| Jacob Matlala | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Jacob Matlala |
| Nickname(s) | Baby Jake |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 4 ft 10 in (147 cm)[1] |
| Reach | 59 in (150 cm) |
| Nationality |  South African |
| Born | 1 August 1962 Meadowlands, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Died | 7 December 2013 (aged 51) Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 68 |
| Wins | 53 |
| Wins by KO | 26 |
| Losses | 13 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 0 |
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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
See also
- List of flyweight boxing champions
- List of light-flyweight boxing champions
References
- ^ [1]. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ (7 December 2013). Baby Jake Matlala dies. sport24.co. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ^ Motumi, Mpiletso (13 December 2013). Boxing giant Baby Jake laid to rest. iol.co. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
- ^ Morgan, Brad 'Baby Jake': small boxer, big heart Archived 26 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. southafrica.info. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
External links
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 |