The best all-Aussie matchup that could ever be made. The strength and pressure of Fenech vs the silky smooth skill and sharp counterpunching of Rose. I go with Rose big at 118. Lionel Rose was one of the great bantams and had an awesome run before running into the beast that was Olivares. I see him outboxing Fenech by a mile. Rose had one the best jabs in the history of the lighter divisions (arguably the best), and was extremely quick handed a could be a sneaky puncher. If he could outclass Fighting Harada, he could do the same to Fenech. Rose by UD.
Disagree! In this battle of the Aussies, I favor the marauding Fenech. Harada at his best was a better fighter but I think Fenech was a significantly stronger guy and Rose would have a hell of a time keeping him off... I think also you're underestimating how much Harada was killing himself to make 118 when he defended against Rose (he'd pretty much starved to make it against Caraballo) ... to me that had a lot to do with the outcome of that fight as much as anything. I'm not discounting Rose, who was a good fighter and had a difficult style and length for Harada anyway but I think a fitter Harada makes that a different fight
And Rose was lucky as hell to get his decision against Chucho ... he arguably should've lost his title right there, before Ruben beat his brains in
Word is that Rose was killing himself to make 118 going into the Olivares fight. No, I'm not saying it would have changed the outcome... but I believe it. Rose had a big frame for a bantam, he's another guy who would have benefited if 122 was around at the time. As for Harada being drained when he lost to Rose.... let's call it karma . He won the title off a weight drained Jofre.
I wouldn't say the Harada fight was Rose's best performance though. He really beat the living shit outta the quality Rocky Gattellari, and did so in style. That right there was more impressive than any performance Fenech had at 118. And lastly, if we're talking about being weight drained, it's odd you would favor Fenech. There's no bantam in history who struggled to make the weight more than Jeff.
Of course but he obviously had fights there where it wasn't a major issue yet. Guy was strong as hell for Bantam
