Jacob Matlala

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.

Jacob Matlala
Statistics
Real nameJacob Matlala
Nickname(s)Baby Jake
Weight(s)
Height4 ft 10 1⁄2 in (149 cm)
Reach59 in (150 cm)
Nationality South African
Born(1962-08-01)1 August 1962
Meadowlands, Gauteng, South Africa
Died7 December 2013(2013-12-07) (aged 51)
Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights68
Wins53
Wins by KO26
Losses13
Draws2
No contests0

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.[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]

See also
  • List of flyweight boxing champions
  • List of light-flyweight boxing champions

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 Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. southafrica.info. Retrieved 7 December 2013.

Boxing record for Jacob Matlala from BoxRec

Achievements
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		 Vacant
Title next held by
Jesús Chong
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