Nickname: “Fighting Harada”
Birthplace: Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Weight Class: Flyweight / Bantamweight
Stance: Orthodox
Professional Record: 63 total fights; 56 wins, 23 KOs, 7 losses. Wikipedia+2BoxRec+2
Years Active: ~1960s (he started pro circa 1960) britannica.com+1
Biography:
Harada is widely considered one of Japan’s all-time boxing greats. He won the world flyweight title in 1962 and then the world bantamweight title in 1965, becoming a two-division undisputed champion. Wikipedia+1 Known for his aggressive style, relentless body attack and iconic status in Japanese boxing, Harada’s fame extended internationally.
In the Hobby:
While Japanese-dominated sets are less documented in Western hobby circles, Harada’s card issues have increasing recognition among vintage international collectors.
Registry Metadata:
- Earliest Issue: Likely early 1960s Japanese issue (exact mainstream set data somewhat limited)
- Rookie Year: ~1960
- First Mainstream U.S. Card: (Not clearly documented)
- Key Sets: Regional Japanese issues and international recognition sets
- Grading Rarity: Early Japanese print runs are rare in high grade
- Recent Notable Sales: (Specific data harder to obtain)
Legacy:
Masahiko Harada’s achievement of unified flyweight and bantamweight titles in the 1960s places him among boxing’s pioneers on the global stage. For collectors focusing on international or Japanese boxing history, Harada’s early issues represent a unique and valuable niche.
