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 |
Meadowlands, South Africa |
1 August 1962
Died | 7 December 2013 Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital |
(aged 51)
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 64 |
Wins | 53 |
Wins by KO | 26 |
Losses | 10 |
Draws | 1 |
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 died on 7 December 2013, at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
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.
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.
Professional boxing record for Jacob Matlala from BoxRec