Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala (1 August 1962 – 7 December 2013) was a South African professional boxer and four-time world champion who competed from 1980 to 2002. Standing about 4 ft 10 in (147 cm), he is the shortest boxer in history to win a world title. He was a world champion in two weight classes: having held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight title from 1993 to 1995 and the WBO light-flyweight from 1995 to 1997. He scored high-profile wins against international opponents during the 1990s. He was a hugely popular national figure in South Africa — admired for his fighting spirit and charitable work — and was publicly counted among Nelson Mandela’s favourite sportspeople. 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.(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.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes68WinJuan HerreraKO7 (12), 2 Mar 200267Win52–13–2Mickey CantwellTKO5 (12), 29 Sep 200166Win51–13–2Todd MakelimTKO4 (12), 17 Feb 200165Loss50–13–2Peter CulshawMD1224 May 200064Loss50–12–2Masibulele MakepulaUD1219 Feb 200063Win50–11–2Rafael OrozcoUD1219 Dec 199862Win49–11–2Ric MagramoPTS104 Jul 199861Win48–11–2Víctor BurgosTD8 (12)20 Feb 199860Win47–11–2Luis DoriaTKO12 (12)15 Nov 199759Win46–11–2Michael CarbajalTKO9 (12), 18 Jul 199758Win45–11–2Mickey CantwellSD128 Feb 199757Win44–11–2Paul WeirTKO10 (12), 13 Apr 199656Win43–11–2Paul WeirTD5 (12), 18 Nov 199555Win42–11–2Francisco MendozaPTS826 Aug 199554Draw41–11–2Sammy StewartSD106 May 199553Loss41–11–1Alberto JiménezTKO8 (12), 11 Feb 199552Win41–10–1Pretty Boy LucasUD1215 Oct 199451Win40–10–1Francis AmpofoRTD9 (12)11 Jun 199450Win39–10–1Luigi CamputaroRTD7 (12), 4 Dec 199349Win38–10–1Pablo TiznadoUD1024 Jul 199348Win37–10–1Pat ClintonTKO8 (12), 15 May 199347Win36–10–1Toto HleliUD84 Apr 199346Win35–10–1Mzukisi SikaliUD1226 Apr 199245Win34–10–1Raúl AcostaUD1024 Nov 199144Loss33–10–1Dave McAuleyKO10 (12), 7 Sep 199143Win33–9–1Ndoda MayendeTKO8 (12)23 Jun 199142Win32–9–1Zolile MbityiKO6 (12)10 Feb 199141Win31–9–1Wele MaqoloSD1228 Oct 199040Win30–9–1Ramón SolísUD1025 Mar 199039Win29–9–1Sonnyboy NghonaTKO2 (10)3 Dec 198938Win28–9–1Daniel WardUD1015 Oct 198937Win27–9–1Martín CárdenasUD1014 Aug 198936Win26–9–1Odwa MdleleniKO6 (10)23 Jul 198935Loss25–9–1Jaji SibaliUD124 Jun 198934Win25–8–1Ndoda MayendePTS814 May 198933Win24–8–1Johannes MiyaRTD7 (10)5 Mar 198932Loss23–8–1Vuyani NeneUD1216 Oct 198831Win23–7–1Daniel WardPTS89 Jul 198830Win22–7–1Vumile GomoDQ7 (10)30 Apr 198829Win21–7–1Jacob MazubikoTKO9 (10)7 Feb 198828Loss20–7–1Vuyani NenePTS121 Nov 198727Win20–6–1Kirk MorrisPTS82 Aug 198726Loss19–6–1Vuyani NeneRTD11 (12)15 Mar 198725Win19–5–1Pillay DuikerPTS109 Nov 198624Loss18–5–1Vuyani NenePTS815 Mar 198623Loss18–4–1Mveleli LuziphoUD1230 Nov 198522Win18–3–1Pillay DuikerPTS1021 Sep 198521Win17–3–1Nqaba GovuzaTKO3 (8)18 May 198520Win16–3–1Gilbert MakenetePTS61 Nov 198419Win15–3–1Thamsanqa SogcwePTS829 Sep 198418Win14–3–1Jacob MazibukoPTS629 Jun 198417Win13–3–1Juan Alberto IvaloUD1025 May 198416Win12–3–1Solomon ManotsiTKO4 (8)30 Mar 198415Win11–3–1Michael MogopudiRTD2 (8)2 Mar 198414Loss10–3–1Mveleli LuziphoUD1214 Oct 198313Win10–2–1José Antonio BadillaTKO9 (10)19 Aug 198312Win9–2–1Martin NkokotoKO3 (12)13 May 198311Win8–2–1Mveleli LuziphoTKO11 (12)26 Feb 198310Win7–2–1Kirk MorrisTKO7 (10)28 Jan 19839Win6–2–1Dexter DlaminiTKO3 (6)4 Sep 19828Win5–2–1Simon MoemaTKO5 (10)9 Jul 19827Win4–2–1Michael MogopudiTKO5 (6)14 May 19826Draw3–2–1Michael MogopudiPTS616 Apr 19825Win3–2Albert MolotoPTS45 Mar 19824Win2–2Hansie KrugerTKO3 (6)30 Oct 19813Loss1–2Michael MogopudiPTS427 Jun 19812Loss1–1Kirk MorrisPTS45 Jun 19811Win1–0Fraser PlaatjiesPTS42 Feb 1980
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.Morgan, Brad 'Baby Jake': small boxer, big heart . southafrica.info. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
See also List of flyweight boxing champions List of light-flyweight boxing champions
References
External links