akio Maki
|UD
|10
|1961-10-09
|align=left| {{small|[[Osaka]], Osaka, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|20
|{{yes2}} Win
|20–0
|align=left| Sombang Banbung
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:37}}
|1961-09-09
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}} Win
|19–0
|align=left| Akio Maki
|RTD
|8 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|1961-07-31
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}} Win
|18–0
|align=left| Shigeru Ito
|UD
|10
|1961-06-19
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}} Win
|17–0
|align=left| Ray Perez
|UD
|10
|1961-05-01
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}} Win
|16–0
|align=left| Yasuo Fujita
|UD
|6
|1961-03-05
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}} Win
|15–0
|align=left| Riichi Tanaka
|UD
|6
|1961-01-28
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}} Win
|14–0
|align=left| Tsuyoshi Nakamura
|UD
|6
|1961-01-05
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}} Win
|13–0
|align=left| [[Hiroyuki Ebihara]]
|PTS
|6
|1960-12-24
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}} Win
|12–0
|align=left| Yoshinori Hikita
|KO
|3 (4), {{small|1:44}}
|1960-12-11
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}} Win
|11–0
|align=left| Hachiro Arai
|UD
|4
|1960-11-07
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}} Win
|10–0
|align=left| Sadayoshi Yoshida
|KO
|4 (4), {{small|1:02}}
|1960-10-28
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}} Win
|9–0
|align=left| Yukio Suzuki
|UD
|4
|1960-09-01
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}} Win
|8–0
|align=left| Masaru Kodangi
|RTD
|3 (4), {{small|3:00}}
|1960-07-18
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}} Win
|7–0
|align=left| Kazuo Morita
|KO
|1 (4), {{small|1:25}}
|1960-06-24
|align=left| {{small|[[Shinagawa, Tokyo|Shinagawa Hall]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}} Win
|6–0
|align=left| Masatake Ogura
|TKO
|3 (4), {{small|2:16}}
|1960-06-10
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}} Win
|5–0
|align=left| Ken Morita
|UD
|4
|1960-04-13
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}} Win
|4–0
|align=left| Yuichi Noguchi
|UD
|4
|1960-04-04
|align=left| {{small| Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}} Win
|3–0
|align=left| Goro Iwamoto
|KO
|3 (4), {{small|2:53}}
|1960-03-27
|align=left| {{small|[[Asakusa, Tokyo|Asakusa Hall]], Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}} Win
|2–0
|align=left| Mitsuo Motohashi
|SD
|4
|1960-03-02
|align=left| {{small|Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}} Win
|1–0
|align=left| Isami Masui
|TKO
|4 (4), {{small|2:20}}
|1960-02-21
|align=left| {{small|Tokyo, Japan}}
|align=left|
|}

==Titles in boxing==
===Major world titles===
* [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]] [[flyweight]] champion (112 lbs)
* [[list of WBA world champions#Flyweight|WBA flyweight champion]] (112 lbs)
* [[list of WBA world champions#Bantamweight|WBA bantamweight champion]] (118 lbs)
* [[list of WBC world champions#Bantamweight|WBC bantamweight champion]] (118 lbs)

===''The Ring'' magazine titles===
* [[list of The Ring world champions#Flyweight|''The Ring'' flyweight champion]] (112 lbs)
* [[list of The Ring world champions#Bantamweight|''The Ring'' bantamweight champion]] (118 lbs)

===Undisputed titles===
* [[list of undisputed world boxing champions#Flyweight|Undisputed flyweight champion]]
* [[list of undisputed world boxing champions#Bantamweight|Undisputed bantamweight champion]]

== See also ==
* [[List of flyweight boxing champions]]
* [[List of bantamweight boxing champions]]
* [[List of Japanese boxing world champions]]
* [[Boxing in Japan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Boxrec|id=009034}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050530014602/http://www.fighting-harada.com/ Fighting Harada Boxing Gym]
* [http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/harada.htm Masahiko "Fighting" Harada – CBZ Profile]
* https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/National_Boxing_Association%27s_Quarterly_Ratings:_1962

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|years=October 10, 1962 – January 12, 1963}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of WBA world champions#Flyweight|WBA flyweight champion]]
|years=October 10, 1962 – January 12, 1963}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of The Ring world champions#Flyweight|''The Ring'' flyweight champion]]
|years=October 10, 1962 – January 12, 1963}}
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|years=October 10, 1962 – January 12, 1963}}
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|years=May 18, 1965 – February 27, 1968}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of WBC world champions#Bantamweight|WBC bantamweight champion]]
|years=May 18, 1965 – February 27, 1968}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of The Ring world champions#Bantamweight|''The Ring'' bantamweight champion]]
|years=May 18, 1965 – February 27, 1968}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of undisputed boxing champions#Bantamweight|Undisputed bantamweight champion]]
|years=May 18, 1965 – February 27, 1968}}
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[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Flyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Bantamweight boxers]]
[[Category:Featherweight boxers]]
[[Category:World Boxing Association champions]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council champions]]
[[Category:The Ring (magazine) champions]]
[[Category:World flyweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:World bantamweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Boxing commentators]]
[[Category:Boxers from Tokyo]]
[[Category:Japanese male boxers]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Japan Pro Boxing Association]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen]]

Bobo Ashanti

2025-08-05T01:03:09Z

2600:1702:35F0:A1D0:D928:142E:4EF:393F: /* Origin */

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Short description|Ethiopian African Black International Congress}}
The '''Bobo Ashanti''' (also variously called '''Bobo Shanti''' and '''Bobo Shanty'''), also known as the '''Ethiopian African Black International Congress''' ('''E.A.B.I.C.'''), is a religious group originating in Bull Bay near [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]].<ref name="Montlouis 2013">{{cite thesis | last=Montlouis | first=Nathalie | date=2013 | title=Lords and empresses in and out of Babylon: the EABIC community and the dialectic of female subordination | publication-place=London | publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London | degree=PhD | doi=10.25501/SOAS.00017357 | url=https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/17357/1/Montlouis_3532.pdf | page=}}</ref>

The Bobo Ashanti are one of the strictest [[Mansions of Rastafari]]. They cover their [[dreadlocks]] with bright [[turban]]s and wear long robes and can usually be distinguished from other Rastafari members because of this.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/subdivisions/boboshanti.shtml. |title=Religions - Rastafari: Bobo Shanti |date=21 October 2009 |website=BBC.co.uk|access-date= 6 November 2019}}</ref> While some [[Nyabinghi (Mansion of Rastafari)|Nyabinghi]] and [[Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rastafari)|Twelve Tribes of Israel]] Rastas drink [[wine]] and are either [[vegetarian]]s or [[omnivore]]s (eating plants, animals, and fungi), the Bobo Ashanti are all strictly [[ital]] and stick to the biblical restrictions regarding their [[Nazirite|vow]]; they also add extra restrictions to their diet, e.g. they do not eat [[mango]]es or [[sugarcane]]. Twice each week and on the first Sunday of every month, the Bobos fast. Almost all songs and tributes within the community end with the phrase "Holy Emmanuel I Selassie I [[Jah]] I Rastafari." "I" symbolizes unity.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gansinger |first=Martin |date=4 December 2017|title=Radical Religious Thought in Black Popular Music: Five Percenters and Bobo Shanti in Rap and Reggae |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZhBDwAAQBAJ&dq=vegan&pg=PA9|publisher=Anchor |page=21 |isbn= 9783960671985}}</ref> Bobo Ashanti do smoke marijuana like the other mansions of Rastafari, but do not do so in public because it is a sacred practice to be done at times of worship.<ref name=":0" /> Even though it is the "holy herb", production is not allowed in the Bobo Shanti commune as [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] used to be illegal in Jamaica, although it is now legal for use by Rastafari.<ref name="Montlouis 2013" />

== Origin ==
The ''Bobo Ashanti'' ("Bobo" meaning "wrap" or "tie" from the ''Twi'' word '''Abotire''' meaning ''crown'' the verb '''abo''' - to tie ''singular''; '''bobo''' ''plural'');<ref>{{cite web |title=Rastafarians |url=https://minorityrights.org/minorities/rastafarians/ |website=Minority Rights |publisher=Minority Rights Group International |access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> and "Ashanti" in reference to the [[Ashanti people]] of [[Ghana]],<ref name="Montlouis 2013" /> were founded by [[Charles Edwards (Rastafari)|Emmanuel Charles Edwards]] (known as "Black Christ in the Flesh") in 1958 during the period known as the "groundation", where many protests took place calling for repatriation of African descendants and slaves to Kingston. Emmanuel Charles Edwards was the leader of the protests who was to be called King when he was badly beaten by authorities for his action. After this event, he formed the mansion of Bobo Ashanti as a separatist movement from those who did not strictly follow the principles of Rastafari.<ref name="Montlouis 2013" /> He established the first Bobo Ashanti community in Kingston, which then settled in Bull Bay, where most of the members live today.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/subdivisions/boboshanti.shtml. |title=Religions - Rastafari: Bobo Shanti |date=21 October 2009 |website=BBC.co.uk|access-date= 6 November 2019 }}</ref> The Bobo Ashanti consider their mansion to be the "Priesthood Order" of Rastafari, as they hold the most radical theology and offer theological training and accreditation. Those who become priests, prophets, or Empresses are to abide by EABIC principles in their home country. The community in Bull Bay is very tight knit and a place of refuge for poor people, as it offers free shelter, food, and education.<ref name="Montlouis 2013" />

Prince Emmanuel is called "Dada" by his followers, which was a name taken from [[Idi Amin]], who was called Idi Amin Dada. Emmanuel is also seen by the Bobos as part of a triad - together with [[Marcus Garvey]] and [[Haile Selassie|Haile Selassie I]], where Selassie is regarded as King, Garvey as [[prophet]], and Emmanuel as [[high priest]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/subdivisions/boboshanti.shtml. |title=Religions - Rastafari: Bobo Shanti |date=21 October 2009 |website=BBC.co.uk|access-date= 6 November 2019 }}</ref> Marcus Garvey is praised by the Rastafarians for his call for pan-Africanism, which looks to unite Africans all over the world and achieve gender, social, and economic equality. In his Farewell Speech in 1916, Garvey announced the future crowning of a Black King, the spot which Haile Selassie filled as the leader of the Black Nation and Messiah. He is considered the reincarnation of the King Alpha, and Empress Menen is considered the reincarnation of Queen Omega.<ref name="Montlouis 2013" />

== Gender hierarchy ==
Bobo Ashanti women hold a traditional yet nuanced social role.<ref>{{cite book |last=Damminger |first=Rachelle Lynn |date=April 2007 |title=Exploring the communication strategies among White, American Rastafarian women: A qualitative study of culture, gender and race |page=52|id={{ProQuest|304796484}} }}</ref> Similar to traditional religious and cultural standards, men are in charge of work outside the home and the financials, while the woman is to maintain the home life and children. The respective titles of a woman and man in a relationship are "Empress" and "King", "Kingman", or "head".<ref>{{cite book |last=Damminger |first=Rachelle Lynn |date=April 2007 |title=Exploring the communication strategies among White, American Rastafarian women: A qualitative study of culture, gender and race |page=52|id={{ProQuest|304796484}} }}</ref> Women must cover their legs, arms, and hair with a turban. Men in the Bobo Ashanti community are considered Priests as they conduct religious services and gatherings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/subdivisions/boboshanti.shtml. |title=Religions - Rastafari: Bobo Shanti |date=21 October 2009 |website=BBC.co.uk|access-date= 6 November 2019 }}</ref>

== Bobo Ashanti in pop culture ==
The genre of [[Reggae]] arose in the 1960s as a form of cultural expression and communication for Rastafarians in Jamaica, especially through the Nyabinghi mansion of Rastafari thanks to the Nyabinghi drums. Reggae grew as a powerful tool to inspire change in society concerning racism and liberalism, a central theme in Rastafari.<ref>{{cite book |last=Damminger |first=Rachelle Lynn |date=April 2007 |title=Exploring the communication strategies among White, American Rastafarian women: A qualitative study of culture, gender and race |page=12|id={{ProQuest|304796484}} }}</ref>
Unlike other Rastafari groups, the Bobo Ashanti are against Reggae music, claiming it is satanic.<ref>{{cite book |last=Damminger |first=Rachelle Lynn |date=April 2007 |title=Exploring the communication strategies among White, American Rastafarian women: A qualitative study of culture, gender and race |page=12|id={{ProQuest|304796484}} }}</ref> Despite this, beginning in the mid-1990s, many [[reggae]] artists have emerged from the Bobo Ashanti; the most well known among them are [[Sizzla]], [[Capleton]], [[Anthony B]], [[Lutan Fyah]], [[Turbulence (musician)|Turbulence]], [[Ras Shiloh]]. These artists' actual affiliation with the Bobo community and religiosity is unclear, as some speculate their Bobo Ashanti identity is used more as a defining characteristic and fashion statement. For example, Sizzla highlights the dreads worn by Bobo Ashanti in one of his songs with lyrics: "Bun fire pon men weh have locks and still nah go Rastaman Tabernacle... you see dem in the clubs and you see dem in the pubs, and they never ever step beneath the Tabernacle roof", suggesting disconnect with faith but still maintaining culture. Capleton embraces the Bobo Ashanti's religiosity and resistance to Westernized dress and fashion appearance in his music, with lyrics like, "Call Bobo Ashanti from the hill top, Separate the wolf from the sheep flock." The "sheep flock" here being Bobo Ashanti and other pure Rastafarians and the "wolf" being "fake" Rastas who are still eating animal flesh, and also other meat eaters. For decades, Rasta singers have sung songs about "wolves in sheep clothing". {{Clarify|date=October 2024|reason=Are these singers who have sung songs about this topic, or examples of the "wolves" being sung about?|text=Dennis Brown, Fred Locks, Big Youth, John Holt, Sugar Minott, and others.}} Wolves are flesh-eating predators, but by contrast, sheep are gentle vegans, living under the protection of their shepherd. Rastas liken themselves to sheep, living under the protection of Jah Rastafari, the Good Shepherd. Their wooly hair matted into locks is like the fleece of a sheep. Sizzla often refers to those Rastas who grow locks but have not renounced the eating of animal flesh (as per Numbers Chapter 6), as "wolf under wool".<ref>{{cite book |last=Gansinger |first=Martin |date= 4 December 2017|title=Radical Religious Thought in Black Popular Music: Five Percenters and Bobo Shanti in Rap and Reggae |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZhBDwAAQBAJ&dq=vegan&pg=PA9|publisher=Anchor |page=56 |isbn= 9783960671985}}</ref>

Other artists such as [[Beenie Man]] commend the work of Emmanuel, but do not necessarily favor the splitting of the Rastafari religion into branches, with lines like, "Now Emmanuel dead, everything tumble down, The Hill divided in a three, separated bu three sons." On the other hand, there is a trend for young Bobo artists to be heroes or defendants of the Bobo Ashanti community. Artists like Capleton remain true to the Bobo Ashanti spirit and make statements like, "We, a di whole a we deh inna Selassie family, but Jah."<ref>{{cite book |last=Gansinger |first=Martin |date= 4 December 2017|title=Radical Religious Thought in Black Popular Music: Five Percenters and Bobo Shanti in Rap and Reggae |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZhBDwAAQBAJ&dq=vegan&pg=PA9|publisher=Anchor |page=57 |isbn= 9783960671985}}</ref>

The conservative and strict nature of the Bobo Ashanti is sometimes compared to that of Islamic fundamentalism by the Rastas from more moderate and less strict mansions. Artists such as [[Midnite (band)|Midnite]] and Lutan Fyah have even gone as far as to call Bobos "the Jamaican Taliban", as both artists have used the term "Bobo Shanti Taliban" in their music.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gansinger |first=Martin |date= 4 December 2017|title=Radical Religious Thought in Black Popular Music: Five Percenters and Bobo Shanti in Rap and Reggae |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZhBDwAAQBAJ&dq=vegan&pg=PA9|publisher=Anchor |page=58 |isbn= 9783960671985}}</ref> The metaphor also alludes to the attire and turbans worn by Bobos, even though they are different in color and style. Bobo Ashanti artist [[Junior Reid]] expresses these ideas in his music, claiming immigration would ask him questions about where he was at the time of the bombing and people mistaking him for an Arab.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gansinger |first=Martin |date= 4 December 2017|title=Radical Religious Thought in Black Popular Music: Five Percenters and Bobo Shanti in Rap and Reggae |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZhBDwAAQBAJ&dq=vegan&pg=PA9|publisher=Anchor |page=58 |isbn= 9783960671985}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Rastafari}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rastafari]]