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Jacob “Baby Jake” Matlala passed away at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg on Saturday, December 7 2013. He was 51.
News of the boxer’s passing comes on the heels of Nelson Mandela’s death just a day earlier and the former President was in fact a keen admirer. Both he and Hollywood actor Will Smith, were present on the occasion of “Baby Jake’s” last bout on March 3, 2002 where he retained his WBU junior flyweight title with a 7th round stoppage win over Juan Herrera.
Matlala occupies legendary status in South African boxing.
Having begun his career on February 2, 1980 with a 4th round win over Fraser Plaatjie in Port Elizabeth, Matlala at one stage had an incredible record of 22 wins, one draw and just seven losses. Eventually, by the end of his career, that record would stand at 52 victories, two draws and 12 losses. Amongst the titles that he won, were the WBO flyweight, WBO junior flyweight, IBA junior flyweight and WBU junior flyweight titles, in the process becoming the only South African boxer to win four world titles.
Shortest ever world champion
He also held the unique distinction of being the shortest ever world champion.
At 1.47 metres or 4 feet and 10 inches in height, “Baby Jake” was not much taller than the average Lord of the Rings hobbit. As a matter of fact, he had once mentioned in an interview, that part of the reason why he quit boxing was his height, as he ran out of people, small enough to fight.
His last fight came against Herrera in Jo’burg, an opponent 11 years his junior.
“Baby Jake” Matlala goes down in memory as an all-action fighter who overcame the limitations of his height and reach by crowding his opponents and making life miserable for them with a relentless barrage of punches. Another thing about him is the way he kept himself in superb condition right up to the age of 40, a rarity for boxers.
