Johnny Famechon vs Fighting Harada

Johnny Famechon retained the world featherweight championship by the narrowest of points decisions over Fighting Harada at Sydney Stadium on July 28, 1969, after 15 rounds which ended in confusion over referee Willie Pep’s arithmetic. Pep, acting as the sole scorer as well as referee, first indicated that the contest was a draw. After his figures were checked, he altered the verdict and declared Famechon the winner by 70 points to 69. The decision was received with relief by much of the home crowd but remained controversial, for all three Sydney morning newspapers considered that Harada had won narrowly. Famechon weighed 125 pounds and Harada 126. The gate was reported at approximately $134,400, with the champion receiving $36,960 and the challenger $8,400.

Famechon was making the first defence of the WBC championship he had taken from José Legrá at the Royal Albert Hall six months earlier. The French-born Australian was an elusive and highly organised boxer, trained by the former middleweight champion Ambrose Palmer. He relied upon an accurate left hand, quick changes of position and the ability to make opponents fall short before replying. Harada presented a different problem from most featherweights. The Japanese challenger had already held world championships at flyweight and bantamweight, defeating Pone Kingpetch and twice overcoming the great Eder Jofre. A victory in Sydney would have made him a champion in a third division. Though smaller in natural build, he was a relentless pressure fighter with fast hands, a strong body attack and the stamina required for 15 hard rounds.

Harada began with characteristic urgency, stepping forward rapidly and attempting to crowd Famechon before the champion could settle behind his left hand. Famechon sought to keep the contest at long range, using the jab while moving laterally, but Harada’s quick feet enabled him to close the gap. In the second round, the challenger broke through and sent Famechon to the canvas. The champion rose and regained his position, but the knockdown gave Harada an early advantage and encouraged him to maintain a high rate of attack. Famechon continued to box rather than meet Harada in a sustained exchange. He used the ring, caught punches on his gloves and arms and tried to intercept the challenger with straight lefts as Harada came forward.

The middle rounds produced a sharp contrast in methods. Harada did most of the advancing, throwing in clusters to the head and body whenever he could force Famechon towards the ropes. Famechon was at his best when he had space to slide away from the rushes and score with the left hand before changing direction. His jab repeatedly marked Harada around the face and opened a cut near the challenger’s right eye. In the fifth round Famechon scored his principal success when Harada went down. The Japanese boxer recovered promptly and resumed his pressure, but the knockdown allowed the champion to recover much of the ground lost in the second. Thereafter the scoring remained close, Famechon landing the cleaner single punches while Harada supplied the greater volume and aggression.

Harada continued to work his way inside during the second half of the contest. Famechon’s defensive movement caused many punches to miss, particularly when the champion was cornered and slipped away as Harada swung at a departing target. The effort required constant concentration, however, and Harada’s persistence gradually reduced Famechon’s opportunities to rest. The challenger attacked the body whenever he could, then brought the right hand over the top as Famechon moved away. Famechon’s left remained accurate, but he was being required to box at Harada’s pace and was not able to establish a comfortable lead.

The contest changed markedly in the 11th round. Harada landed an overhand right to the chin and dropped Famechon for the second time. The champion rose and survived, but the blow strengthened the challenger’s position and made the closing rounds increasingly important. Famechon attempted to restore order with the jab and by moving around Harada, yet the Japanese boxer continued to force him backwards. Harada’s face bore the marks of Famechon’s left hand, while the champion was showing the effects of the challenger’s heavier attacks and the strain of maintaining his movement.

Harada struck again in the 14th. Another right hand caught Famechon cleanly and sent him heavily to the canvas. Famechon’s legs were uncertain when he regained his feet, and Harada moved in attempting to finish the contest. The bell prevented him from sustaining the attack. In the final round, Palmer instructed Famechon to keep away from the challenger, and the champion concentrated upon survival and movement. Harada pursued him, knowing that the late knockdown might have placed the championship within reach, but Famechon avoided a decisive exchange and remained upright until the final bell. The three knockdowns suffered by the champion, against one scored over Harada, appeared to have given the challenger a strong claim.

The announcement which followed caused disorder around the ring. Pep’s original calculation produced a draw, a result which would have allowed Famechon to retain the championship. The figures were then examined again, and Pep acknowledged that he had made an error. His amended total gave Famechon the decision by a single point, 70–69. Harada’s camp believed that the challenger’s pressure and three knockdowns had earned him the title, and the local newspaper verdicts supported that view. Famechon had nevertheless scored consistently with the left hand, floored Harada and made much of the challenger’s attack miss. Under the system in force, Pep’s corrected card was the official verdict.

The decision did not settle the argument. Famechon admitted that it had been one of his hardest contests, while Harada said he believed the fight had been level until he scored the late knockdown. The result led directly to a return match in Tokyo on January 6, 1970. On that occasion Famechon removed any uncertainty by knocking Harada through the ropes and stopping him in the 14th round. Their first meeting remained the more disputed contest: Harada had forced the action, scored three knockdowns and appeared to many observers to have completed his attempt to win a third divisional championship, but Famechon’s accurate boxing and Pep’s corrected arithmetic allowed the Australian to leave Sydney Stadium with the title.

I’ve never bought the idea that Johnny Famechon clearly beat Fighting Harada in Sydney. Famechon was a terrific defensive boxer with a sharp left hand, and he had earned the WBC featherweight title by beating Jose Legra. But Harada was chasing history. He had already ruled at flyweight and bantamweight, beaten Eder Jofre twice, and was trying to become a three-division champion when that was still a rare achievement.

Harada did what he always did: closed the distance, worked in bursts and refused to let Famechon settle. Famechon boxed cleverly and made him miss plenty, but Harada dropped him in the second, 11th and 14th rounds. Famechon put Harada down in the fifth, yet three knockdowns to one should carry serious weight in a close 15-round fight.

The real mess came afterwards. Referee Willie Pep was also the sole judge and initially announced a draw. His figures were checked, he admitted an adding error, and the result was changed to 70–69 for Famechon. All three Sydney morning newspapers reportedly had Harada winning narrowly.

My card would have gone to Harada. Famechon’s defensive craft was first class, and this was no robbery by a mile, but the challenger forced the fight and produced the heavier, more decisive moments. Famechon's survival in the 14th after another knockdown showed tremendous courage, but survival is not the same as winning the round.

The rematch later settled the rivalry properly, with Famechon stopping Harada in Tokyo. On this first night, though, I believe Harada did enough to take the title and was unfortunate not to get it.