Jacob Matlala

Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala
Statistics
Real name Jacob Matlala
Nickname(s) Baby Jake
Rated at flyweight
Height 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m)
Nationality South African
Born 1 August 1962
Meadowlands, South Africa
Died 7 December 2013 (aged 51)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 68
Wins 53
Wins by KO 26
Losses 13
Draws 2

Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala (1 August 1962 – 7 December 2013) was a South African boxer and junior flyweight champion from Meadowlands, Johannesburg. In 2004, Matlala was voted #72 in the "100 Greatest South Africans" poll organized by SABC.

Death

Jacob Matlala died on 7 December 2013, at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.[1]

The former World Boxing Organisation, World Boxing Union (WBU) and International Boxing Association flyweight world champion had been admitted to hospital on numerous occasions over the past few years with complications related to pneumonia. Johannesburg – Dressed in royal blue and white uniforms and black berets, the New Covenant Church brass band escorted the coffin of boxing legend Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala into the Rhema Church auditorium on Friday morning.[2]

Trivia

At a height of 1.47 meters, or 4-foot-10, Matlala was the shortest boxing world champion ever. With a total of 68 fights (53 wins and 2 draws), he ended his career with 4 world championships. He presented his WBU belt to Nelson Mandela after his fight to Juan Herrera.[3]

Preceded by
Pat Clinton
WBO Flyweight Champion
15 May 1993 11 February 1995
Succeeded by
Alberto Jiménez
Preceded by
Paul Weir
WBO Light Flyweight Champion
18 November 1995 1997
Vacated
Succeeded by
Jesus Chong

References

  1. (7 December 2013). Baby Jake Matlala dies. sport24.co. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. Motumi, Mpiletso (13 December 2013). Boxing giant Baby Jake laid to rest. iol.co. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  3. Morgan, Brad 'Baby Jake': small boxer, big heart. southafrica.info. Retrieved 7 December 2013.

External links

Professional boxing record for Jacob Matlala from BoxRec