History Matters Blog :

Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala

Names: Matlala, Jacob "Baby Jake"

Born: 1962, Meadowlands, Johannesburg

In summary: Jacob Matlala was born in 1962 in Meadowlands, Johannesburg. At the age of 10 he started going to the gymnasium with his father who was an

Jacob Matlala was born in 1962 in Meadowlands, Johannesburg. At the age of 10 he started going to the gymnasium with his father who was an aspiring boxer. Matlala was so passionate about boxing that he decided to turn professional in 1979.

Matlala began his boxing career on 2 February 1980 with a fourth-round victory over Fraser Plaatjie in Port Elizabeth under the guidance of Theo Mthembu. It only took him four contests to become South African Junior Flyweight Champion. Vuyani Nene later dethroned him for the title. Between 1986 and 1988 he suffered four successive defeats against Vuyani Nene. The pint-sized boxer fought Davie McCauley for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title in Belfast, Ireland and failed in his attempt, suffering a 10th round knockout. He finally succeeded when he defeated Pat Clinton in his hometown Glasgow for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) flyweight title. He surrendered his title to Alberto Jiminez who stopped him in the 10th round in Hammanskraal.

On 19 July 1997 against all odds, Matlala defeated Michael Carbajal in Las Vegas, USA for the International Boxing Association (IBA) flyweight title. He later relinquished it to challenge Hawk Makepula for the vacant WBO junior flyweight title. The fight ended in disappointment for Matlala, who lost. For the second time in his career he suffered two defeats in succession when his former sparring partner, Peter Culshaw defeated him on points for the World Boxing Union (WBU) flyweight title. In February 1999 Matlala claimed the vacant WBU flyweight title. In 1999 a scandal surfaced that Matlala had allegedly raped Julia Mnyamezeli, an aspiring gospel singer and family friend of his. It was also alleged that Julia and her husband demanded 2 million rands for damages and emotional trauma they suffered only for the figure to be reduced by his business manager Rodney Berman to R250 000.

Matlala ended his 30-year boxing career at Carnival City, Brakpan by stopping Colombian Juan Herrera for the WBU junior flyweight title in the seventh round. In so doing Matlala became the only South African boxer to have won four world titles in a career of 27 stoppages, 54 wins, 12 losses and 2 draws. The ultimate honour bestowed on the boxer was the arrival of Nelson Mandela and Will Smith (American Actor) at ringside mid-way through his farewell fight. Matlala after the fight was so overwhelmed that he decided to present his WBU belt to Nelson Mandela.

Today Matlala is a businessman, motivational speaker and often takes part in charity events to raise funds for the needy and those living with HIV/Aids. He also holds a B.com degree from Unisa. After his retirement Matlala promised to help unearth and nurture talent in the township, something he kept.

Matlala currently stays in Johannesburg with his wife Mapule their two children.

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